The first thing you notice about the Continental is a new look that conceals itsbulk in a sleek but understated design reminiscent of the elegant Mark VIII personal luxury coupe. Although some have criticized the Continental's appearance as bland and uninspiring, we disagree. There may be nothing flashy or provocative about it from its wraparound headlights to its wraparound taillights, but the Lexus LS 400 doesn't turn many heads either, nor an S-Class Mercedes. Sophisticated styling is often unobtrusive and the Continental has the same rich, well-mannered style. Next, pop the hood. Inside, you'll find a 4-cam, 4.6-liter V8 that offers enough smooth, effortless power to satisfy almost anyone. The so-called InTech V8 powertrain can go 100,000 miles between major tuneups. It's superbly matched to a 4-speed automatic transmission and controlled by an engine computer that can analyze 1.7 million bits of information per second. Impressed? Good, because you need to be before taking a peek at the window sticker. When the Continental was redesigned last year it took an astonishing $10,000 leap in price. There are no significant changes in the '96 Continental, and it starts at $42,440 including destination charges. Of course, there's a long list of standard features, from air conditioning, dual airbags and leather seats to tinted glass and remote keyless entry. But a touring package with power moonroof, traction control and premium stereo brought the total of our test car to $45,210. Now the question becomes: Is it worth it?
|