The Lincoln Continental makes a distinctive design statement. Front fenders, hood and decklid are made of a sheet-molding compound that is more resistant to dents and dings. This material allows Lincoln to revise the styling more often to keep the Continental in step with evolving aesthetic trends. In the Continental's current incarnation, a rounded interpretation of the Lincoln waterfall grille blends with the headlamp clusters to sweep into a brightly trimmed smile, while massive tail lamps wrap around into the muscular rear quarter panels. The overall impression is round, organic, yet solid and impressiveThe door handles are a dated design, however, and can pinch your pinky if you're not careful. The door is fitted with a keypad for unlocking the car without a key; many longtime Ford buyers like them, but we think they detract from the appearance of the car. The trunk boasts nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The trunk lid raises high and out of the way, while a low lift-over height makes loading and unloading a lot easier. Raising the hood reveals an attractive engine compartment filled by a 4.6-liter V8. Washer fluid, the oil filler and other necessaries are out in the open and the cooling system is maintenance-free.
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