Lincoln's Mark series has come to represent the marriage of driver-pampering

luxury and potent sport coupe road prowess.

When it was introduced in 1993, Lincoln's current incarnation, the Mark

VIII, continued that tradition--from the plush, landed-gentry refinement

of its cabin to its highway-gobbling 280-hp V8 engine.

Now, with a host of new features, restyled body panels, a new interior

and some technological advances, the Mark VIII has once again topped itself.

Where do we begin? Let's start with the Mark's innovative new lighting

system, including High-Density Discharge headlamps that deliver 2.7 times

more reflective light than standard lamps--meaning the driver sees things

easier and sooner. And the Mark VIII's use of a neon tube taillamp system--an

industry first that was pioneered in the Ford Explorer--allows following

drivers to significantly reduce their stopping distance.

In addition, Lincoln designers have replaced the Mark's plastic hood

with an aluminum one, enlarged the grille, modified the exhaust tips, and

added new front and rear fascias, along with new quarter panels. There's

more. The trademark rear-end tire hump, recalling the first Continental

of 1940, is now more subtle, and six new hues have been added to the color

chart.

The Mark's interior has also been redesigned, with several new touches--a

power-tilt steering column with memory, burled-walnut door trim, power-adjusted

lumbar-support, luxury instrument panel, and leather-trimmed armrests.

Two trim levels are offered--the standard Mark VIII and the sportier

LSC (Luxury Sport Coupe). The hue of our LSC test model was dubbed Opal

Opalascent. In less poetic English, it was a handsomely creamy off-white.

Our LSC tester's base price was $38,880. It came equipped with several

options: A $1515 power moonroof, a $670 trunk-mounted CD changer, a $300

tri-coat paint treatment, $290 heated seats and two no-charge options--front

floor mats and electronic traction assist. The $670 destination charge

boosted the total cost to $42,325.

taillamp trim are chrome; on the LSC, they're body-colored. Even though

the new grille is larger than on the '96 Mark VIII, it's still smaller

than the enormous wraparound headlamp housings. In fact, the lamp housings

are the largest in the industry, and they cast a cool, bluish beam that's

wider and longer than standard lamps.

The neon taillamps are also generously sized. The taillamp system is

actually a single 48-in. wide neon tube, which extends the full width of

the vehicle--running across the top of a trunk-mounted light bar--and wraps

around the rear fenders. The tube, which is hidden by the molding, projects

light downward onto a reflective surface, and then out through a clear

acrylic lens.

According to Lincoln, the neon illuminates 198 milliseconds faster than

standard incandescent bulbs--which means that, at speeds of 60 mph, drivers

following along behind can reduce their stopping distance by an average

of 17.5 feet. The upshot is fewer rear-end collisions.

Integrated into the side mirrors is a security lamp that illuminates

the ground when the door is unlocked using the keyless remote. On the bottom

edge of the mirror housings, a line of red LED lights blink in tandem with

the turn signals. These lights are visible to trailing cars, but are positioned

so as not to distract the driver.

Although the hood, fascias and fenders have been restyled, the shape

of the '97 Mark VIII is not radically different than the '96--except that

its corners are more rounded, and its sleek, elegant lines are more sloping.

And the vestigial decklid wheel hump has been downplayed to the point that

it barely evokes the more prominent bulge of bygone years.

price is bountifully appointed. The standard Mark VIII comes equipped with

the following goodies: Speed-sensitive variable-assist power steering,

aluminum-alloy lacy-spoke wheels, air conditioning with automatic climate

control, power windows/door locks/heated mirrors, message center with trip

computer, burled walnut wood applique, leather seats, leather-wrapped steering

wheel and gear shift, power-tilt telescopic steering column, driver's seat

memory with remote recall for two users, six-way driver and passenger power

seats with Autoglide seating system, power-adjusted lumbar support, rear-seat

heat ducts, speed control, remote keyless entry and universal garage door

opener.

That's a long list, and it gives the Mark VIII an exceptional value

quotient.

Inside our roomy LSC, the plush perforated-leather seats were accented

in grand fashion by the burled-walnut trim on the door panels and console.

The new instrument panel is highlighted by brighter, more stylized gauges

and a multi-function electronic message center that seems to keep tabs

on everything but the New York Stock Exchange. In a somewhat amusing display

of conspicuous driver-indulgence, the display distinguishes between "Vehicle"

settings and "Personality" settings.

The Vehicle settings permit the driver to do things like turn on the

traction control and monitor the distance to your next oil change. The

Personality system performs functions like locking all doors when the the

car passes three mph and tilting the side mirrors to reflect the curbside

when the car is shifted into reverse.

When the key is removed from the ignition, the driver's seat eases back

two inches while the steering column whirs upward--allowing for maximum

exit clearance (especially handy after consuming that massive slab of prime

rib at the country club.)

The leather seats were so cushiony we were tempted to settle in with

our favorite novel and a cup of herbal tea. And if you can't get comfortable

in one of the many configurations offered by the various power adjustments,

you're just too hard to please.

system, which has been relocated further away from the driver's cabin.

Those changes, in concert with improvements in body insulation and sealing,

combine to significantly reduce engine noise.

Meanwhile, the new coil-on-plug ignition system--in which each spark

plug has its own coil--helps extend tune-up intervals to 100,000 miles--presuming,

of course, normal driving conditions and regular fluid changes.

The 4.6-liter twincam 32-valve InTech V8 engine sends 280 horsepower

to the rear wheels on the standard Mark VIII, and 290 on the LSC. That

added up to plenty of launch power in our test car, as well as excellent

response at highway-passing speeds.

And make no mistake--when it comes to handling, cornering and weavy

lane-changes, the Mark VIII is light years away from its floaty Town Car

cousin. Thanks to its new speed-sensitive variable-assist steering, new

all-speed traction control, larger front stabilizer bars and retuned shocks,

the LSC proudly lived up to its sport-coupe credentials, as it nimbly and

confidently negotiated twisty country roads north of Detroit.

with the Cadillac Eldorado and the Lexus SC 400--designers are always looking

for new ways to simultaneously pamper the driver, make an elegant styling

statement and boost the car's sport-performance capabilities.

With its myriad changes and improvements for '97--the inventive lighting

system, message center enhancements, more responsive steering, smoother

ride, and further damping of noise and vibration--the Mark VIII succeeds

on all fronts.