X

Photos: Lincoln C concept

Going with the idea that small cars are in, Lincoln showed off the C concept at the 2009 Detroit auto show. The C is a small car that doesn't skimp on the luxury elements, and provides the setting for a new, high-concept dashboard.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
LincolnC01.JPG
1 of 6 Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive

Lincoln C concept

Lincoln showed off its C concept at the 2009 Detroit auto show, with the idea that luxury cars don't have to be big. This urban cruiser uses an economical 1.6-liter four-cylinder direct injection engine. Even more interesting is the six-speed dual-clutch transmission, a new development from Ford we hope to see in a production car soon.

Back to 2009 Detroit auto show coverage.

LincolnC02.JPG
2 of 6 Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive

Lincoln C concept

At first glance, the C looks very odd, but when we noticed the wide, two-tone rear pillar, the style became clear--the C hearkens back to luxury hard tops of the 1930s. The front grille features Lincoln's signature wings, another feature brought back from an earlier era.

Back to 2009 Detroit auto show coverage.

LincolnC03.JPG
3 of 6 Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive

Lincoln C concept

Thin-form bench seats allow flexible seating, and enhance the easy egress allowed by the suicide doors. The rear wheels are pushed back to maximize cabin space.

Back to 2009 Detroit auto show coverage.

LincolnC04.JPG
4 of 6 Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive

Lincoln C concept

The C has a hubless steering wheel, with the wheel rotating on a chrome rim to provide steering input. A hubless wheel gives the driver an unobstructed view of the instrument panel. Paddle shifters for the dual-clutch transmission are mounted on the stationary rim.

Back to 2009 Detroit auto show coverage.

LincolnC05.JPG
5 of 6 Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive

Lincoln C concept

A touch pad lets the driver control the interface. This concept is meant to have the conceptual dashboard avatar Ford showed off at CES 2009, a virtual person named EVA who helps the driver by reading incoming e-mail, scheduling appointments, providing traffic directions, and communicating through a conversational voice command system.

Back to 2009 Detroit auto show coverage.

LincolnC06.JPG
6 of 6 Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive

Lincoln C concept

Even the brakes show innovation, with the disc running next to the rim, and the caliper clamping on from the inside.

Back to 2009 Detroit auto show coverage.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos