Lincoln Star Concept Preview
Lincoln has pulled the wraps off the Lincoln Star Concept vehicle, which broadly hints at electric vehicles (EVs) coming from the brand. The battery-electric SUV concept anticipates a production model that should follow in the 2024 or 2025 model year. Though Lincoln was very stingy with mechanical details, expect the new EV to borrow heavily from the Ford Mustang Mach-E. This battery-electric vehicle has been on sale since December 2020.
The Lincoln Star Concept enables Ford Motor Co.'s luxury brand to get into the EV game just as introductions of battery-electric luxury SUVs are exploding. The automaker expects the new Star SUV to be Lincoln's answer to the Cadillac Lyriq that will go on sale momentarily as a 2023 model. The Tesla Model X led the way in the luxury battery-electric SUV segment. The Audi E-tron, BMW iX, Jaguar I-Pace, and the Volvo XC40 Recharge have since joined the competition.
Based on the information Lincoln has released, it is too early to describe the Lincoln Star model lineup or even confirm that "Star" will be the production model's name. The first Lincoln EV will roll on a dedicated electric vehicle platform that will enable both rear-drive and all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions, a tactic prevalent with current EVs. Lincoln did announce that by mid-decade, it would offer not just one but three fully electric models. It also made the bold assertion that "more than half of its global volume will be zero-emissions vehicles" by the middle of this decade. Further, the automaker said a fourth battery-electric model will join the Lincoln fold by the end of 2026.
Lincoln Star Concept Exterior
Like many current luxury vehicles—especially the Cadillac Lyriq—the Lincoln Star Concept emphasizes a front "light signature." The Lincoln star on the concept's fascia lights up to welcome owners as they approach, followed by an animated light sequence.
Using the under-hood space that would otherwise house an internal combustion engine, the Lincoln Star Concept offers a front trunk or "frunk." But in the Star Concept, that is just the beginning. Lincoln replaced the conventional steel or aluminum hood with electro-chromatic glass that can shift from transparent to opaque. This allows the entry of light when the vehicle is in motion, changing to opaque when the car is parked. The front trunk space flows uninterrupted into the vehicle's interior, adding natural light to the cabin.
Transparent roof pillars and a giant skylight with digital shade further the use of natural light in the cabin.
Lincoln Star Concept Interior
Lincoln was much more forthcoming about the interior of the Lincoln Star Concept than the drivetrain and mechanicals. Lincoln essentially designed the concept from the inside out to stress the "sanctuary" aura the brand uses as a differentiator from other luxury marques.
In many ways, the Star Concept emulates a deluxe spa. For instance, the "Lincoln Embrace" sequence offers three "rejuvenation moods"—Coastal Morning, Mindful Vitality, and Evening Chill. The automaker's vision with the sequences is to create a digital sanctuary using audio, animation, lighting, and even scents. Coastal Morning combines the sound of ocean waves, the smell of sea mist, and the simulated glow of the sun to recall a stroll on the beach at sunrise. (See if your BMW iX offers that.)
The wing-shaped instrument panel appears to float in the airy interior. The digital displays sweep from door to door and extend into the second-row screen. Instead of using traditional leather and chrome, Lincoln finished the interior in alternative materials that reflect the zero-emissions nature of the EV.
The interior also gives separate and better-than-equal status to second-row passengers. Lincoln treats them to lounge-style seating, provides dedicated storage areas for their devices and slippers (yes, slippers), and includes a glass beverage cooler between the back seats.
The interior also includes a concept that designers have labeled the Lincoln Attache. It is a digital briefcase hidden in a rear door that provides not only storage but also device charging. The final fillip comes in the rear cargo area. In lounge mode, it can transform into an outdoor seating area.
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