Based on a derivation of the CD4 platform, which also underpins the Ford Fusion, the architecture was extensively modified for the Continental. Not only have the wheelbase and the front and rear track been enlarged, the front structure was reengineered to create a longer dash-to-axle ratio to achieve more rear-drive proportions.
The Continental, however, is front-/all-wheel drive. The flagship sedan’s powerplant is a new—and Lincoln-exclusive—3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 making a robust 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Don’t call it an EcoBoost, though, as Lincoln will eschew that designation going forward, not only for the new 3.0T but also for the other engines formerly known as EcoBoost, including the 2.7-liter turbo V-6 that also is offered in the Continental. A naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 rounds out the lineup. (There are no hybrids or plug-ins, at least for now.)
Both the 3.7 and the 2.7 turbo will be offered with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, while the bad-boy 3.0T is AWD-only. That all-wheel-drive system, by the way, includes torque vectoring across the rear axle. For all engines, a six-speed automatic handles the shifting duties. Selectable drive modes—Normal, Sport, and Comfort—adjust damper firmness, shift mapping, and steering effort.
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