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2021 Lincoln Aviator Review | What's new, price, plug-in hybrid, video

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator is the right vehicle at the right time. It’s a distinctly American take on the three-row luxury crossover segment, boasting big power and a splash of green on the side. It draws you in with its long, sleek exterior, then leaves mouths agape at the beautiful and characterful interior. Its rear-drive architecture developed in concert with the Ford Explorer gives rise to two stout powertrains. A 400-horsepower turbo V6 is standard, but the PHEV is the real barn burner with a silly 494 horses and 630 pound-feet of torque on tap. ItÂ’s a downright splendid combination of American luxury and muscle. Despite all that power, though, donÂ’t come in expecting a stiff, handling-focused crossover like youÂ’ll get from German luxury brands. The power and adaptive suspension is there to make the driving experience effortless, not to set fast lap times. Lincoln isnÂ’t trying to best AMG or M at their own game, opting instead to put its own stake in the ground as peak American luxury. The option to get a plug-in hybrid should make it ideal for eco-conscious luxury buyers who might scoff at a Navigator, too. If youÂ’re looking for a luxurious family vehicle that prioritizes serenity and comfort above all else, take a hard look at the Aviator. What's new for 2021? Not much has changed in the AviatorÂ’s second year besides some packaging and color shuffling. New exterior colors include Asher Gray and Ocean Drive Blue. Flight Blue is no longer a Black Label exclusive, either — you can spec it on Reserve and up for 2021. In packaging news, the panoramic sunroof is made standard on the Reserve trim; soft-close doors are standard on Black Label, and a “high-efficiency” cabin filter is standard on all trims. 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring Black Label View 34 Photos What are the Aviator interior and in-car technology like? No other company's interiors look anything like the mid-century-inspired palace of cool you get in the Aviator. All versions are available with distinctive color schemes shown below, but the Black Label trim level stands out the most with its three available "themes" of "Chalet," "Flight" and "Destination" that get special colors and trim types. The quality of some plastics and the fit-and-finish aren't up to Mercedes or BMW levels, but everything looks so special that it covers whatever deficit exists. Most competitors just seem drab and generic by comparison.

Ford recalls over 953,000 vehicles to replace Takata airbag inflators

DETROIT — Ford is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles worldwide to replace Takata passenger airbag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel. The move includes over 782,000 vehicles in the U.S. and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history. Included are the 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, the 2010 and 2011 Ford Ranger, the 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, the 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan, and the 2010 to 2014 Ford Mustang. Some of the recalls may be limited to specific geographic areas of the U.S. Takata used the chemical ammonium nitrate to create an explosion to inflate airbags. But it can deteriorate over time due to heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister designed to contain the explosion. At least 23 people have been killed worldwide and hundreds injured by the inflators. Ford says it doesn't know of any injuries in vehicles included in this recall. Dealers will replace the inflators. Ford will notify owners about the recall starting on Feb. 18, and the company has replacement parts available for dealers to order, said spokeswoman Monique Brentley. In previous Takata recalls, parts availability had been an issue. Owners can go to this Ford website and key in their vehicle identification number to see if their cars and SUVs are being recalled. The same information will be available soon at the NHTSA recall website. More than three years after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took over management of recalls involving Takata inflators, one third of the recalled inflators still have not been replaced, according to an annual report from the government and a court-appointed monitor. The report says 16.7 million faulty inflators out of 50 million under recall have yet to be replaced. And 10 million more inflators are scheduled to be recalled this month, including the Ford vehicles. Safety advocates said the completion rate should be far higher given the danger associated with the inflators. The recalls forced Takata of Japan to seek bankruptcy protection and sell most of its assets to pay for the fixes. The inflators grow more dangerous as they get older because ammonium nitrate deteriorates due to high humidity and cycles from hot temperatures to cold. The most dangerous inflators are in areas of the South along the Gulf of Mexico that have high humidity. Related Video:

2017 Lincoln MKZ is a 400-hp hot rod

There are mid-cycle product updates, and then there's the 2017 MKZ. Instead of just a nip-and-tuck styling refresh, the entry-level Lincoln gets an all-new engine with a whopping 400 horsepower and an optional torque-vectoring rear differential. And that powerplant is exclusive to the Lincoln, at least for the time being. It's a sign that Ford is getting serious about elevating its luxury brand above the recent history of rebadged Blue Oval models. The engine is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, based on the current 2.7-liter that serves across the Ford and Lincoln lineup. With 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, it's the most powerful Lincoln ever. That big number will only be available in all-wheel-drive versions of the MKZ. With front-wheel drive the engine will be detuned to an estimated 350 horsepower to retain some level of driving refinement. A further option on the AWD model will be the Driver's Pack, which adds the same torque-vectoring rear differential as on the forthcoming Focus RS. With the promise of rear-wheel-drive handling characteristics, the MKZ could be the most fun-to-drive Lincoln ever. In addition to the V6, a 245-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four and a hybrid model will be available. When the 2017 model goes on sale next spring it will be the first Lincoln in showrooms with the new signature grille, first previewed in the Continental Concept at this year's New York Auto Show. Adaptive LED headlights are available options, and a Lincoln logo "welcome mat" projects down from the side mirrors when unlocking the car at night. The view from behind is nearly unchanged, with a revised bumper giving the car a slightly wider appearance. Inside things are all new as well, with a completely revised center console. The capacitive-touch sliding controls are gone, replaced by buttons and knobs. In the press release, Lincoln mentions that engineers gave special attention to the sounds and feel of the switches, but the switches on the pre-production model at our product briefing felt cheap and loose. The large climate control knob clicked like it was grinding sand. We hope the production version will show more refinement. The good news, if you're rooting for Lincoln, is that the rest of the interior is impressive, at least in the top-of-the-line Black Label trim we saw. The front seats are comfortable, and the center console is trimmed in real aluminum.