Back in 2002, the automotive industry had a completely different landscape. It was a time of growth, with a noticeable increase in the size of SUVs and trucks, while large American sedans were still popular.

Therefore, when the 2002 Lincoln Continental was introduced at the LA Auto Show, equipped with a V-12 engine, it seemed likely that a production version would follow. However, looking back, it is clear that a V-12 flagship never materialized and the Continental nameplate, which briefly made a comeback in 2017, is now defunct.

The Continental Concept was praised by Lincoln for its demonstration of the brand's upcoming design language. The envisioned future was characterized by defined body lines and a high beltline, giving the exterior a sharp appearance. The sedan's profile was mainly uncluttered, with the exception of the dominating 22-inch wheels which were considered quite large for its time.

The sleek look was further enhanced by the flush door handles, and the concept even paid tribute to classic 1960s Continentals with its center-opening doors. The interior featured advanced technology such as display screens and OLED lighting, which are now commonly found in today's market.

Uncommon was the presence of a 6.0-liter V-12 engine beneath the hood. This was a functional concept, utilizing a 12-pot engine from Aston Martin (which was owned by Ford at the time) that produced 414 horsepower.

As stated in Ford's initial press release for the Continental concept, it provided power to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission and boasted six-piston front brakes with 16-inch rotors. This flagship sedan was created not only for luxury, but also for high performance.

The introduction of the Continental concept aided Lincoln in releasing refreshed versions of the Town Car and Navigator for the 2003 model year, as well as the newly introduced Aviator based on the Explorer. Although the design features of these vehicles did not directly reflect the concept, the Zephyr, which was based on the Ford Fusion, did fulfill some of the original promises. However, a newer model of the Town Car was never produced and as the 2010s came to a close, Lincoln's designs shifted towards more organic forms instead of sharp lines.

If the popularity of SUVs hadn't taken over, there may have been a chance for a production version to be developed. However, Lincoln chose to discontinue the ninth-generation Continental in 2002 and replaced it with the Zephyr. The iconic nameplate made a comeback in 2017 with a design that resembled the concept, although with some slight modifications. Unfortunately, it was discontinued again after only three years.

The fate of concept cars typically involves being placed in either automaker heritage collections or being destroyed. However, there are instances where they are sold at auctions, which was the case for this particular Continental. It was originally sold for $56,100 at the RM Sotheby's Monterey auction in 2010, but was later auctioned off again in 2014 for a lower price of $27,500. Currently, the car can be viewed at the Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum in Chicago, Illinois.

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