V12-powered Lincoln Continental concept is the flagship sedan that never was

Yesterday’s Tomorrow

The turn of the 21st century was a time of great optimism in the American auto industry, exemplified by a series of concept cars that attempted to drum up interest in the stodgy Lincoln brand, then known primarily as the purveyor of that staple of livery services, the Town Car.

It’s rare for a concept car to be offered for sale to the public, but that’s the case with one of the best of the millennial Lincoln concepts. A V12-powered vision of a new Lincoln Continental from 2002 that never reached production, it’s due to be auctioned off by Mecum on September 20 in Chicago.

Legacy Of The Premier Automotive Group

Ford went on a shopping spree in the last decade of the 20th century, leading to the 1998 creation of the Premier Automotive Group of high-end brands, and giving the automaker an impressive parts bin to pick through when developing the Continental concept.

The slab-sided sedan debuted at the 2002 Los Angeles Auto Show with an Aston Martin 6.0-liter V12 under its hood producing 414 horsepower, which was sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. A V12 gave the Continental concept true luxury-flagship chops, while also throwing back to prewar Continentals, which also boast twelve-cylinder power. And the fact that Ford also owned Aston made the engine available.

The powertrain was paired with retro-futuristic styling that appeared heavily influenced by the classic Elwood Engel-designed Continentals of the 1960s—right down to the suicide doors. Those doors were power-operated, and featured flush handles. That detail is fairly common today, as are 22-inch wheels like the ones fitted to this concept. So it was a true predictor of the future in some ways. The trunk’s pop-out luggage tray was not one of them, however.

A Different Path For Lincoln

The Continental wasn’t the only enticing Lincoln concept from this era. There was also a reskinned Ford Thunderbird called the Mark X that also debuted in 2004 (this car was also auctioned off, in 2024) and the MKR fastback sedan, which debuted in 2007 and previewed Ford’s EcoBoost engines. But while the Continental did make a brief (and underwhelming) return as a 2017 model, Lincoln’s reinvention has been defined by SUVs, not sedans.

Those interested in contemplating what might have been will soon be able to purchase one of two 2002 Continental concepts built. Crucially, the one being auctioned off is the only one designed to be driven. However, it may need some work to be returned to drivable condition, and it can’t be registered for use on public roads.