KansasCity.com's view

Competing in the luxury-car segment is tough, not only in terms of the quality of competition but because many folks are turning away from traditional cars to luxury sport-utility vehicles, such as the Lincoln Navigator.

It takes a strong entry in this class if you are going to keep pace, and to that end Lincoln has freshened up the exterior of its front-wheel-drive Continental to bring it more in line with what is emerging as the Lincoln look and to give it better footing with competing cars such as the Cadillac DeVille and imports from Lexus, Acura and Infiniti.

Visually, it looks more modern, with a rounded front end, new headlights and a chrome-trimmed grille that looks like a scaled down version of the one found on the Navigator. Front overhang has been reduced by two inches in the center and four inches at the corners, which means that the face it presents to the wind is now rounder and smoother. Clear headlights create a wide-eyed, contemporary look.

Around back, changes continue, with large taillights and a sculptured decklid. Two inches have been added here to improve the trunk layout and to give the rear end stronger visual weight relative to the front.

Inside, bird’s-eye maple wood trim provides a warm accent to the textured suede covering found on the dash, all in the name of making the cabin feel cozy and luxurious, which it does. The tiny analog clock, however, looks like an afterthought.

One visually jarring note is found in the center of the dash where new radio and climate control units have been packaged together in a dark gray plastic panel that doesn’t match the tone and feel of the suede and leather above it.

The radio buttons are flat, like those in the Cadillac and Lexus, but are smaller and packed into a tighter space.

Luminescent gauges have transparent needles and look three dimensional, like those in the Lexus, although they are not quite as elegant.

The seats are wide and comfortable, and have separate heating elements so you can warm either the back, bottom or both. Warming the back can be soothing on a long drive even when the weather is not cold, and this is a nice touch.

Performance comes from a 260-horsepower, dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) 4.6-liter V-8 that is a slightly detuned version of that found in the Mark VIII. This 32-valve powerplant is silky, not to mention powerful, and moves the Continental along very smoothly. Standard traction control and anti-lock brakes, pretty much taken for granted in this class, give it excellent footing when the roads are wet or slippery.

Even though this engine has plenty of power, this is not a sports sedan, and it does not handle like one. In general, the ride is geared toward comfort, not responsiveness.

Our test car was equipped with the Driver Select System, a $595 option that allows the driver to adjust the power steering for low, normal or high effort, and to select firm, normal or plush ride settin gs for the semi-active suspension. I have always found that this system rides too softly and steers too easily when the easiest modes are chosen, and the high effort steering and firm ride feel artificially heavy. I would stick with the standard suspension and steering.

A couple of good things the Driver Select System brings are steering wheel controls for audio and air conditioning and adjustable volume for the radio so it gets louder as road speed increases.

Memory Profile allows up to nine different functions to be stored in memory for two drivers so when you unlock the car with your personalized remote it sets the car to your preferences.

Some standard safety features include daytime running lights, headlights that come on when the wipers are turned on, outside mirrors that can be set to tilt down when you select reverse and a transaxle that allows the vehicle to limp home in second gear should the powertrain control module fail.

The airbags are depower , second generation units which open with less force.

The optional RESCU (Remote Emergency Satellite Cellular Unit) is an emergency telephone that summons help at the push of a button. This year it is automatically activated when the airbags inflate.

Price

The list price of our test car was $37,830. It was equipped with options of JBL audio system, power moonroof, universal garage door opener, heated seats, polished aluminum wheels and the Driver Select System.

The sticker price was $42,930.

Warranty

The basic warranty is for four years or 50,000 miles.

Vehicles for The Star’s week-long test drives are supplied by the auto manufacturers.

Point: A minor restyle gives the Continental a lighter, more modern appearance. Wood trim and a suede dash covering give the interior a more luxurious look.

Counterpoint: The Driver Select System offers too much adjustability for steering and suspension. The new radio/climate control center seems out of place with the rest of the interior.

SPECIFICATIONS:

ENGINE: 4.6-liter V8

TRANSMISSION: automatic

WHEELBASE: 109 inches

CURB WEIGHT: 3,868 lbs.

BASE PRICE: $37,830

PRICE AS DRIVEN: $42,930

MPG RATING: 17 city, 25 hwy.