Months after unveiling a Continental with suicide doors at a closed-door dealer event, Lincoln has officially taken the wraps off the 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition, as it will be called. But instead of going all out and producing all Continentals this way or offering it as a regular menu option, Lincoln will produce just 80 examples with this feature, paying homage to the Lincolns of yesteryear including the Continental of the 1960s -- the last of the breed to feature doors of this type.
"The center-opening doors became synonymous with the Lincoln Continental, even though they were only featured primarily in the ’60s," said David Woodhouse, Lincoln design director. "But they struck such a chord that they’re still remembered so fondly today."
Perhaps the biggest surprise of this limited edition model is that it will feature a wheelbase stretched by 6 inches to better accommodate ingress and egress with both doors open. In addition to the 80 cars that Lincoln will produce for the 2019 model year, it will also make "a limited number of additional Continental Coach Door Edition sedans" for the 2020 model year, which sounds like the automaker wants to keep its options open based on demand.
However, given the fact that the initial 80 cars will be built in such a small number (as opposed to a becoming a regular option) and will feature a stretched wheelbase, this means that these cars will essentially be handmade and loaded with all the luxury options that Lincoln offers, including a choice of Black Label interior themes. The rear doors themselves will open a full 90 degrees, making ingress and egress easier to rear seat passengers who will be able to fully turn in the seat to exit, and who will also enjoy a stowable tray table with tablet holders and a wireless charging pad.
We can't help but wonder if the wheelbase stretch is something that should become a regularly available option on this model even apart from the suicide doors.