Lincoln LS

The Lincoln LS is a mid-size, rear wheel drive sedan frae Lincoln. For its production run frae 1999 till 2006, it wis based on the Ford DEW98 platform, which wis shared wi the Jaguar S-Type an Ford Thunderbird. LS versions wur oreeginally tae be cawed LS6 an LS8 dependin on ingine choice, but those designations wur replaced wi "LS V6" an "LS V8" efter Toyota's Lexus diveesion became concerned aboot the potential for namin confusion wi its Lexus LS. Alang with the relatit Jaguar S-Type, it is the first entry-level luxury caur awned bi a Ford brand syne the Merkur Scorpio an XR4Ti endit production in 1989.

The LS wis introduced in early 1999 as a 2000 model year vehicle, in pairt as a successor tae the Lincoln Mark VIII coupe that wis discontinued efter 1998. It wis the first Lincoln in decades tae affer an optional manual transmission. Wi its available V8 pouer, rear wheel drive, an near 50/50 weight distribution, the LS wis an attractive alternative tae European sports sedans.

Prices for the LS frae the 2000 tae 2004 model years ranged frae juist ower $30,000 for a base V6 model in 1999, tae aroond $45,000 for fully equipped Special Edition V8 LSE trims in 2004. Bi 2006, prices ranged frae $39,945 for a base model tae $49,100 for a top-o-the-line LS. The increase in base price wis caused bi the elimination o the entry-level LS V6, which in turn moved the nou V8-ae LS frae the entry-level luxury segment tae the mid-level luxury segment.

Production o the LS endit on Aprile 3, 2006. Aw Lincoln LS models wur manufactured at Ford's Wixom Assembly Plant which wis idled in 2007, as pairt o The Way Forward. About 262,900 LS models were built.