Lincoln lifted the veil on its new Aviator SUV at the 2018 New York International Auto Show this week. And while the model on display at the Lincoln stand is not quite production-ready, it is mighty close.
You might recall that this is not the Aviator name’s first entry into the Lincoln lineup. The first saw the light of day just over a decade ago, but that version, seen by many as little more than a shrunken version of the Navigator, never really stuck with consumers.
Lincoln seems to have learned from the experience; the new Aviator is not just a pale copy of its larger sibling.
One of the interesting elements for consumers is that the Aviator will be available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. For the moment, however, there is no information on the type of engine this system will include, nor on the all-electric range it might achieve. We can easily surmise it might be powered by the 2.7L 6-cylinder EcoBoost, or else the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, if Lincoln decides to produce a performance-focused version.
Lincoln is hoping its new Aviator will be enough of a standout to succeed in the mid-size SUV segment. This category accounts for one quarter of all luxury SUV sales, so doing well here will certainly help Lincoln’s bottom line.
The Aviator will benefit from Ford-Lincoln’s latest new technologies, including the Co-Pilot 260 system. Keyless access to the vehicle is pushed further through the use of smartphones.
More details will be coming from Lincoln as the Aviator gets closer to commercial launch. We’ll keep you posted!
