AUCTION WATCH
H&H
Buxton Pavilion, Derbyshire April 27, 2022
There were some interesting cars going under the hammer at H&H’s Buxton auction last month; sadly there were only a few American ones, including a 1956 Ford Thunderbird which sold for £33,750. Not as popular was a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette with an estimated value of £12,000£15,000 but it didn’t sell. Likewise a very nice-looking 1975 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Lipstick Edition, with only 52,000 miles on the clock didn’t sell, despite an estimated value of £13,000-£15,000. Not American, but American hearted (it’s got that lovely Buick Rover aluminium V8 motor we all love so much!) was a 1973 Rover P5B Coupe which sold for £14,625. For more info, see www.handh.co.uk
According to sources from within Ford (Ford Authority) Lincoln is hoping to launch all-electric variants of all of its vehicles no later than 2027, while also adding at least one new EV model to the lineup by that same deadline. Lincoln hopes to release three new all-electric vehicles by 2025, and a fourth by the end of 2026. This should include a Lincoln Aviator EV, which was meant to be launched in 2023 but had to be delayed until 2024. At the start of April Lincoln offered a glimpse of its new electric concept: the Lincoln Star Concept, more details of which have been recently released.
This exciting new concept introduces a completely new look to the luxury brand, with a remarkable new shape, packed with exciting new features, including the brand’s signature ‘Lincoln’ star on the front which illuminates. There are plenty of other unique exterior features too – lighting also plays a big role inside, with backlit doors and seats that “provide a sanctuary-like” experience (who doesn’t need a bit of ‘sanctuary’ in today’s crazy world?!).
Lincoln’s Star Concept is built on Ford’s flexible rear- and all-wheel-drive EV architecture and uses the next-generation version of the Lincoln Intelligence System, which offers users a ‘digital assistant’ enabling vehicle-to-vehicle and infrastructure capabilities. The concept’s flexible architecture also offers designers the possibility of completely reconfiguring the interior layout.
Inside the Star Concept there’s partitioned limousine-like first- and second-row seating areas, with wraparound seating which can be reclined, as well as individual leg rests, and storage space that can store everything from electronic devices to your slippers (yes, really!). A drinks cooler sits between the rear seats, along with controls for what Lincoln calls “rejuvenation moods,” that harmonise different types of audio, scents, and lighting combinations to provide a truly relaxing travelling experience. Add to this transparent pillars and a skylight-style roof (with a digital shade of course!) and the concept has an incredibly airy feel to it…
Up front, there’s a large full-width horizontal display that seamlessly integrates with the centre control screen and second-row screens. The instrument panel is wing-shaped and ‘floats’, like something you might find in an aircraft, while there’s a ‘Lincoln Attaché’ in the back which acts as a digital briefcase that can store items and charge them too. Up front there’s a large front trunk (or ‘frunk’ like a Porsche or Corvair!) featuring a lid made from electro-chromatic glass that changes from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button.
“This is a shining example of what happens when we combine Lincoln luxury with flexible electrical architecture to create unimaginable experiences for customers,” said Jim Farley, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company. “We can truly revolutionise how people engage with the brand and scale it across an exciting lineup of products that catapult Lincoln into the digital, connected age.” Amen to that; the big question is: will we see the Lincoln Star or its eventual real-world vehicle on the roads of Britain? Watch this space… (Source: Ford Authority.)