NEWS FROM THE BIG APPLE SHOW
Lincoln’s latest brings conventional gasoline and plug-in hybrid powertrains to the table
What is it? A name that lived for a nanosecond back in 2003 is returning on an all-new Lincoln SUV. While the three-row Aviator is being pushed as a concept, the reality is it’s pretty much the model that will go on sale in 2019. It’s also the first of two new SUVs arriving by 2020. When it does roll out, the Aviator will be the first to use one of Ford’s new platform architectures. In this case, a rear-drive base with an all-wheeldrive option.
Why does it matter? When launched, the Aviator will be offered with a conventional gasoline powertrain and an all-new plug-in hybrid that will be based on a twin-turbo engine. It, says Lincoln, will deliver stellar performance and be fuel efficient at the same time.
The cabin is elegant in its simplicity — a large, 10-inch touch screen sits atop the dashboard with a small cluster of buttons residing at the leading edge of the centre console. An app called Lincoln Way allows all the usual things. For instance, locking and unlocking the Aviator could be done through a smartphone, but goes one further by allowing the driver to start and drive the vehicle without the smart key.
When is it coming? The production-spec Lincoln Aviator will arrive in 2019, likely badged as a 2020 model. Should you buy it? The Lincoln Aviator is a sharp looker, with all of the latest technologies along for the ride, including CoPilot 360. It has blind-spot monitoring and forward-collision avoidance with automatic braking, but it has an interesting twist. The camera that scans lane markings also analyzes the road, readying the adaptive damping suspension for any upcoming road imperfections.