2020 Lincoln Aviator – A Long-Wheelbase SUV

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of the Aviator name getting a reprise. Several articles suggest Lincoln is working on the mid-size SUV. It looks like Ford is busy developing new vehicles these days. The new 2023 Lincoln Aviator is a long-wheelbase SUV that is much larger than Explorer yet smaller than the Expedition. If we look holistically at Lincoln’s lineup, the Aviator would fit perfectly between the larger Navigator and smaller (and recently renamed from MKX) Nautilus. That means Lincoln would have three crossovers with seating for five in the Nautilus, seven in the Aviator, and seven in the Navigator. The Aviator would be targeting luxury-minded yet slightly more budget-conscious families needing three rows of seating and the two-row Nautilus would target small families.

In detail

The new car that was spotted from Ford, could be the Lincoln Aviator. The chances for it to be the new Aviator are high since it wouldn’t make any sense for Lincoln to have a camouflaged Navigator at this point because it is already in showrooms.

If that would be the case, it is clearly that it is longer and lower-slung that the current Ford Explorer. This new SUV is clearly a three-row model with what appears to be generous amounts of second-row legroom and a smaller third-row seat.

Release date and price

Taking into consideration that the 2018 Navigator starts at $72,000 and the Lincoln MKX (renamed Nautilus for 2019) starts around $40,000 we can see that Lincoln can play with the prices. The Ford Explorer’s range-topping trim, the Platinum, starts at $53,940. Lincoln could very well price the Aviator at $55,000. But this is nothing more that speculation. However we can agree on the fact that Lincoln should leave the budget-friendly vehicles to Ford. Now with the new Lincoln Aviator production still not officially confirmed, we can only suspect the release date around the year 2023.

The design of 2023 Lincoln Aviator

A low-hanging air dam is present for aerodynamics and the bumper’s center section appears to have a large opening for cooling. The upper grille was not spotted really well, but the camouflage had a rather pronounced vertical line, which hints at this being a Lincoln. The overall shape of the taillights looks nothing like a Ford Explorer, but more connects.

The interior

Should it actually be the new Lincoln Aviator, we expect a cabin much like the one seen in the new 2018 Lincoln Navigator. If the interior will be inspired by the Navigator, it will include a low, horizontal dashboard with a floating center infotainment screen and a digital gauge cluster. The design will be made with high-end materials like wood, metal and full grin leather. As for the gear shifter, there will most probably be a push-button.

The new SUV, 2023 Lincoln Aviator could carry the same level of refinement and luxury as the Navigator. Having a smaller size, could make it be more family-friendly. When it comes to the rear seats, they will likely come in a 3+2 configuration, the second row having a three person bench sat and the third one a seating for two. We could expect for the cargo to be smaller than the Navigator but larger than the current Explorer.

2020 Lincoln Aviator Specs

There is no secret for the current obsession Ford has with the twin-turbocharging V-6 engines in the EcoBoost line. Which is why we could expect the 2023 Lincoln Aviator to make use of an EcoBoost engine. The Navigator uses the 3.5-liter EcoBoost with an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. We could suspect Lincoln will use the standard-output version of the 3.5 liter used in the F-150. This could give the Aviator an advantage over Ford Explorer, having 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

It is likely that the second-generation of Lincoln Aviator will take after the first-generation model and share its platform with the Ford Explorer. In this case the Aviator will use a unibody platform, will have a transversely mounted engine and will come with front-wheel drive as standard. We could expect Lincoln to use the same automatic transmission used in the Explorer. The current 2018 model has a six-speed gearbox. Still, this does not stop us believe an eight-speed would be even better. Regardless of engine or transmission offerings, an optional AWD system will be offered.