Making its official debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show is the all-new 2020 Lincoln Aviator. Slotting in between the soon-to-be-launched Nautilus and the gargantuan Navigator in the Lincoln lineup, it will rival the Audi Q7 and the Land Rover Discovery, among others, when it reaches showrooms in summer 2019.
The Aviator will effectively replace the MKT, but it's a mark of how far Lincoln has come in recent times that its executives are keen to avoid any association with its unloved forebear. Roughly the same size as a Range Rover, the Aviator has a familiar SUV silhouette but tries hard with the details. The dramatic front grille is a new Lincoln signature and so is the horizontal red lighting strip across the rear - a visual motif also now employed by Porsche. It's hardly revolutionary, but in a class not blessed with beauties, it will hold its own.
Next-Level Luxury
It's more distinctive inside. Like Volvo, Lincoln is determined to step away from the sporty pretensions of its German rivals - not every mom needs to feel like she's racing to soccer practice. Instead, the carmaker is trying to create a luxurious sense of calm with the elegant application of leather, wood and aluminum. It's a world away from plasticky Lincolns of old, and there's some neat detailing, such as the Lincoln Way app that allows you to start and stop the car using your cellphone - you can ditch the traditional key. Also notable are the massive head-up display and the 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D audio system, which incorporates speakers in the headliner for an immersive effect. The only thing we don't like is the touchscreen display that looks too much like an afterthought and won't retract, Audi-style.