It appears Lincoln is going back to the future with plans to install suicide rear doors on the Continental.

In a cryptic tweet, the automaker said “Center-opening doors elevated the Lincoln Continental of the mid 1960’s to the pinnacle of mid-century style, a car driven by the likes of Pablo Picasso.” The company then tagged Throwback Thursday (#TBT) and teased “or is it?”

The hint is particularly noteworthy as multiple dealers, who attended a National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Las Vegas earlier year, said Lincoln used the event to announce suicide rear doors would be installed on a “future version of the Continental sedan.” However, Lincoln declined to confirm this and dealers weren’t informed of when the change would occur.

Given the timing of the latest tweet, it could suggest Lincoln is preparing to introduce an updated Continental at the North American International Auto Show in January. The Continental debuted at the Detroit show back in 2016 which means it will celebrate its third anniversary next month. That’s a little early for a facelift, especially a major one involving something as complicated as adding rear-hinged rear doors, but Lincoln appears to be pretty enamored with the idea.

There’s also the possibility that Lincoln could show a Continental concept with suicide doors and then introduce the production variant sometime in the future. Of course, that’s all just speculation at this point.

Regardless, the tease comes at an interesting time as the Continental will soon become the only large luxury sedan from an American automaker to be sold in the United States. Cadillac will cease North American production of the CT6 on June 1st, 2019 and the last Cadillac XTS will roll off the assembly line in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Thanks to Bill for the tip!

2017 Lincoln Continental-10 Lincoln Tweet Hints At Return Of Suicide Rear Doors For Upcoming Model
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2017 Lincoln Continental-1 Lincoln Tweet Hints At Return Of Suicide Rear Doors For Upcoming Model