2017 Lincoln Continental Starts At $45,485

CARS.COM — When the 2017 Lincoln Continental goes on sale this fall, it will start at $45,485 including destination; it’s a competitive base price against cars such as the Audi A6, Lexus GS and BMW 5 Series.

Related: 2017 Lincoln Continental: First Impressions

The base price gets you the entry-level model, which Lincoln calls Continental Premiere. At the other end, the Continental Black Label tops out close to $80,000 with all options.

Here’s all the major equipment:

• The Continental Premier ($45,485) has high-intensity-discharged headlights, a backup camera with front and rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seats with power adjustments up front, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable steering column, power-folding mirrors and a Sync 3 multimedia system.
• The Continental Select ($48,440) adds a power trunk, 19-inch wheels, power-cinching doors and dual backseat USB chargers.
• The Continental Reserve ($54,840) adds a blind spot warning system with cross-traffic alert, additional seating adjustments (24 in total), cooled front seats, a rear climate zone, a power rear-window sunshade, power-folding rear head restraints and a navigation system.
• The Continental Black Label ($63,840) gets unique interior materials in Chalet, Rhapsody or Thoroughbred themes. It also has 20-inch wheels and an upgraded Revel Ultima stereo.

The Black Label gets a few non-equipment perks, too, including a salesperson who brings the car to you, complimentary car washes, one annual vehicle detailing and dinner for two at one of Lincoln’s partner restaurants.

Additional options on various trim levels include a surround-view camera system, automatic parking, a lane keeping system, adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic moonroof and 30-way power front seats, which would have clocked the competition in this contest. Backseat passengers can get power-adjustable seats with heating and cooling as well as inflatable outboard seat belts.

The Continental comes with three engines and front- or all-wheel drive. All of them employ a six-speed automatic transmission. Lincoln says power ratings are estimated right now; here’s how they shake out:

• A 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 with front-wheel drive comes on the Premiere and Select. With either car, all-wheel drive is optional ($2,000).
• A 335-hp, turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 is optional on the Select ($2,250) and standard on the Reserve and Black Label. That engine drives the front wheels, but all-wheel drive is optional ($2,000).
• A 400-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 is optional on the Reserve and Black Label ($5,265 on both, cost includes torque-vectoring all-wheel drive). Lincoln says this engine needs 93-octane premium gas to achieve 400 hp, but a spokesman told us the car should still make that power if your local station’s premium gas is 91 octane.

The Continental’s arrival also signals the end of the MKS sedan, which was considerably less expensive. Lincoln says the MKS is done this year.