Every so often, a manufacturer decides to give a ghost from their past a second chance at production. For Lincoln, this ghost is named Continental, a vehicle that once had a veritable shine and lustre that it gradually lost, until eventually the model was discontinued in 2002. 2016 seems to be the right year to give the flagship sedan a chance to redeem itself as a 2017 model with a new level of luxury and a new look to match.

Design-wise, the 2017 Continental adopts a look very similar to that of the MKZ introduced in Los Angeles, with modernized headlamps and the new signature grille. Forget the boat-sized silhouette from yesteryears; the Continental now has modern lines and sleek side panels with the integration of slick door handles into the window trim along the beltline. The sedan will also be equipped with branded puddle lights to welcome the keeper of the key.

On the inside, the Continental sports a pair of jet plane-inspired front seats that look like they could have been stolen from a spaceship, called Perfect Position Seats. Their design distinctly defines each section of the seat, which provides up to 30 different types of adjustments in case you feel like the princess suffering her pea. The cascading centre console is crowned with an elegant panel that integrates a touchscreen as well as Lincoln’s button gear selector. Active noise cancellation and acoustic laminated glass help keep all the right kind of noise (provided by the Revel branded audio) on the inside and the bad kind out. Lincoln qualifies the overall feel of the cockpit as serene and quiet luxury.

The 2017 Continental will be powered by an all-new, Lincoln exclusive 3.0L twin turbo V6 engine rated at 400hp and 400 lb-ft of torque with Drive Control, which allows the driver to choose from three modes to further personalize the ride. The luxury sedan will also features such technologies as Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, adaptive cruise control and parallel/perpendicular park assist. The 2017 Lincoln Continental will roll out of the Flat Rock plant and go on sale in the fall of 2016.

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