Lincoln is all guns blazing with the Aviator after the launch of the beautiful Navigator and Nautilus. The brand recuperates the name after its ancestor was discontinued in 2005. The new Aviator carries design cues from its sibling SUVs after the brand witnessed design success with those. This SUV comes as a seven-seater crossover according to Lincoln and will take on the Audi Q7, BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and Volvo XC90 when it makes its way to the UAE’s shores.
EXTERIOR
The Aviator looks imposing when viewed from the front with the bold family grille and the curved oval headlights and the bumper, both of which integrate several LEDs for a posh feel. The LEDs below the headlamps and several aluminum materials on the grille do justice to the car’s flamboyant design.
The Aviator is supposed to be a luxurious people mover and the long length is wonderfully evocative of that. The side profile is characterized by bulging fenders and a neat flowing crease outlining the car entirely. There’s also noticeable Aviator badging finished in matte-black. What gives it a sumptuous look are the blackened pillars and the 10 spoke diamond cut alloy wheels.
The rear doesn’t share its design with any other Lincoln model and that becomes evident when you observe the swept back taillamps and a red LED strip running across the boot joining the taillights. Lincoln has adopted a slightly conventional approach as the rest of the rear is clean with no creases or other elements. We wish the quad exhaust pipes were highlighted with chrome as these look too basic.
INTERIOR
What you wouldn’t cease to admire is the interior of the car which has been inspired from the Navigator and has the wow factor which its precursor lacked. The entire cabin comes loaded with several customizable shades of leather making it feel posh. The 12.3” instrument cluster changes its lighting according to the illumination on the outside and is wonderful. However, it is the center console which is the most awe-inspiring and has been slightly rejigged so that it doesn’t look exactly identical to the Navigator. For instance, the aluminium finished AC vents are a tad smaller in size and protrude outwards rather than sitting on the dash. The gear stick has been replaced by buttons on the dash. The center console also houses in two big cup holders and switches for climate control, AC, stereo and seat ventilation.
The rear occupants are also pampered by individual AC vents with climate control and an interface which allows them to alter the speaker volume and fan speed. Choosing for the six seater configuration allows for a plethora of additional storage spaces.
Features might include 30 way power adjustable front seats, an audio system from Revel, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a Co-pilot package which offers a slew of driver assistance features such as traffic sign recognition which alters the cruise control settings to set the new speed, evasive steering assist and rear Park assist. Other notable features we can expect to the GCC spec version include a smartphone app that serves as the aviator’s key and an adaptive suspension that scans the road to glide comfortably over the potholes and road imperfections.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The Aviator is expected to come with two drivetrain options. The base models might include a 3 liter V6 with 400 ponies and 542 Nm of torque while the top end trims might sport a hybrid battery and would churn out 450 hp and an adrenaline boosting 813 Nm of torque. Both these powertrains are likely to come mated to a 10 speed automatic transmission for effortless cruising. The car could also feature an all-wheel drive system with several modes enabling it to go off the beaten path.
VERDICT
The new Aviator is a tremendous improvement over the car it replaces and comes as a complete package with the required dose of features, oomph, luxury and practicality. Lincoln has done its homework well and the SUV is on par with its rivals. However, it does boil down to the price it would demand and if the American marque gets its right, it definitely would be a runaway success when launched in the UAE.
