2017 Lincoln Continental AWD Reserve Gallery

The Continental badge has some history under its belt, and not all of it good. Forget the mediocre cars Lincoln released with the name in the 90s and after; they've, happily, been retired in favor of something far more suitable. Chomping at the bit to give you a taste of American Luxury is this, the 2017 Continental.

Outside it's big, bold, and unapologetic, even if the grille does borrow a little from Bentley. Sweet detailing like the chrome-ribbon electromechanical door handles and almost delicate side-mirrors help lift what's a fairly slab-sided affair. Open up, and the cabin has lost the shag-pile excess of the 2015 concept car that first wowed us, but you still get real wood, seats with almost comical levels of adjustment potential, and vast rear legroom.

Under the hood of this top-engine car is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, with AWD. It'll deliver 400 HP and 400 lb-ft. of torque. Really, though, the 2017 Continental is all about menacing cruising.