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2020 Lincoln Aviator crossover is a hot rod with 400 horsepower standard

LOS ANGELES — The 2020 Lincoln Aviator has finally been revealed in production form following its "concept" debut at the New York Auto Show earlier this year. We add the quotes because the production model is identical to the New York model. Appearances aside, the big news is under the hood. At launch, the Lincoln Aviator will be available with two engines. They're both twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6s, and one of them is a plug-in hybrid. The standard engine makes an impressive 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. To help put that into perspective, that's about 40 more horsepower than the top-rung six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 we just drove, and about 65 more horsepower than the entry-level six-cylinder BMW X5 xDrive40i. Moving to the hybrid powertrain brings Aviator output to 450 horsepower and a staggering 600 pound-feet of torque. That's just 6 ponies shy of the V8-powered BMW X5 xDrive50i, but 121 more pound-feet of torque. This plug-in hybrid powertrain will also be able to do the typical plug-in stuff. You can run the vehicle in pure electric mode or hold the charge to be deployed at a more advantageous time such as driving in town at the end of a highway drive. Lincoln did not give estimates for the pure electric range. Fuel economy hasn't been revealed yet, either. Other interesting hybrid notes: The battery fits entirely under the passenger side of the vehicle between the front and rear wheels. The motor is sandwiched between the engine and transmission. Lincoln also mentioned this is a modular hybrid system, so expect to see it appear in other Lincoln and Ford products in the future. This powertrain layout is part of what makes it possible for all versions of the Aviator to use the same 10-speed automatic transmission, which is gradually proliferating through the whole Ford family. From there, power either goes solely to the rear wheels, or through an optional all-wheel-drive system. All of this power can ride on an available adaptive air suspension the company calls Air Glide. It works like many adaptive suspensions, scanning the road with a camera to adjust damping for bumps ahead. It does have some other trick features, though. When the Aviator is parked, the suspension lowers to make the crossover look more attractive while sitting. And when the driver approaches, it lowers itself further for easier ingress. It also raises itself for snow or mild off-road driving, and it lowers down at highway speeds for better aerodynamics.

Why Grandpa loved Lincoln: Looking back at a century of design

It’s been 100 years since Henry Ford, in the aftermath of World War I, purchased the scraps of the Lincoln Motor Company. Ford put his son Edsel in charge of the automaker, and challenged him to create a luxury car company that could rival Cadillac, Packard and Pierce-Arrow. This meant, first off, bringing actual automotive designers into the fold, building out FordÂ’s first such department. The Model T, FordÂ’s then long-in-the-tooth mainstay, was created by engineers, and looked it. “For Lincoln, the innovation and setting of new standards of modernity has always been a core of our design,” said Kemal Curic, a 20-year veteran of Ford, and global design director of Lincoln since 2014. “Since its founding purchase from Henry Leland, Lincoln was always courageous to introduce new designs.” These included concentrations on streamlining and exuberance. These focci yielded a number of vehicle designs that were influential not just for the brand, but for the industry. 1936 Lincoln Zephyr, 1939 Lincoln Presidential Limo “Some of the cars that changed America were the 1936 and ‘38 Zephyr. The ‘36 for its aerodynamic look, and the ‘38 for its patented horizontal grille,” said Lincoln archivist and historian Ted Ryan. “Also, the 1939 Zephyr Continental, developed in ‘39 as a 1940 model – later known just as the Lincoln Continental – instituted another icon that stayed in place for decades with the spare tire initially exposed, and then treated with the spare tire hump.” Both Ryan and Curic also called out a number of other inspiring Lincoln models. These included the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept – which was later turned into the Batmobile by George Barris – and the 1961 Continental, famed for its rectilinear slab sides and suicide doors, plus its role as a presidential limousine in the Kennedy era. “These cars emphasized horizontality,” Curic said. “We like to relate that to the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright in his architecture. Wright loved his Lincolns. These proportions on the exterior were always Lincoln signifiers.” 1961 Lincoln Continental, Lincoln Futura Concept Lesser known than these is an example of what, back in the day, was known as a Hybrid: a car featuring an American powerplant and European design. “IÂ’m a huge fan of the 1955 Indianapolis Concept,” Curic said, a stunning jet-like vehicle that was last up for auction by RM SothebyÂ’s in 2013.

2020 Lincoln Aviator pricing can fly sky high: Configurator is up and running

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator is priced at $52,195 to start, Lincoln announced today as the crossover's configurator went live. Revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show late last year, the Aviator is the newest entry in Lincoln's SUV lineup. It slots in below the Navigator but above the Nautilus. Five different trim levels will be offered at the start, with two powertrain combinations as well. The most expensive Black Label Grand Touring SUV will set you back a cool $88,895. Even the base engine in the Aviator is quite potent. It's a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 making 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in hybrid version is even more powerful, as it keeps the same gas engine but adds electric power to bring the final tallies to 450 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Hello Germany, says Lincoln. Lincoln differentiates between the plug-in and normal Aviator with the Grand Touring designation. The cheapest one of these begins at $69,895. That's a hefty price increase compared to the base model, but the power increase plus ability to run an unspecified number of miles on electric only is a pretty hefty benefit. As we take a look at others in the segment, the Lincoln is priced competitively in base spec. Specifically, the Aviator undercuts the Germans by a decent amount. The 2019 BMW X5 starts at $61,695. Mercedes has the redesigned 2020 GLE starting at $56,695. And the Audi Q7 begins at $54,545. Every one of those cars is underpowered compared to the Aviator at those price points. That said, you probably won't want just the base Aviator. Stepping up just one level to the Reserve trim at $57,285 nets you features like a 14-speaker Revel audio system, 360-degree camera and quad-zone climate control. Going up to the pricey Black Label ($78,790), you'll get the 30-way heated/cooled seats, 28-speaker Revel audio system, Panoramic roof and all the fancy materials that go with Lincoln Black Labels. If you tack on every option you can to the high-zoot version, it'll crest $90,000. Lincoln says orders for the new Aviator can be placed in February, and vehicles will be arriving to dealers in the summer. 2020 Lincoln Aviator View 27 Photos Related video: