Up front, there is a wider and lower grille that resembles the grille of the Navigator SUV and LS sedan. The chromed, waterfall-style grille is more upright and is flanked by new quad-beam headlamps. Not only do these lamps have a jeweled appearance, but they produce 60 percent more light to illuminate the road in the dark. And that's with the standard halogen bulbs. High-intensity discharge lamps are available and they double the output of the new halogen lights. A new stand-up Lincoln star hood ornament returns with the 2003 model. Lincoln said many customers asked for the upright emblem to return because they can use it as a lane marker on the road and it also helps them better locate the front of the car's long hood when parking.

Changes at the rear include a new trunk lid, fascia and taillights. Taillamps are larger and plainer than the previous model's.

The trunk lid opening is nearly eight inches wider and slightly lower to make loading and unloading easier. Inside the trunk, the spare tire has been moved from the forward package shelf to a vertical position behind the right rear tire. This Lincoln still has a very large and very deep trunk, but new for 2003 is a covered and removable storage tray that fills the deepest part of the well. When in position, the tray's cover raises the trunk floor and thus makes loading and unloading easier.

For 2003, the Town Car rides on standard 17-inch wheels and Michelin tires instead of the 16-inchers used in 2002. The standard wheel is called Euroflange and has a clean appearance because the balancing weights are out of sight on an inside rim.

Like all Lincolns, the new Town Car comes with a 48-month, 50,000-mile warranty, free maintenance through 36 months or 36,000 miles, 24-hour roadside assistance and transportation assistance, travel expense reimbursement, destination assistance and trip planning services, and a dedicated customer assistance center. Later in the year, the optional $1295 Vehicle Communication Service will be offered on Town Car for emergency assistance and concierge services using a Motorola TimePort cellphone and Sprint PCS service.