2010 Lincoln Town Car

The 2010 Lincoln Town Car carries over into the new model year with minimal changes. The Town Car comes in two trim levels: Signature Limited and Signature L. The Signature L sedan is 6 inches longer than its mate in both overall length and wheelbase. Two additional series are available for limousine and livery use. The Town Car has long been a signature model for Lincoln. Today, the Lincoln Town Car is heavily supported by the livery business thanks to its palatial dimensions, massive trunk and silky ride, thereby making it an ideal shuttle for VIPs in need of a lift. Next to other premium luxury cars, especially from the import brands, the big Town Car remains a relative bargain, delivering a lot of metal for the money. But that can't change its status as one of the last body-on-frame luxury car relics still in production.

Town Car Power and Handling

The Town Car's sole powertrain is a 4.6-liter V-8 that has 239 horsepower and 287 pounds-feet of torque. The V-8 is flex-fuel capable and is mated to a four-speed automatic. To make the soft-sprung Town Car handle like more youthful Lincolns, the Division has given it hydroformed rails for the front part of the frame, relatively lightweight front suspension components mounted to a cast-aluminum cross member, monotube shock absorbers, powerful front brakes, carefully selected tires, sophisticated body and suspension mounts and variable-ratio rack-and-pinion steering. The suspension system, which includes automatic load leveling in the rear, keeps the car relatively flat in the corners and provides a smooth, quiet highway ride and substantial amounts of understeer, just the right thing for a big, long, heavy car. However, while ABS and traction control are standard equipment, the chassis and suspension are completely devoid of any type of electronic yaw control system like almost all of its price and class competitors have, and it offers no electronically variable shock absorbers.

 Design of the 2010 Town Car

The Town Car's formal appearance leads off with a chrome vertical-bar grille that's flanked by quad-beam halogen headlights. A stand-up ornament is mounted at the front of the hood. High-intensity-discharge headlights are optional. Little has changed since Lincoln last re-styled the Town Car for the 2003 model year. Up front, a chromed, waterfall-style grille is flanked by quad-beam headlamps with a jeweled appearance. A stand-up four-point star hood ornament reminds owners that they are driving a Lincoln. The Division tried to retire the stand-up ornament earlier in the decade, but customers complained that they used it as a lane marker on the road and, to better locate the front of the car's long hood when parking. The trunk lid opening is wide and low to make loading and unloading easier. Inside the trunk, the spare tire is stowed vertically behind the right rear tire, so you don't have to unload the trunk to get at it. A covered and removable storage tray fills the deepest part of the trunk well. When in position, the tray's cover raises the trunk floor and thus makes loading and unloading easier.

Inside the Lincoln Town Car

Equipped with wide front and rear bench seats, the current Lincoln Town Car is one of the few six-passenger cars around. The Lincoln Town Car seats up to six in its cabin trimmed in premium leather, burl walnut applique and satin nickel accents. It comes in Signature Limited, and Signature L trim levels. The Town Car  is equipped with a 40/20/40-split front bench seat. The extended-length Signature L has heated rear seats, a folding rear armrest, remote audio and climate controls, and rear-located seat-position controls for the outboard front passenger seat.

Features include 17-inch aluminum wheels, power adjustable pedals, power open/close trunk, power heated front seats with driver memory, keyless entry and dual-zone automatic climate control are standard. Safety features include traction control, front airbags, side-impact airbags, security system, four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes and 5-star ratings in all government crash tests.

2010 Town Car Lineup

The Town Car is offered in two trim levels. The Signature serves as the base model, while the Signature Limited adds some minor extras such as an upgraded sound system, power-operated trunk and a memory system linking the seats, pedals and mirrors to preset preferences. The long-wheelbase Town Car Signature L is about as close to a limousine as a sedan can get. Six inches longer than the other styles, the Signature L features a much roomier, heated rear bench seat with separate audio and climate controls.

Summary

The Lincoln Town Car is appealing for its spacious seating and a trunk that provides cavernous storage for luggage and golf clubs. This is a traditional American luxury sedan. The Lincoln Town Car is one of the most established automotive nameplates in America, and although it has taken many different forms since it debuted as a trim level for the 1969-'71 Continental, its purpose remains the same: to spoil up to six occupants with spacious and luxurious accommodations no matter where in the car they are sitting. For more details and pricing information, visit the official 2010 Lincoln Town Car website.