The 2005 Lincoln line, out of the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Co., consists of four vehicles skewed toward luxury mode.

Lincoln's products include the elegant full-size flagship Town Car sedan and LS series of sport-tuned performance sedans, plus two plush sport-utility wagons with the full-size Navigator and mid-size Aviator.

Lincoln's sporty touring sedan takes the label of LS, as in Luxury Sport. With mid-size dimensions and four doors fixed on a cabin for five riders, the tight machine rides on a rigid unibody structure and features liberal applications of lightweight aluminum for body panels and suspension elements. Editions of 2005 earn face-lift features with fresh fascia and the grille ringed in chrome plus revised headlamp clusters. Inside, a tailored passenger compartment exhibits an international flair in leather-lined layout with two bucket seats up front and a rear bench with twin sculptured spaces and foldable seatback with a 60/40 split.

Engines for LS contain either six or eight cylinders. The entry model has a 3.0-liter V6 good for 232 hp, but a 3.9-liter aluminum V8 hits 280 hp. Either plant connects to a five-speed electronic automatic transmission, with H-gate SelectShift controls added to the V8 version. The LS appears in three trims for the V6 -- Luxury, Appearance Package and Premium, with the V8 ordered in Sport, Ultimate and Appearance Package. Options extend to a Soundmark CDX6 audio system with DVD-based navigation kit, high intensity discharge (HID) headlights and a curtain-style air bag system.

Lincoln switches trim designations on 2005 issues of the full-size flagship sedans. Entry model is called Signature, with the upgrade labeled Signature Limited and a stretched version cast as Signature L. A six-inch extension to the wheelbase creates the long-wheelbase Town Car with wider rear doors and more backseat legroom plus heated rear seats. All Town Cars provide ample power through a big engine tuned with low-torque output so a driver feels the juice flowing through all four forward gears. The single-cam 4.6-liter V8 produces 239 hp and ties to a smooth automatic transmission. All versions of the Town Car in 2005 roll on standard 17-inch aluminum wheels and top Signature Limited flashes nine-spoke designs finished in bright chrome. New body paints go to the series with such shades as Light Ice Blue Clearcoat Metallic and Norsea Blue Clearcoat Metallic.

Lincoln's Navigator initiated the class of luxury full-size SUVs. A new design emerged in 2003 that retained the bold styling of the original, but it carved out more room in the cabin for as many as eight passengers on three tiers with a standard third-row bench that tucks into the cargo floor for a slick disappearing act. For added safety, a side curtain-style air bag system came with the new design, and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) model gained a multi-phase Control Trac system to direct engine torque to whichever wheels need it.

For 2005 there's a new powertrain in Navigator. The 5.4-liter V8 engine delivers 300 hp through a new six-speed automatic transmission. Also, the AdvanceTrac anti-skid gizmo with Roll Stability Control (RSC) is aboard all Navigators this year. The SUV provides an extensive array of standard features in two variations labeled Luxury and Ultimate. The Ultimate edition adds HID headlamps, power to open the rear liftgate, a power moonroof, heated and cooled driver and passenger seats plus power controls for folding the third-row seat into the floor.

Lincoln's second wagon fits in the mid-size SUV class and carries shapely exterior body panels and a forceful prow that mimics the styling of Navigator. It presents a new prow design this year with Lincoln's signature chrome grille and large quad-beam headlamps. In the cabin, Aviator brings three rows of seats and a choice on the second row of either a bench divided 40/20/40 or twin buckets. Power comes from a 4.6-liter aluminum V8 with 302 hp. To convert that power into force at the wheels, there's a five-speed automatic transmission with high stall-speed torque converter. Curtain-style side air bags are in place and will deploy if sensors detect rollover movement of the vehicle.

Aviator's optional AWD Control Trac system automatically monitors tire traction and selectively channels the engine torque to front and rear wheels in varying proportions to maintain a steady grip on slick roads. The AdvanceTrac skid controller with RSC is standard on all 2005 issues. Revamped trim designations focus on the Luxury series with packages of optional gear -- the AWD Elite Package, 4x2 Elite Package, Luxury Enhancement Moonroof Package and Luxury Enhancement RSES Package.