{"id":223350,"date":"2022-04-21T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=223350"},"modified":"2022-04-21T01:15:30","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T05:15:30","slug":"lincoln-star-concept-inaugurates-lincolns-second-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2022\/04\/lincoln-star-concept-inaugurates-lincolns-second-century\/","title":{"rendered":"Lincoln Star Concept Inaugurates Lincoln\u2019s Second Century"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the Lincoln celebrates its 100th<\/sup> anniversary of Ford Motor Co. ownership<\/a><\/strong>, the luxury brand is refocusing its design direction with the unveiling of the Lincoln Star Concept, an idealized realization of the brand\u2019s forthcoming electric vehicle design. The concept was shown to media on Tuesday ahead of its reveal Wednesday in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lincoln
Lincoln Star Concept features a tapered greenhouse.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lincoln plans to sell three new EVs by 2025 with a fourth to follow in 2026. By mid-decade, Lincoln expects more than half of its volume will come from sales of zero-emission vehicles, according to Joy Falotico, president of Lincoln. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new models are part of Ford Motor Co.\u2019s plan to spend more than $30 billion to electrify its line-up<\/a><\/strong> during the coming decade. While some models will remain, such as the Corsair, which will reemerge as the Corsair-E, others will vanish, including the current Lincoln Nautilus<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illuminating Lincoln\u2019s future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lincoln\u2019s new concept is built on Ford\u2019s rear- and all-wheel-drive flexible battery electric architecture that incorporates its next-generation Lincoln Intelligence System. It allows for connected vehicle-to-vehicle and infrastructure communication as well as cutting edge driver-assist features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Described by Lincoln Global Design Director Kemal Curic as a \u201crolling computer,\u201d the new sport-utility electric vehicle is a study in reductive design, removing elements that are unnecessary while using design elements in a modern, non-traditional way. Created to be design inspiration for future Lincolns, it\u2019s near total total lack of heritage cues is the Star Concept\u2019s most striking feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kemal Curic’s exclusive sketch of the Concept’s front, with the star logo framed by the brand’s grille shape.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis doesn’t have a proxy; it doesn’t have it doesn’t have a reference. This is a new species,\u201d said John Jraiche, global product director for Lincoln, in an exclusive interview with TheDetroitBureau.com. \u201cWhat we were trying to avoid were any of the conventional constraints.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A modern new wardrobe for a traditional brand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Designers used lighting, not chrome, to accent the vehicle\u2019s appearance, applying a light band to visually underpin the black roof, rather than the chrome currently used on Lincoln vehicles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It visually cuts the height of the side glass, giving it a chopped appearance. The design cue is also one of the only heritage elements used on the Star, harkening back to the chrome band used above the windshield of the 1956 Continental Mark II. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An LED light band underpins the black roof.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another, the Lincoln star logo has been redesigned and reimagined as a backlit logo used on the front and side of the vehicle. Up front, where you\u2019d typically find a chrome grille, it\u2019s accentuated by LED lighting that moves and changes, framed by a shape that takes its form from the current Lincoln grille. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above it, a large wing-like lighting signature accentuates the front trunk lid. The lack of a gas engine not only allows designers to provide a front trunk, something the Mercedes-Benz EQS<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and BMW i7<\/a><\/span><\/strong> don\u2019t have. Not only do they not have it, but the “frunk” on the front of the Star is unlike any other. It extends forward, like a drawer, revealing additional storage space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That functionality isn’t just limited to storage, but also allows for a lower hood line improving the aerodynamics. It\u2019s finished with a semi-transparent electrochromic glass hood that darkens when parked to hide cargo from view. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the side, lighting accentuates the wheel arches. In the rear, a large wing-like shape takes its cue from the chrome band of the 1960s Lincoln Continental\u2019s taillamps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Lincoln Star concept not only has a frunk, unlike potential competitors from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, it also features a drawer-like opening to provide additional storage space.