Lincoln LSE - anyone? Help! HELP!! I DEMAND HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1X83Z
  • 24 comments
  • 7,567 views
1

1X83Z

Premium
Messages
20,944
United States
usa
I saw today a Lincoln LSE. For those of you who don't know what it is, don't post here. For those of you who do know (Firebird, The359, ///M-Spec, neon_duke, PunkRock, Josh, skip0110 - whoever), can you tell me: did it really have 350 horsepower, or were the mods merely cosmetic? The one I saw looked tough and I remember they were going to work with McLaren. I've checked it out on Google but the results differ completely - some say it was just wood trim in the interior, some say it was practically a whole new engine. Anyone know?
 
Intelligent though I'm not, I did just manage to answer my own question. What a cop-out. Oh wow, chrome wheels, side skirts, a custom interior and a rear spoiler. What the hell happened to the promised horsepower? Well?

Freakin' Ford companies.
 
I vaguely recall a Lincoln LS that had been worked over by a McLaren company, which had no relation to the F1 team, featuring a supercharged V8, but that didn't make it into production...

It's Ford, what did you expect?
 
The LSE was lame. LS's in general are kinda slow and sloppy, but if they were about 5 grand cheaper, they might be some sort of competition for the 300C.

Was this supposed to get buyers nostalgic for the Mark VII LSC, which was also co-developed with McLaren? (And looked posively badass, not to mention that it also had a nice 5.0.)

Did anyone see that LS with a S/C 4.6 that Ford engineering ran on One Lap of America? It had 430 hp, but the engine blew on the 1st or 2nd race so they swapped it with a stock 4.6 from a Crown Viccy. I wonder if this was realted to to the McLaren development.
 
As far as I know the LSE did indeed offer a 350hp Supercharged V8 tuned by McLaren, however I only know what was shown in the original prototype. I wasn't even entirely sure if the car was actually produced, but from what I've read 500 were made, all with a few extra luxury bits and the new engine and body kit.
 
See but here's the thing about that. I checked the spec list. The current LSE package is only like $3000, and it adds nothing to the engine. Lincoln claimed they were going to sell the McLaren one through 100 Lincoln dealers (the ones that "demonstrated a knowledge of sports cars"), and it seemed pretty final a couple years ago - but I never remember hearing anything about it again until I saw that one.

So if they did it, they managed it without fanfare, which wasn't their goal - in my searches I read some sort of interview with a Lincoln employee who said he wanted the performance modifications done to a few more models, like the Nav and Aviator.

Plus, don't we always hear a lot about rare cars with a lot of power done by another company? I mean, there isn't a person who's posted in this thread who isn't probably some sort of Maserati/Chrysler TC expert. And the Lotus/Vauxhall Carlton's going to go down as an all-timer.

WHAT GIVES?????
 
Lamborghini Protofino was always one of my favorite cross market cars, but it was just a concept.
 
I heard that McLaren-Ford mumbo jumbo for the Lincoln LSE McLaren a year ago, I think McLaren helped out with the suspension setting of the car, nothing from the engine. This doesn't damage with the DCX-McLaren relationship, it like Lotus helped out with Proton (a Malaysian car company), older Isuzu sportcars, and with the Kia Sportage (Asian-spec) with their suspension setup.

I think its just under-contract, no parnership or whatsoever so DCX and McLaren are still happy together.
 
M5Power
Intelligent though I'm not, I did just manage to answer my own question. What a cop-out. Oh wow, chrome wheels, side skirts, a custom interior and a rear spoiler. What the hell happened to the promised horsepower? Well?

Freakin' Ford companies.
Click to expand...
Oh I saw one of these yesterday!
 
This is why I only asked for certain peoples' response.

We've established:
- McLaren and Ford haven't made the LSE
- Ford has made the LSE, but with no engine modifications
- The LSE is merely a trim level on the Lincoln LS

We haven't established:
- Is Ford still going to make the LSE?
- Has Ford already made the LSE?
 
^ Both answers: No

It's just a concept, just like the Dodge SRT-4 Extreme Lightweight from the SEMA show, and the Ford Focus RS8 from the same show. Ford likes to entice people on their cars that they will never be in production.

Come on, this car (Lincoln LSE) was featured before the Acura TSX came in the market (which is more than two years ago).
 
Except that unlike those cars, Ford not only said it was going to be built but outlined in a detailed fashion a sales plan and how many units they would make. Hell, they even announced a target sale date. And they were going to use it as a springboard to make other performance-oriented Lincolns.

Apples to oranges, my friend.
 
I can see, Ford did produced the LSE but with a very very limited quantity, as if it didn't existed. And not all Lincoln-Mercury dealers has one, it was dealer selected:

02-06-lincoln-lse.jpg


McLaren's ‘Hot Rod’ Lincoln

Ward's Auto World, May 1, 2002


McLaren Performance Technologies, carrying through on a strategy it announced a year ago, wants to kick start the stodgy reputation of Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln luxury brand by selling a high-powered aftermarket version of the LS sport sedan.

