Lincoln Star Concept: Rejuvenation, Anyone?

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Lincoln is promising three new fully-electric vehicles by 2025. Ford’s luxury arm took the wraps off of a concept previewing one of them last night.

Lincoln claims a fourth EV will debut by 2026.

The concept hints at the design the brand will employ for its EVs — that’s one news nugget we were able to glean from a buzzword-heavy press release that prompted eye rolls from this editor.

We do know the doors will be backlit and the star in the Lincoln logo will light up when drivers approach the vehicle. We also know that the planned platform will be able to accommodate rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive setups.

Lincoln also promises that its EVs will be able to wirelessly “talk” to other vehicles and infrastructure and that there will be new advanced driver-aid systems, such as what Lincoln calls “Help Me See” and “Park for Me.” Both seem self-explanatory.

The concept’s cabin has wraparound seating, a “lounge posture”, leg rests, device storage, and a glass cooler for beverages.

The A- and D-pillars are transparent with metal latticework that is visible from the inside, and there’s a full skylight with a digital shade. There are infotainment screens for both seating rows, and Lincoln offers three “rejuvenation” modes that are meant to help occupants relax. They’re tied to the time of day, and Lincoln makes vague promises about how software updates could lead to more customization in the future.

There’s a front trunk with glass that can shift from transparent to opaque, one-pedal driving, a floating instrument panel, a hidden compartment for secure storage of expensive electronic devices like laptops that also has wireless charging, and a cargo-area outdoor chair.

The Star is a concept, so it’s hard to say what, if any, features are slated for production any time soon. Our take is that it brings back the old-fashioned, uh, concept of having concept cars — something auto shows have been sorely lacking. It could’ve been the star of the New York Auto Show last week (pun fully intended).

Oh well. No matter when the wraps came off, it looks pretty good, and some of the features sound useful, while others seem silly (rejuvenation modes? Really?). We’ll be keeping an eye on Lincoln to see what actually makes production.

[Images: Lincoln]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 17 comments
  • Analoggrotto Does anyone seriously listen to this?
  • Thomas Same here....but keep in mind that EVs are already much more efficient than ICE vehicles. They need to catch up in all the other areas you mentioned.
  • Analoggrotto It's great to see TTAC kicking up the best for their #1 corporate sponsor. Keep up the good work guys.
  • John66ny Title about self driving cars, linked podcast about headlight restoration. Some relationship?
  • Jeff JMII--If I did not get my Maverick my next choice was a Santa Cruz. They are different but then they are both compact pickups the only real compact pickups on the market. I am glad to hear that the Santa Cruz will have knobs and buttons on it for 2025 it would be good if they offered a hybrid as well. When I looked at both trucks it was less about brand loyalty and more about price, size, and features. I have owned 2 gm made trucks in the past and liked both but gm does not make a true compact truck and neither does Ram, Toyota, or Nissan. The Maverick was the only Ford product that I wanted. If I wanted a larger truck I would have kept either my 99 S-10 extended cab with a 2.2 I-4 5 speed or my 08 Isuzu I-370 4 x 4 with the 3.7 I-5, tow package, heated leather seats, and other niceties and it road like a luxury vehicle. I believe the demand is there for other manufacturers to make compact pickups. The proposed hybrid Toyota Stout would be a great truck. Subaru has experience making small trucks and they could make a very competitive compact truck and Subaru has a great all wheel drive system. Chevy has a great compact pickup offered in South America called the Montana which gm could make in North America and offered in the US and Canada. Ram has a great little compact truck offered in South America as well. Compact trucks are a great vehicle for those who want an open bed for hauling but what a smaller more affordable efficient practical vehicle.
Next