A few days ago, official photos surfaced of the next-generation Lincoln MKC, showing a crossover that had ditched its krill-hungry maw in favor of a new grille in line with treatments found on the Continental and Navigator. Lincoln announced that the refreshed MKC will be shown this week in L.A.
Yesterday, Lincoln dropped a quick teaser video on Twitter, showing several seconds of pavement followed by the lower half of a chrome wheel. Promising a vehicle that will “make a lasting impression,” the video leaves us pondering a question: If Lincoln has officially shown us the 2019 MKC, what else could it possibly have in store?
We have a feeling this vehicle is going to make a lasting impression. 11.28.17 pic.twitter.com/Pg5caGJ4sa
— LincolnMotorCompany (@LincolnMotorCo) November 27, 2017
Not much to go on, eh? We feel it’s safe to assume the vehicle in that 10-second clip is a crossover, because America and an OEM’s bottom line runs on SUVs and SUVish machines. There is an excellent chance the car will be shown in L.A. alongside the facelifted MKC, meaning the subject of that video is not something we’ve already seen.
It could be a refreshed MKX, sharing a new mug with the MKC and Navigator. This would be welcome, as the “split-wing” grille never did translate very well onto the face of a tall car. It is not overly likely, however, given that Lincoln (or any manufacturer) would be keen to give up bandwidth building up to the reveal of a new model. It is more realistic to speculate that the teaser video is confirming a Black Label MKC will be shown in L.A, a trim which was described a length in last week’s press release but was short on pictures.
If a new crossover is in the offing, this author sincerely hopes it is a replacement for the apocalyptically ugly MKT, a machine with cross-eyed taillamps and a face only a mother could slug. Like it or not, Lincoln needs a three-row crossover in its lineup and one based on the current Explorer would likely do well with its intended demographic.
Thinking back to my days on the sales staff at a small Ford-Lincoln store in the mid-2000s, the truckish Explorer-based Aviator of that era was one of our better performers on the Lincoln side of the showroom. I think it could be so again, so long as they strip off the MKSoup nomenclature. Aviator is a great name, as is Continental, so at least Lincoln is moving in the right direction on that front. Attentive readers will recall my long-term affection for the luxury brand, even if its recent crop of product left me decidedly unenthused. The new styling direction helps a lot.
As to discovering the subject of that tweet, we won’t have long to wait; the L.A. Auto Show begins in earnest today.
[Image: Ford Motor Company]
“If a new crossover is in the offing, this author sincerely hopes it is a replacement for the apocalyptically ugly MKT, a machine with cross-eyed taillamps and a face only a mother could slug.”
BOO THIS MAN. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Hush mama!
LOL
Were it not for the gushing profits from Ford pickups that allow business flexibility, I suspect FoMoCo would have ditched The Linc a while ago.
I suppose they do provide some decent company cars for execs to cruise Motown in.
Lincoln pickup.
I know it failed in the past but times have changed.
If they did, they should make it an extension of the Navigator line, as Cadillac did with Escalade EXT. Call it Navigator T.
It’s not like the EXT was a success though. Pickup trucks, especially the higher-trim ones, are mostly purchased for image. Ford or Chevy have the “authenticity” part down. If the buyers wanted a fancy badge, they’d just be spending similar money on a 5-Series or E-Class.
They already make that though. It’s called the F-150 Platinum.
They continue to build a Mark Something pickup for the Mexican market. I see them here in Phoenix once in a while with Mexico plates on ’em.
Here’s hoping that it is what it almost certainly isn’t: RWD personal luxury coupe based on a stretched Mustang. 5.0L V-8, massaged for Lincoln duty, optional EcoBoost from the Navigator/Raptor, tuned for car duty.
Dr Jekyll: smooth, quiet, roomy, luxurious.
Mr. Hyde: Hot Rod Lincoln.
you mean a new Mark series? i would hope so as well. but sadly i predict the v8 wont go. it would have the ecoboost 3.5 tt on it. the v8 is dying
It’s an MKX with a new look and new name.
Not a chance in hell that the aviator name will be used. I assume nothing more than a new grill or new “black label” package. Lincoln – make America mediocre again!
Yeah, they should just do nothing. American cars are unworthy of existence.
I’m voting for it being the new Aviator. A Black Label MKC or a restyled MKX would not create a “lasting impression.”
It is the Lincoln Nautilus.
Could be the revised MKX, but I don’t think they’d do a teaser video for it. My vote is for the Aviator, which I’ve seen (in pictures) at a private event. I liked it, a lot.