Lincoln – Vignale Gilda

The Vignale Gilda was a concept car developed under the Lincoln brand, presented as a two-seat luxury cabriolet. Although never officially described as such, it was widely seen as a rival concept to the Cadillac Allanté, leading some observers to expect it would preview a production model. It was later fitted with a "Lincoln by Vignale" script in place of the Vignale badge on its rear, worn as a number-plate surround, and it was displayed at the Detroit Auto Show. Fine vertical detailing on its flat radiator grille also pointed to a Lincoln identity. Ford is believed to have shelved the Gilda program after sales of the Allanté, which was partly built by Pininfarina, fell short of expectations.

The design was created at Ford's American design center with input from Ghia SpA of Turin, intended to illustrate a fast luxury touring car concept for the 1990s. Its aerodynamic front featured eight small headlamps under glass covers, while a prominent trim strip emphasized the horizontal lines of the flanks. A curved cutout in the rear light glass echoed the spare-wheel housing of the Lincoln Continental. The steeply raked windscreen was joined by fixed triangular quarter windows, and the folding top disappeared under a rigid cover shaped with two humps trailing from the headrests. A hardtop version was also developed, with a second side window reaching to the rear corner for a brighter cabin. The leather interior included electronic elements within a wide dashboard. Ford disclosed only that the engine was front-mounted and drove the rear wheels. The car rode on P225 VR 60/16 tires, with a wheelbase of 2540 mm, track of 1540/1520 mm, and dimensions of 4560 mm length, 1810 mm width, and 1270 mm height.