The special-edition Lincoln LSE will carry the “Powered by McLaren Engines” moniker when it goes on sale this summer through select dealers. McLaren President and CEO Steve Rossi introduces the muscular LSE at the New York auto show.

“There is no serious American sport sedan, and we're here to make it happen,” Rossi says.

While the LSE is first, Rossi hopes it won't be last, as he says McLaren can outfit high-performance versions of the portly Navigator SUV and the smaller Aviator SUV, which Lincoln delivers soon for the 2003 model year. “We want to be the Hot Rod Lincoln guys,” Rossi says in reference to the classic Commander Cody tune.

Rossi says he expects to sell 500 units in the first year.

For an extra $5,000, a factory LS can be re-suited with performance wheels and tires, and the factory-installed 3.9L V-8 (a fair engine in its own right) gets intake enhancements and low-restriction dual exhaust. In the fall, additional tweaks will be available, including brake and chassis upgrades, twin intercoolers and Eaton supercharger, for an extra 98 hp. Extensive body dressings also will be offered.

The price, which includes the intake, exhaust and wheel upgrades, is an extra $12,000, for a total transaction price of $49,750. Sounds high, but it will be priced competitively against high-powered offerings from BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz. A 6-speed Tremec manual gearbox also will be offered in the fall, for an extra $6,000.
Click to expand...

Here another one from cars.com:

By adding 100 horsepower and as much as $23,000 to the Lincoln LS luxury sport sedan, engineering specialist McLaren Performance Technologies is about to “take the Lincoln brand and move it into the left lane,” said McLaren President and CEO Steven Rossi during the LSE’s introduction at the 2002 New York International Auto Show.

Beginning in summer 2002, McLaren will offer a host of performance upgrades that are intended to make the Lincoln LS a credible, high-performance competitor to super sedans like the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG.

McLaren hopes the 350-hp Lincoln LSE is just the first of many Lincolns to get its performance makeover. “We’d like to move on to work on the Lincoln Navigator and Aviator,” Rossi said. “Our long-term vision is to apply our expertise across the full Lincoln portfolio. Lincoln wants to be more dynamic. We are more dynamic. This is the hot-rod Lincoln.”

The LSE will feature a supercharged, intercooled, 3.9-liter V-8 engine. Rossi said McLaren “rebuilt the top end” of the Ford engine, including the Eaton supercharger, and added a new air intake system. McLaren also re-engineered the engine to mate with a Tremec six-speed-manual transmission. A five-speed-automatic transmission will also be available.

McLaren will roll out its LSE package in three steps:


This summer, a $5,000 package includes engine intake and exhaust system upgrades, as well as performance tires and wheels.
This fall, a $12,000 package consists of the supercharged, intercooled engine, brake and chassis upgrades, a new grille, and intake and exhaust enhancements.
In late fall, the six-speed-manual transmission will be available as a $6,000 option.
The chassis upgrades include a recalibrated suspension that lowers ride height by about an inch, as well as larger disc brakes that mate to four-piston StopTech calipers.

McLaren will build the LSE by pulling cars off the regular Lincoln assembly line in Wixom, Mich. After McLaren’s upgrades, the cars will return to the line to complete assembly.

McLaren worked with several other suppliers to produce the LSE’s package of features. Italian wheelmaker O-Z developed 18-inch wheels with a patented, removable, outer brightwork rim. In case of curb damage, the driver can replace just that small piece of trim rather than having to buy a whole new wheel, Rossi said.

Convertible specialist ASC worked on the LSE’s styling changes, which include a new grille and taillights, xenon high-intensity-discharge headlamps, titanium trim and the careful placement of McLaren’s “Speedy Kiwi” logo. The LSE also gets a unique version of the Lincoln badge with an orange background for the traditional Lincoln cross.

McLaren will build about 500 LSEs annually. Only about 100 of Lincoln’s 1,200 dealers will be allowed to sell the LSE. Rossi said those dealers will be chosen on the basis of their customer satisfaction ratings and their understanding of high-performance cars.

— by Mark Phelan for cars.com
Click to expand...

-> I've searched this car through Edmunds.com and ConsumerGuide.com and the LSE is not even listed on the Lincoln lineup, oh well.

:)
 
M5Power
This is why I only asked for certain peoples' response.

We've established:
- McLaren and Ford haven't made the LSE
- Ford has made the LSE, but with no engine modifications
- The LSE is merely a trim level on the Lincoln LS

We haven't established:
- Is Ford still going to make the LSE?
- Has Ford already made the LSE?
Click to expand...


Hmm.. Weird because I saw a black Lincoln with Chrome trims around the front and rear bumper? Maybe he put it on there?
 
^ You know that all blingers are wanna-be fast drivers, they think its "gangsta".
 
Ugh. I already read the stuff on cars.com when I was searching. That was PRE-PRODUCTION. I know they intended to build it - but the question still remains: did they?

Christ!
 
^ Well, I can't find news that they cancelled/backed out the production plans for the LSE, so I think they did.

Sheesh!!

Why get so irritated, I'm lending help here.
 

Latest Posts

Back