Handy Gadgets

Robert Farago reviews the Lincoln Zephyr and points to some innovations which could go some way in improving the look and performance of this marque. 'Lincoln needs a front-wheel-drive mid-size sedan like Hummer needs a camouflage SMART (unless they use it as an H2 escape pod). Even if we ignore Lincoln’s illustrious past-- first betrayed in 1936 by a funny-looking car called a Zephyr-- the brand’s recent history sets the standard. Exhibitionist A: the Lincoln Continental Mark IV: a huge, thirsty, poorly-built, foul-handling beast from a time when jeans had bells at the bottom. While the infinitely smaller [modern] Zephyr is so safe and reliable it Hertz and boasts twice as much everything room than the old Mark, Lincoln’s ‘70’s luxobarge holstered a 7.5-liter V8 with more swagger than Ludacris at a Kapp Alpha Theta. Now THAT’S what I’m talking about. '