Aviator is ready to take flight
Lincoln calls SUV concept a ‘game-changer.’
NEW YORK – In its new Aviator, Lincoln has come up with an innovative SUV concept vehicle that will bring the Ford luxury brand closer to being viewed as on par with German brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Not only does it have a breakthrough, aviation-oriented design, but it will also come in a plug-in hybrid version.
“Aviator is really a watershed moment for us,” Jim Farley, Ford’s president of global markets, said after its unveiling Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show. “We wanted to go back to our roots.”
Aviator, a three-row midsize SUV, is meant to capture high-end consumers seeking quiet elegance and a smooth ride with an option for a plug-in hybrid. The concept vehicle won’t be sold, but the version made for showrooms arrives next year.
The design is meant to be true to the SUV’s name.
“If you look at a bird or a plane in flight, the wing is always at an angle to the air and falling downward toward the rear,” said David Woodhouse, design director at Lincoln, who worked on the Aviator. “From the headlight to the taillight, there’s a beautiful undercut feature varying in depth that connotes poise and grace.”
The aviation theme is carried into the interior, where there’s extensive use of embossed metal trim such as the skin of a vintage aircraft.
Farley said the Aviator will stand apart from other SUVs.
“We found our own voice,” he said. The interior “will have a different ambiance than you’ll find in other vehicles.”
While competitor utility vehicles are portrayed as aggressive and domineering, the Lincoln team sought to emphasize beauty and the feeling of a sanctuary. Lincoln said a first encounter with an Aviator should be less of an attack and more of a seduction.
The preview model provides a glimpse into the direction Lincoln plans to take with its newest SUV when the production model goes on sale in 2019. The company is targeting buyers aged 35 to 44.
With its roomy interior and twin turbocharged engine, the vehicle fits neatly in the midsize premium SUV segment, which has seen sales steadily grow — from 526,672 in 2015 to 585,163 vehicles in 2017.
It comes in iridescent Flight Blue with the signature Lincoln grille. A wraparound windshield helps complete the aviation-inspired theme.
In addition, owners will be able to leave their keys at home and use a smartphone to access the vehicle. Activated through the Lincoln Way app, it allows owners to lock, unlock, open the trunk, start and drive the vehicle without an actual key fob.
Seats offer 30-way adjustability and massage. The second-row seats recline. Wireless phone charging is located in the front armrest. Power outlets are found throughout the vehicle, along with Wi-Fi.
In addition, Aviator will have advanced driver assist technologies that include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot information systems with cross-traffic alert, lane keeping systems, a reverse camera and reverse brake assist.
Joy Falotico, president of Lincoln, said the quiet performance “will be a game-changer.” In the end, she said, “Our goal is to make life more effortless and stress free.”
“We want to offer a calming experience, a break from tedium and stress,” Woodhouse said.
Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis at AutoPacific, said after an early preview that Lincoln is elevating interior design and promising a quiet interior due to the electrified powertrain: “Aviator returns to the rear-wheel-drive roots of the last Aviator but in a wrapper that won’t be confused with a Ford sibling this time around.”
Analysts are curious to see how car shoppers respond.
“Lincoln might be the underdog today, but they are really putting money into the brand, giving it the best hope for contributing to the bottom line than we’ve seen in decades,” he said.
Lincoln did not provide timing for release of the vehicle or project cost.