Featured Listing: Car Of The Year – 2003 Lincoln LS V8

This ClassicCars.com Marketplace featured listing is a 2003 Lincoln LS V8 for sale in Parowan, Utah. There was a time when Lincoln was known for more than just SUVs and Town Cars, and here’s the reason why.

The 2000 millennium, what could be bigger than that? In the automotive world, there was the Premier Automotive Group. Well, perhaps a bit less important, but for a short period of time, it rocked the landscape. Ford’s PAG managed to assemble an impressive stable of upscale brands, including Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, along with Ford’s luxury lines of Mercury and Lincoln. This conglomeration lasted from 1999 until 2010, more or less.

Why should we care? The PAG North American Headquarters had a big influence on the products, and the Lincoln LS was one of those. In all fairness, all of the Lincoln models of that time had been, to a large extent, developed by those talented designers at this HQ in Irvine, CA. The results of having world-class talent on various brands under one roof resulted in some amazing accomplishments. Thanks to Helmuth Schrader, the LS’ German-born chief designer, the Lincoln LS not only broke Lincoln out of its dated and stodgy image, but it actually was a genuine hit. This was not an easy task given the capabilities of rivals such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, not to mention Cadillac

Actually, it was more than an influence at work here. The Lincoln LS benefited from sharing the DEW98 Platform with the Jaguar S-Type. This included a similar clean and functional interior. The chassis also shared the Jaguar’s double-wishbone suspension in all four corners, greatly improving handling and space utilization. While sharing parts with the Lincoln, it didn’t benefit the Jaguar brand, but it did work in favor of the Lincoln LS.

The LS in 2000, released in in 1999, won the coveted Motor Trend Car Of The Year Award. This was not only a modern and yet restrained design both inside and out, it actually did all things as it should, including handling. And, for a short period of time, the Lincoln could be ordered with a manual transmission on the V6 models. This was the first time the brand offered a manual was in 50 years. However, the option V8 has far more power and torque, enough so that the manual could not be ordered with this motor.

This is where it gets even better, Lincoln didn’t just give up on the LS, or at least not immediately. In 2003, nearly 500 improvements were made to an already impressive and not unreasonably expensive car.

This featured 2003 Lincoln LS V8 is really the better buy compared with the prior model, as the power of the 3.9-liter jumps from 252 to 280, and the torque increases from 267 to 286 lb.-ft. and it comes on earlier. And, a double-rainbow, the fuel economy increases from 17/23 mpg city/highway to 18/24. This means, the 2003 Lincoln LS V8 could cover 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds, which is about a second better than the prior year model.

The LS scored a double five-star frontal safety ratings from the federal government. CNBC rated this as “one of the five safest cars of all time.” Nearly perfect scores on side impact and roll-over protection. The 2003 Lincoln LS sold a total of 33,581 units. The model line was terminated in 2006 after 262,900 were built over the seven-year lifespan.

This 2003 Lincoln LS V8 body still shows nice in the Ceramic White paint and Dark Ash interior. This is an original owner car and it has been avoided the elements by being garaged during its years.

 To view the listing on ClassicCars.com, click here.