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Lincoln teases electric concept SUV that will debut soon

An electric Lincoln concept vehicle is going to be revealed on April 20, and today Lincoln is giving us a quick glimpse of what to expect. Before we detail the few shots of the car itself, here’s all Lincoln told us about the vehicle: “The global concept serves as inspiration for our fully electric Lincoln vehicles coming in the near future.” So, expect to see elements taken out of this concept car applied to production cars later this decade. As of now, the main theme we can see in the teaser is light. Lincoln is using LED lighting tech all over the car, and itÂ’s even in some unique spots like the roof, hood and fenders. ThereÂ’s a good chance this lighting doesnÂ’t make it anywhere near a production car, but it gives us a look at where LincolnÂ’s heads are at with design. Clearly, light will be key. Where the light makes more sense is in the light-up Lincoln badges all over the concept. We can see the massive light-up badge in front, smaller light-up badge on the side and the “Lincoln” spelled out with light-up letters on the rear. ItÂ’s also important to note that this concept is an SUV of sorts. We can see very little of the actual design, but itÂ’s no surprise to see Lincoln using the SUV body style as inspiration for its future EVs. The little we can see of the grille/front of the car makes it look like a wide and largely empty expanse of space. Most of the detailing is shrouded in darkness, so weÂ’ll just have to wait until April 20 to see what Lincoln has cooked up for us. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Ford's Jim Farley hints at Lincoln sales rebound

If you're a fan of Lincoln, get ready for "a really great story" come May 1. That's how Ford marketing boss Jim Farley, in a call with analysts, characterized the coming April sales report for the MKZ. At the moment, there are probably few things that the executive VP could want more than a happy ending for the ballyhooed sedan that has made people cry boo-hoo for the past six months.
The massive glass roof of the MKZ is trying to support a burden that would make Atlas tap out, and it hasn't shattered, but it has shown a few cracks. The car we called "a big step in the right direction," the embodiment of the reinvention of the brand and a test of Lincoln's commitment to a new rear-wheel drive offering was given an $8-million dollar Super Bowl ad spend earlier this year, then quality control issues during its assembly scuttled deliveries. Lincoln got over that and kept up the ad blitz, now it just wants the good work to take hold.
If Farley's not leading us on, April could be the month. He said the results (so far) show "the product is being very well-received," inventory is finally where it should be and the MKZ Hybrid is doing better than expected. It bears noting that Lincoln is offering some aggressive incentive programs at the moment, including 0.9-percent APR and $1,000 off for conquest buyers stepping out of competitors' vehicles.

Ed Welburn leaves a lasting legacy at GM design

General Motors design chief Ed Welburn retired July 1, and the soft-spoken stylist is leaving a lasting legacy at the automaker and on the industry. He became the first African American to lead design at a carmaker when he took over GM's top spot in 2003. Just six people have overseen the company's design, and Welburn followed in the footsteps of icons like Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell. When Welburn was given expanded global oversight in 2005, it wasn't ceremonial. He helped unite the company's sprawling design empire, and today is in charge of 2,500 people who have a hand in designing GM cars. "He nurtured a creative, inclusive, and customer-focused culture among our designers that has strengthened our global brands," Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO, said in a statement." Welburn took the helm when GM and the industry were shaking off a general styling malaise that pervaded the 1980s and 1990s. During his 13 years in charge, he took risks, produced a wide range of styles for everything from hybrids to sports cars to big trucks, and leaves GM design in a better place. Welburn's replacement, Michael Simcoe from GM's international design unit, has big shoes to fill. News & Analysis News: Tesla attracted more than 325,000 preorders of the Model 3 in about a week. Analysis: If anything, the Model 3 is more popular than many expected. Elon Musk tweeted that surprising figure on Thursday, and he said just five percent ordered the maximum number of two. That seems to indicate actual owners rather than speculators are fueling the demand. With a starting price of $35,000 before incentives and an electric range of 215 miles, the Model 3 is the Tesla that's attainable for a lot of people. Clearly, that notion is resonating. News: Lincoln has drawn 40,000 hand-raisers for the Continental. Analysis: Okay, that's not a Tesla figure, but it's still an encouraging sign for Lincoln that one of its most famous and historic names still resonates in 2016. It also demonstrates using a real, albeit slightly dusty name, was the right call for the MKS replacement. "No other Lincoln vehicle has generated this much interest in this little time," Lincoln president Kumar Galhotra said in New York last month. The concept that debuted a year ago put Lincoln back on the map, and the production version remains true to that promise. It will stand out on the road when it arrives this fall, and ultimately, that kind of style will determine Lincoln's future.