Lincoln Continental

Which Lincoln Continental Version Should You Buy?

The Lincoln Continental version to choose depends on whether you prioritize performance, fuel consumption, lower kerb weight, or an older drivetrain layout. Among the tenth-generation cars, the 3.0 AT with 400 hp is the performance choice: it reaches 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and produces 544 Nm.

The Lincoln Continental version to choose depends on whether you prioritize performance, fuel consumption, lower kerb weight, or an older drivetrain layout. Among the tenth-generation cars, the 3.0 AT with 400 hp is the performance choice: it reaches 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and produces 544 Nm. The 2.7 AT with 335 hp and FWD is the efficiency-led alternative, returning 11.2 l/100 km combined while matching the 250 km/h top speed of every tenth-generation version. Buyers considering earlier cars face a different proposition: the ninth generation has naturally aspirated 4.6 AT V8 versions, while the seventh generation provides RWD, a Diesel option, and several Gasoline engines. Prices, reliability, engine-swap suitability, exterior dimensions, wheelbase, and listings for sale cannot be compared because those figures are not measured in the supplied data.

Lincoln Continental generations: what changed?

The first generation, produced from December 1939 through 1948, is represented by one Cabrio version, 4.5 MT. It uses a 120 hp Gasoline V-shaped 12-cylinder engine, a 3-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD.

The second generation, produced from October 1956 through September 1957, is a Coupe with one version: 6.0 AT Mark II. Its 6,000 cc Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine produces 350 hp, drives the rear wheels through an Automatic gearbox, and gives a power-per-litre figure of approximately 58.3 hp.

The third generation, produced from 1959 through 1960, is a Cabrio offered in four 7.0 AT versions. All use a 7,044 cc Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine, a 3-speed Automatic gearbox, and RWD. Three produce 319 hp and 631 Nm; the fourth raises output to 355 hp and 664 Nm.

The fourth generation, produced from 1961 through 1969, is represented by one Cabrio version, 7.6 AT. Its 7,560 cc Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine makes 345 hp and 657 Nm, paired with a 3-speed Automatic gearbox and RWD.

The fifth generation, produced from 1970 through 1979, is a Coupe with three versions: two named 7.5 AT, distinguished by 365 hp and 202 hp, and one 6.6 AT with 160 hp. Every version is Gasoline, V-shaped 8-cylinder, Automatic, and RWD.

The sixth generation, produced from January 1980 through January 1983, is a Coupe with one 4.9 AT version. It combines 129 hp and 315 Nm with a 4-speed Automatic gearbox and RWD.

The seventh generation, produced from 1982 through 1987, is a Sedan with seven versions. These comprise 2.4 AT with 117 hp, two 3.8 AT versions with 114 hp and 120 hp, and four 4.9 AT versions with 132 hp, 133 hp, 142 hp, and 152 hp. All have 4-speed Automatic gearboxes and RWD.

The eighth generation, produced from 1988 through 1994, is a Sedan with three 3.8 AT versions, distinguished by 140 hp, 155 hp, and 160 hp. Each uses a 3,797 cc Gasoline V-shaped 6-cylinder engine, a 4-speed Automatic gearbox, and FWD.

The ninth generation, produced from 1995 through 2002, is a Sedan with two 4.6 AT versions, producing 260 hp and 279 hp. Both have a 4,601 cc Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine, a 4-speed Automatic gearbox, and FWD.

The tenth generation, starting in 2016 with no stop date measured, is a Sedan with five versions. They are two 2.7 AT versions with 335 hp, 3.0 AT with 400 hp, and two 3.7 AT versions with 305 hp. FWD and AWD are available, and every version uses a 6-speed Automatic gearbox.

Lincoln Continental engine options and specs

The clearest engine comparison is within the tenth generation. The 2.7 AT produces approximately 124.4 hp per litre, while the 3.0 AT reaches approximately 133.3 hp per litre. The naturally aspirated 3.7 AT delivers approximately 81.9 hp per litre. Against the 3.7 AT, the 2.7 AT supplies 30 hp and 136 Nm more from 1,034 cc less displacement. The 3.0 AT adds 65 hp and 27 Nm over the 2.7 AT.

Lincoln Continental performance, fuel consumption and mpg data

Performance or consumption is not measured for versions omitted from this table. Among tenth-generation cars, the 3.0 AT is 0.4 seconds quicker to 100 km/h than either 2.7 AT, but consumes 1.2 l/100 km more combined than the FWD 2.7 AT. Choosing AWD on the 2.7 AT changes neither its 335 hp output nor its 6.2-second acceleration figure, but adds 0.6 l/100 km to combined consumption. With the 3.7 AT, AWD is 0.4 seconds slower to 100 km/h and uses 0.6 l/100 km more combined than FWD.

The seventh-generation 2.4 AT has the lowest measured consumption: 7.8 l/100 km combined. It saves 2.9 l/100 km against the 114 hp 3.8 AT, although its 15.7-second acceleration is 0.4 seconds slower.

Lincoln Continental dimensions, weight and capacity

Exterior length, width, wheelbase, and wheel sizes are not measured for any listed version, so comparisons in feet or metres are not supported by the data.

For the tenth generation, kerb weight ranges from 1,918 kg to 2,063 kg. The FWD 2.7 AT and FWD 3.7 AT each weigh 1,918 kg. The AWD 2.7 AT weighs 2,052 kg, a 134 kg increase over its FWD counterpart. The AWD 3.7 AT weighs 1,994 kg, 76 kg above the FWD version. The 3.0 AT weighs 2,063 kg. Every tenth-generation version has 160 mm ground clearance and a 68-litre tank; gross weight and wheel sizes are not measured.

The power-to-weight comparison favors the 3.0 AT at approximately 5.16 kg per hp. The FWD 2.7 AT follows at approximately 5.73 kg per hp, while its AWD equivalent has approximately 6.13 kg per hp. The FWD and AWD 3.7 AT record approximately 6.29 and 6.54 kg per hp respectively.

Both ninth-generation 4.6 AT versions weigh 1,745 kg, have 150 mm ground clearance, and carry 76 litres. Gross weight is not measured for the 260 hp version; it is 2,370 kg for the 279 hp version. Wheel sizes are not measured.

The eighth-generation 3.8 AT versions have 135 mm ground clearance, but kerb weight, gross weight, tank capacity, and wheel sizes are not measured. Earlier measured kerb weights include 1,681 kg for the seventh-generation 2.4 AT, 1,535 kg for both seventh-generation 3.8 AT versions, and between 1,593 kg and 1,714 kg for the seventh-generation 4.9 AT versions. Their gross weights, ground clearance, and wheel sizes are not measured.

Which Lincoln Continental version should you buy?

For maximum measured performance, choose the tenth-generation 3.0 AT. Its 400 hp, 544 Nm, 5.8-second acceleration, and approximately 5.16 kg-per-hp ratio lead the listed modern versions. The trade-off is measured consumption of 14.7 l/100 km city, 9.8 l/100 km highway, and 12.4 l/100 km combined.

For the strongest balance of performance and consumption, choose the tenth-generation 2.7 AT with 335 hp and FWD. It is only 0.4 seconds slower to 100 km/h than the 3.0 AT, yet consumes 1.6 l/100 km less in the city, 1.1 l/100 km less on the highway, and 1.2 l/100 km less combined. It also weighs 145 kg less.

Choose the AWD 2.7 AT only when AWD itself is the deciding specification: compared with the FWD 2.7 AT, its power, torque, acceleration, top speed, clearance, and tank capacity are unchanged, while kerb weight rises by 134 kg and combined consumption rises by 0.6 l/100 km.

For a naturally aspirated tenth-generation engine, choose the FWD 3.7 AT over its AWD counterpart when comparing only the supplied numbers. It is 76 kg lighter, reaches 100 km/h 0.4 seconds sooner, and consumes 0.6 l/100 km less combined. Both have 305 hp, 381 Nm, a 250 km/h top speed, 160 mm clearance, and a 68-litre tank.

Among ninth-generation cars, the 4.6 AT with 279 hp is the numerical choice over the 260 hp version. It adds 19 hp and 23 Nm without increasing the measured 1,745 kg kerb weight, and cuts the 0–100 km/h time by 0.3 seconds. Both reach 215 km/h.

For seventh-generation fuel economy, the 2.4 AT is the clear choice at 7.8 l/100 km combined. For seventh-generation performance, the 4.9 AT with 152 hp leads: it reaches 100 km/h in 11.6 seconds and 178 km/h, while matching the 11.2 l/100 km combined figure of the 120 hp 3.8 AT.

For an older high-output Cabrio, compare the third-generation 7.0 AT with 355 hp and the fourth-generation 7.6 AT. The 7.0 AT has 10 hp more and weighs 244 kg less than the 7.6 AT, while the 7.6 AT provides 657 Nm—7 Nm less than the 664 Nm 7.0 AT. Reliability, problems, prices, and availability for sale are not measured, so the final buying decision should treat those as unresolved rather than assumed advantages.