2012 Lincoln Mks Ecoboost Awd Custom Black Trim Appearance Package on 2040-cars

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Lincoln needs a farewell address, not a new marketing plan

The trouble with Ford's Lincoln brand is that no one cares about it any more.
Not long after I heard that Mark LaNeve, chief operating officer of Ford agency Team Detroit, was moving to take over direct operations of the New York ad agency Hudson Rouge for Lincoln, I heard that JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson was ousted. The two events are connected.

2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring First Drive | It's the plug-in hybrid one

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — While we've already declared that the 2020 Lincoln Aviator is the real deal, that earlier first drive only covered the gas-only base version. Not that a 400-horsepower anything is typically considered "base," but it certainly becomes that when there's another version available, the Aviator Grand Touring, that's good for a cool 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque.  Frankly, it seems a little odd to fixate on output figures when the Aviator goes out of its way to push its accelerative capability into the background and instead focus on an altogether luxurious and effortless driving experience. But 630 pound-feet is a whole heap of torque that fully eclipses even the mighty BMW X7 M50i. The BMW has a twin-turbo V8 engine fettled by M Division, however. The 2020 Aviator Grand Touring is a plug-in hybrid. Unlike other gasoline-electric variants, this version does not take a smaller engine and add electricity. Rather, it starts with the regular Aviator's whole hog 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and sandwiches a 75-kW electric motor between it and the 10-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard, but it's a traditional system rather than one created by a rear-axle electric motor. With this approach, Lincoln is trying to create a range-topping model, not necessarily an eco-oriented one. The Grand Touring is the V12-powered Mercedes S600 to the regular Aviator's S500. It's best to think of it in those historic luxury terms, because despite the eye-popping output, this is still not a sport-tuned vehicle. Indeed, it's very possible that it's not actually that much quicker off the line than the regular version. Black Label - Chalet 3 View 30 Photos Lincoln didn't provide a 0-60 time, but the Grand Touring weighs 781 pounds more than a gas-only all-wheel-drive Aviator. Stuffing 96 lithium-ion battery cells under the second-row seat tends to do that. As a result, the hybrid's added electric wallop does in fact make it feel more powerful, but it's not the sort of face-flattening experience you might expect with that torque number. It's not that different. Well, in terms of acceleration, at least. There are actually some drivability issues. The throttle is difficult to modulate smoothly from a start, at least when driving in hybrid mode with the plug-in battery portion fully drained.

Lincoln previews new Navigator with illuminated grille, new interior

While it's not the best-selling Lincoln, the Navigator stands proud as the company's flagship and one of its most important models in terms of image. The current-generation SUV made its debut for 2018, and it will soon receive what sounds like a round of far-reaching updates. Full details about the new-look Navigator aren't available yet, but a short preview video published by Lincoln gives us several hints. We already know that the front end gets a redesigned grille that's seemingly wider, and the teaser confirms that the central slat and the Lincoln emblem will be illuminated. Earlier spy shots suggest that the big SUV's overall proportions won't significantly change, however. Another detail revealed by the video is that the updated Navigator receives a redesigned interior. In the current model, the ignition button is located on the right side of the steering column (near where you'd expect to find the ignition barrel in an older car) and the buttons used to shift the transmission into gear are below the air vents on the center stack. In the updated SUV, the ignition button and the piano key-like shift buttons are on the center console. The steering wheel gets a cleaner-looking design, and it looks like the dashboard is new as well. There's no word on what's under the hood. For 2024, the Navigator comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that's twin-turbocharged to 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It spins the four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel-drive is no longer offered. An unverified report claims a hybrid system will join the portfolio; the 10-speed automatic was developed with electrification in mind, after all. Lincoln will unveil the Navigator on August 15, and the model should land on dealer lots for the 2025 model year. The Ford Expedition that the Navigator is closely related to is expected to receive a major round of visual and tech updates for the 2025 model year as well.