In a wide-ranging interview with Motor Trend, Lincoln president Joy Falotico has revealed a handful of details about several upcoming models.
Lincoln recently confirmed the Aviator will be followed by a second utility vehicle and Falotico stated there are four additional models on the horizon. She wasn’t ready to talk specifics but she said it was “safe to assume” the models will be a mix of new nameplates and next-generation vehicles.
Later in the interview, Falotico hinted the new platform that underpins the Aviator will be used on an assortment of the upcoming models. As she explained, “You can certainly do different things with this platform” and “you can imagine that we will be looking at opportunities to leverage it.”
While the models remain unconfirmed, previous reports have suggested the MKZ successor will arrive in 2020. The company is also expected to introduce new versions of the Continental and Nautilus around 2022. There have also been rumors about a small crossover coupe that could arrive around the same time.
Lincoln will also introduce a new MKC in the future but Falotico suggested it won’t ride on the same platform as the Aviator. Given the fact that the MKC is Lincoln’s entry-level model – with prices starting at $33,355 – it’s possible that the math simply doesn’t support using the architecture on the crossover.
Getting off the subject of crossovers, Falotico hinted the company is looking at “other things that we can do with [the] Continental.” She declined to elaborate but the company reportedly used the National Automobile Dealers Association convention to confirm plans to bring back the suicide rear doors which were a hallmark of the 1960’s Continental.
Falotico noted Lincoln is focused on plug-in hybrids and this was evidenced by Aviator concept which used an undisclosed plug-in hybrid powertrain. The executive wasn’t ready to talk about specifics but she suggested the upcoming model will have an impressive electric-only range. As she hinted, “I don’t think a 30 mile (48.2 km) range would be acceptable” to customers especially in a “vehicle for a family that’s traveling.”