New Car Review of the 2004 Lincoln LS Mid-Size Sedan.
Description: Mid-Size Sedan
Base MSRP Range: $32,120 - $43,120
Invoice Price Range: $29,568 - $39,468
This is the athletic American car tinged by the flavor of responsive European sports sedans. With four doors and mid-size dimensions in a cabin for five, the tightly tuned sports machine from Lincoln rides on a rigid unibody structure and features liberal applications of light-weight aluminum for body panels and suspension elements.
The LS also sports a German-built ZF Servotronic rack-and-pinion steering apparatus, electronic brake assist (BA) and options like high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and a curtain-style air bag system in the headliner. In addition, Lincoln's AdvanceTrac dynamic stability control system -- which adjusts brake and throttle automatically to correct potentially dangerous lateral skidding behavior -- is available.
Engines for the LS contain either six or eight cylinders and employ a drive-by-wire electronic throttle control (ETC). The entry model LS stocks a 3.0-liter V6 good for 232 hp. The 3.9-liter aluminum V8 produces 280 hp. Either engine links to a quiet five-speed electronic automatic transmission, with H-gate SelectShift controls added to the V8 version for clutch-less manual shifting.
The external design seems like an elegant understatement of classic proportions with brief overhangs, an exaggerated wheelbase length and broad track. Forceful body forms, accented by wide wheel openings and a graceful arch over the cabin, shape the athletic stance.
Inside, a tailored passenger compartment exhibits an international flair in a leather-lined layout with two bucket seats up front and a rear bench with twin sculptured spaces and the seatback foldable with 60/40 split. American burl walnut wood trims the cockpit with satin nickel accents also used in an optional decor package, as classic analog gauges decorate the instrument panel. Another option on the LS top model is an audiophile-quality Soundmark THX-certified CDX6 audio system available with Lincoln's DVD-based navigation kit. The LS appears in three trims for V6 -- Base, Convenience and Premium, and two for the V8 with Sport and Ultimate.
