Back in the days of the Great Depression, a moderately priced Zephyr model was offered that helped keep the Lincoln marque alive. Known for luxurious styling, the original 1936 Zephyr was powered by a V-12 engine. Lincoln issued its last V-12 models in 1948, and the Zephyr nameplate disappeared until now.
Greg Smith, Lincoln president of the Americas, said the 2006 Zephyr delivers luxury in a smaller size. The modern-day front-wheel-drive Zephyr gets a 3.0-liter V-6 with variable valve timing and a six-speed-automatic transmission, rather than the V-12 and a manual gearshift of the earlier models. The midsize sedan seats five occupants and has a mission comparable to the original s: to make the Lincoln brand available to a new group of buyers. It goes on sale in fall 2005.
Lincoln says the optional THX II-Certified audio system is an industry first. An all-wheel-drive version of the Zephyr is expected to appear about a year after the initial front-drive sedan hits the market.
First Published October 14, 2005, 6:17 p.m.