2000 Lincoln LS 3.0L V6 5MT (223 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Lincoln entered into a new territory with the 2000 LS that it built to compete against other European and Japanese mid-size luxury sedans, trying to gain back some of the customers it lost and expand its market share.

For decades, Lincoln didn’t care about premium import vehicles. It had a pool of customers who bought their Continentals from Ford’s luxury brand regardless of the trends or fashion. However, European and Japanese brands started to take some of those buyers, attracting them with new designs, features, and performance. As a result, the blue-oval automaker had to come up with something to regain those customers. It wasn’t alone in its quest, though. Jaguar had the right tools, and Ford had an adequate strategy. Therefore, in 1999, the automaker introduced the Lincoln LS for the 2000 model year. The new model looked fresh, youth-oriented, and capable of competing against other foreign car manufacturers.

Even though the biodesign era was almost gone, the 2000 Lincoln LS came with a front fascia that resembled the rounded shapes and the curved lines of that styling trend. Its headlights flanked a shield-like grille with vertical slats, resembling the one from the Navigator SUV. On the lower side, the automaker placed a new wrapped-around plastic bumper featuring an additional lower air intake flanked by the available rectangular fog lamps.

The car’s profile revealed a set of 16-inch alloy wheels for lower grades, while a set of 17-inch was available at extra cost. Furthermore, the curved lines of the bodywork and the cab-rearward design were just part of what the LS could provide to their buyers. Lincoln didn’t exaggerate with flared wheel arches or aggressive-looking side sills. At the back, the automaker installed broad taillights extended from the rear quarter panels onto the trunk’s lid. Their rounded shape was unusual for a Lincoln and could’ve been mistaken with many other vehicles on the market.

Inside, customers were up for a surprise. The rounded shapes of the dashboard, adorned by wood trims and housing a modern-looking center stack, were up to those times’ standards. Furthermore, the automaker added a premium sound system featuring a CD changer. On the center console, the 2000 Lincoln LS had the gear selector for the automatic transmission or the gear stick, depending on the options. The large, comfortable front seats had mild-bolstered areas, while in the back, a bench seat profiled for two provided enough room for full-grown adults. Thanks to the long wheelbase carried, there was also plenty of legroom.

Ford installed a choice of two engines under the hood of the 2000 Lincoln LS. The base version was powered by a 3.0-liter Duratec, 24-valve powerhouse paired with a standard five-speed manual, with an option for a five-speed automatic transmission. The other option was a 3.9-liter, Jaguar-sourced V8 powerplant that sent its oomph to the rear wheels exclusively via a five-speed automatic gearbox. Both versions benefited from all-wheel independent suspensions and enough safety systems to make the LS both comfortable and safe.