Lincoln Continental unveiled at Detroit motor show

The production-ready 2017 Lincoln Continental has been revealed at the 2016 Detroit motor show. The new Continental will be the flagship of Ford's premium arm and it is expected to help relaunch the brand.

The exterior of the car features a broad new signature grille at the front that is flanked by distinctive intricate headlights, while three air intakes are incorporated into the front bumper and house LED accent lighting. A panoramic sunroof stretches across most of the roof area. The simple back-end design features a light bar spanning the width of the rear of the car, sited below a small ducktail spoiler and above two trapezoidal exhaust outlets.

In profile, the sedan maintains Lincoln's signature three-box shape, with modern flourishes such as the high-mounted, button-operated door handles sitting on the window line.

Inside, the new Continental gets front seats inspired by those in private jets. The seats offer an electric 30-way adjustment range at the front, while massage, heating and cooling functions feature on both the front and rear seats. Along with having the controls for audio and climate control settings, the rear passengers will also be able to recline their seats, along with, according to Lincoln's claims, generous rear leg room.

The console and instrument panel are leather-wrapped, while a choice of wood or aluminium interior panels is available.

The car is powered by a Lincoln-specific 3.0-litre petrol V6 that is expected to produce 400bhp and 55.30kgm or torque. It also gets adaptive steering and suspension, with drivers able to choose between comfort, normal and sport settings.

It also features several driver assistance technologies, including the option of automatic braking and acceleration in heavy traffic, as well as pre-collision technology with pedestrian avoidance and autonomous emergency braking. Parking aids, such as a 360-degree camera system, are also available.

The Continental will go on sale later this year in the US and China only.