Lincoln Star electric SUV revealed

Ford’s premium brand Lincoln previewed its electric future with a battery-powered crossover concept.

Name it Star – Lincoln’s logo is a stylized star – it is understood to be roughly the same size as the Ford Explorer-based Aviator despite offering only two rows of seats.

That puts it in the Cadillac Lyriq’s ballpark, Audi e-tron and BMW iX.

Lincoln said the Star “hints” at the design language for its future electric vehicles, of which it will introduce three models by 2025.

The fourth will take place in 2026, and Lincoln expects more than half of its global production to be electric by the middle of the decade.

This brand currently sells only 4 models in its home market of the US. Two of these – Aviator and Corsair – are available with plug-in hybrid powertrains.

The Star Concept operates on Ford’s new flexible rear-wheel drive/all-wheel drive electric vehicle architecture.

Last year, Ford confirmed that it was rolling out two new EV architectures: one for smaller cars and SUVs, the other for larger SUVs and pickup trucks.

However, it does not provide any details on electric motor output or battery capacity.

The taper lines bear some resemblance to today’s Aviator, although the styling is an evolution of Lincoln’s “Quiet Flight DNA” with a unique front end that will feature on future EVs.

There’s a large, illuminated badging that “lights up like a jewel” and a self-contained grille, as well as crystal lighting elements.

The concept car also features concept-specific features such as the doors and bonnet that lift up and the bumpers slide out to reveal storage space.

The bonnet also features e-tinted glass that switches from translucent to transparent, allowing light to penetrate both the cargo compartment and the first-row legroom.

The concept features the new Lincoln Intelligent System, a suite of vehicle-to-vehicle capabilities, and next-generation driver-assistance features like Help Me See and Park For Me.

Lincoln has pushed for a “quiet luxury” theme for its vehicles for a while, moving away from the sporty design theme found in some other luxury brands.

The interior is therefore bathed in soothing colors and light. The 3D-printed metal mesh system on the A and D pillars brings natural light into the cabin, as well as all the skylights.

As on the new Lincoln Zephyr for the Chinese market, there is a horizontal “coast to coast” display that stretches across the dashboard.

A wing-shaped floating instrument panel said to be inspired by ailerons.

Materials include leather and chrome alternatives, as well as “several unique finishes”, as opposed to the leather and often wood-lined cabins of today’s Lincolns.

Smart touches include the Lincoln Attaché, a “digital briefcase concept” with a hidden compartment in the rear door where you can safely stow your devices and wirelessly charge them, and a laptop Refrigerate drinks by glass between the two rear seats.

The rear seats have leg room and can be reclined.

The Star concept also features three “rejuvenating moods” that use a combination of sound, scent, video and light.

Coastal Morning exudes a scent of sea dew, casting soft light and playing soft ocean sounds, while Evening Chill plays a night sky video with “mellow night music” and evergreen fragrance.

Mindful Vitality plays “joyful, invigorating sounds” and “dynamic abstract artwork,” while casting soft, vibrant lighting and floral scents throughout the cabin.

In the future, these rejuvenating moods can be updated and personalized by users, says Lincoln.

“The Lincoln Star is a study of the experiences and themes that push the boundaries of Lincoln design – and it is just the beginning,” said design director Anthony Lo, design director.

“Electrification is removing many of the constraints of traditional vehicle design, allowing us to reimagine what a vehicle can be.”

Lincoln has an SUV-only lineup in North America, with the midsize MKZ and full-size Continental being discontinued in 2020.

That leaves Ford Escape-derived Corsair, Edge /EnduraNautilus is based on, Aviator is based on Explorer and Navigator is based on Expedition.

However, this sedan still exists in China, where Lincoln has just introduced a new mid-size sedan related to the fifth generation only for China. Ford Mondeo.

Both vehicles are manufactured by the Changan Ford joint venture.

Lincoln’s new sedan bearing the Zephyr badge, briefly used on the first-generation MKZ and more famously used on entry-level Lincolns (if still using a V12 engine), has been on sale since 2015. 1936 to 1942.

Last year, for the first time, Lincoln sold more cars in China than in the US. It only entered the Chinese market in 2014.