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Uniquely, the Star Concept\u2019s greenhouse tapers as it flows rearward, even though the lower body doesn\u2019t, lending it a somewhat muscular stance. An integrated rear roof spoiler aids its aerodynamics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The greenhouse\u2019s most striking feature is its see-through A- and D- pillars, made of a 3D-printed metal latticework and covered on the exterior by glass. Its design is replicated elsewhere on the concept, particularly in some lighting signatures. It remains to be seen whether this will reach production, but it helps eliminate a blind spot and lends the cabin a feeling of space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept is finished in a soft satin paint, lending credence to Lincoln\u2019s design credo of \u201cQuiet Flight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the elements used on the car, such as the coach doors, lack of a B-pillar, and sideview cameras rather than mirrors, are typical concept car fodder. But others, such as the vehicle\u2019s styling and use of lighting, are far easier to put into production, Lincoln executives admit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Latticed A-pillars, a cabin-wide screen and infloor lighting make for a unique front seat design.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLighting technology has come a long way in the last few years; there’s a lot you can do with the backlit LEDs,\u201d Jraiche said. \u201cWe provide lighting in a way that that you wouldn’t necessarily see during the day or in the night unless you illuminate it behind the surfaces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inside story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lincoln\u2019s Star Concept didn\u2019t have an interior. Lincoln did show a separate interior styling buck aided by augmented reality glasses. The vehicle\u2019s skateboard platform provides a flat floor, which featured LED lighting strips, part of what the automaker dubs the Lincoln Embrace. The new feature orchestrates audio, scents, lighting and high-resolution display animation to create one of three immersive, if self-explanatory, moods: Coastal Morning, Mindful Vitality and Evening Chill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stowing the steering wheel and swiveling the front seats provides creates a conversation lounge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The cabin itself feels incredibly spacious, thanks to the use of pedestal-mounted front seats and center console, a panoramic sunroof, and the latticed A-pillars. The rear seat is particularly roomy, and Jraiche said that there\u2019s enough room for three-row seating. But the automaker opted to provide the luxury of added space instead. This allows them to provide reclining rear seats \u2014 a fashionable design feature at the moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given that Lincoln is primarily sold in the United States, China and the Middle East, it\u2019s little surprise that the rear seat is lavished with features, including hidden shoe storage, fold-down tables and a fridge. There\u2019s also Lincoln Attach\u00e9, a hidden compartment in the rear coach door for charging tablets and laptops, and seamlessly detect incoming wireless content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up front, a curved horizontal display runs the width of the cabin, while the instrument panel\u2019s wing-like shape also looks to reinforce the brand\u2019s \u201cQuiet Flight\u201d mantra. Unique trim details include crystaline foot pedals and a crystal-trimmed center console with etched Lincoln star. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The reclining rear seats include a show storage drawer.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The concept addresses the autonomous driving future, with a steering wheel that can be stowed, and front seats that swivel to face the rear seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, the rear hatch transforms into outdoor seating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What comes next<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It makes for a very modern concept that makes the current lineup of Lincoln SUVs seme suddenly old. But it promises a more youthful product approach from a brand not known for its young buyers. While future Lincoln vehicles won\u2019t look exactly like the Star Concept, look for it to be a strong indication of what\u2019s to come from the brand\u2019s international design team located in Shanghai, China, Dearborn, Michigan, and Irvine, California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Lincoln Star Concept has given us the opportunity to showcase how creativity and design thinking at the same time push the boundaries of where we can take the brand in the future,\u201d Curic said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is just the start of our electric journey,\u201d Falotico added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Proving you\u2019re never too old to be young again, Lincoln revealed a radical new design language for its forthcoming line of EVs. TheDetroitBureau.com takes a look at what you can expect to see in future Lincolns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13752,"featured_media":223400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,7,5,1608,10,1164,13,9],"tags":[1492,1472,2219,1425,5761,5760,1458],"make":[76],"post-state":[],"category_old":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223350"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13752"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223350"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223402,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223350\/revisions\/223402"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/223400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223350"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=223350"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=223350"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=223350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}