2001 Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car stretches long for an elegant new Cartier L
Story by Bob Plunkett

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The long black Lincoln Town Car idled in front of a midtown Manhattan hotel, its broad rear door ajar and the driver at the curb to assist a passenger's entry to the expansive rear quarters.

     Stepping inside and settling into an individual seat, one rider immediately noticed the abundance of legroom in the area between the front seatback and rear seat cushion -- there was so much room you could stretch long legs or cross them and still have space to spare.

     Obviously, this car contained far more room than what's usually available in a conventional Town Car, which remains the preferred vehicle among limousine operators.

     This Lincoln also provided out-of-the-ordinary controls for rear riders in a console panel on the folding center armrest. There was a power toggle button to move the front passenger's seat fore and aft, switches to activate heat elements in both rear seats, a 12-volt power point and dials to adjust climate and audio systems.

     A peek into the front seat revealed familiar fittings for dash, instrument panel and the bench-style seat split by a broad center armrest that folds down to form a console:  Layout was identical to the conventional Town Car, in fact.

     So how did this particular vehicle end up with so much extra legroom in the back seat?

     As it turns out, the stretch occurs at the Town Car assembly plant in Wixom, Mich., where a six-inch extension applies to the 117.7-inch wheelbase of a normal Town Car to create the first factory-produced long-wheelbase Town Car.

     It shows up for the top-of-the-line Cartier edition under the label of Cartier L, with a similar version -- badged as the Executive L -- offered to fleet and livery operators.

     The wheelbase stretch also extends exterior dimensions to make Town Car seem even longer in silhouette, with extra space added to a broad B-pillar and the wide rear door.

     Surprisingly, though, the longer version remains easy to drive around town, as we discovered soon after our chauffeured ride around Manhattan with a week's worth of time spent behind the wheel of a Cartier L.

     It's quite big, carries up to six adults and a load of luggage, and all of the torque from a powerful V8 engine flows to the rear wheels for superb control by the driver.

     Of course, with more than 18 feet of steel stretching from tip to tail, you must take extra care when parking this Town Car, yet once underway it seems nimble and responsive for such a large package.

     Good driving characteristics stem from a stiff structure and independent suspension system developed for a new generation of Town Cars that arose with the 1998 models.

     The Town Car frame, with steel front rails plus lateral and rear reinforcements, feels remarkably stiff when set in motion and produces a ride quality that, while plush and luxurious, also remains manageable.

     The independent suspension system with multiple rear links can maintain a stable stance even through a twisty set of road curves, and it also checks tendencies to dive or squat when accelerating or braking, with virtually no trace of float noted when zipping over pavement humps.

     Suspension components include a short- and long-arm arrangement up front with coil springs and ball joints, and in the rear the four-bar connection to Watt's linkage with air suspension springs on the axle.

     A big disc brake mounts at every wheel, with electronic tie to computerized anti-lock and traction control systems.

     For steering, the Town Car employs a recirculating ball device with power assistance. This type of steering mechanism was selected for the Lincoln because design engineers determined that it translates less road shock to the steering wheel, thus resulting in a more luxurious feel for the driver.

     A big vehicle like the Town Car requires a large engine to propel so much mass, and one comes in the form of Ford's single-cam 4.6-liter V8.

     That plant with single overhead cam and 32-valve format generates strong power and torque. It reaches to 200 hp in the base Town Car edition, but for the mid-level Signature series and top trims of Cartier and Cartier L the output rises to 215 hp.

            Despite strong power produced through eight cylinders, this engine earns reasonable fuel economy figures that run as high as 25 miles per gallon for highway driving.

     An automatic transmission, keyed to electronic controls, behaves itself with smooth shift patterns, while a high-gear lockout switch located on the tip of the shift lever produces upshifts with only the tap of a finger.

            The extensive list of on-board safety equipment ranges from a safety-cage structure surrounding the passenger compartment to frontal air bags and seat-mounted side air bags for the two front seat positions, plus rear seat anchors for a child's safety seat.

            And in the spacious trunk an emergency trunk release mechanism glows in the dark as a guide to enable anyone trapped inside to pop the trunk lid quickly and escape.

     The refined aerodynamic shape of Town Car looks dramatic, elegant and downright gorgeous.

            A sharp sheetmetal crease running down the center of a long protruding hood sets up a series of contrasting images between crisp articulated lines and soft body bulges, yet in front the Town Car retains a bold grille and emphatic front and rear accents in brilliant chrome.

            Slick curving shoulders, the exaggerated prow, flared rear fenders and a roof crowned by convexly curved rear glass evoking images of a Bugatti coupe from the 1930s -- these dramatic design elements combine to create a look that's unlike any other car on the road.

     The interior, outfitted lavishly in all trims, applies plush leather upholstery and refined touches of genuine wood on dash and door panels.

     Standard six-person seating includes the unique front bench-type design that functions as two seats separated by the smaller center section with fold-down console. Each seat moves individually to personalize the fit.

     In the rear, heating/cooling ducts improve the level of comfort for passengers.

     Bonus equipment for Cartier and Cartier L series Town Car models includes bodyside gold trim accents, chrome wheels, a leather-and-wood steering wheel and heated seats, with options for a power moonroof and compact disc changer.

     Pricing for the Cartier Town Car commences around $43,000, with the Cartier L package adding $5,005.