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Lincoln Aviator Preview at Miami Auto Show (and other show thoughts)


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So over the weekend, I was able to go to the Miami Auto show with some friends and family. It's the first time in 2 years that they've had the show, because last year's was cancelled just days before it was to start due to Hurricane Irma. I didn't get any pictures of it, but it was also one of the first events with the renovated convention center opened -- they left only the open event space and tore down the entire facade/lobby areas on both sides of the building and then rebuilt it all. I'll also point out that it was the last day of the show, so it's likely that traffic was busier last weekend.




As the title said, the Aviator Preview was there. Before I get into it specifically, I'll comment about Lincoln's location/setup. I wish I had taken more pictures of the setup to better explain, but this floorplan graphic will have to do:




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The way we went about the show was to come in by the Ford display and go clockwise around the space, generally staying in the outer-most pathway, and wandering in and out depending on the display. So with that said, we came into the Lincoln display from the left side on that graphic (from VW/Explorer vans area). In that gap between the Explorer vans and Lincoln, there are some columns. I think there was a wall toward the rear side of the display area as well. I did not like how they arranged their display. They had the new Nautilus front and center, encircled within what I'll call the "Lincoln lounge" - an area with a few seats within a set of round "walls" (which were just the punched out Lincoln star "fencing". They had the 2019 MKC out on the corner (the Infiniti/Land Rover corner), and a Continental and MKZ were behind it, stretching toward that "additional manufacturers" area. 2 Navigators (including a Destination BL model) were on the opposite side on the Explorer Vans side.




The Aviator Preview - perhaps the most important model they could show - was placed in the back of the display on a turntable with a "Black Label" sign and video board behind it. I understand the idea - you pull people into the display by putting the "big thing" at the back, and luckily people did see it, and were walking back to the display (this wasn't the case for all displays there - some brands did this, and it was a ghost town, with just the presenter there with the car), but the way they had it set up, at least with the direction we came from, I didn't know the Aviator was there until I got right in front of the booth. From a distance I looked at the Lincoln display and got really disappointed that it wouldn't be there, only to see it was in fact there. I didn't mind the "lounge" part of the display, even though it was see through, I just felt it kind of blocked the view/attention of the Aviator. I'm doing my best to describe without pictures, sorry!




Anyway....the car....




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I realize it was the "preview" and it will look a bit better than the final production model, but this car looked fantastic. I absolutely loved it. It was clean and athletic. Simply designed and elegant. It definitely has a Range Rover vibe to it, which is a great thing (my mom kept comparing it to the Range Rover Sport across the aisle. I will say, the back was almost a bit too clean, but that'll likely change in production with more production-oriented pieces. It'll also be interesting to see how it looks in base trims. I wonder if it'll look too plain. But in Black Label trim, it looks awesome. My mom has been interested in it, and wants it to be out already.....I'm looking forward to more details when it's unveiled - especially power figures. They had a Range Rover Sport SVR there with 575-hp for $113,000. I'm guessing Aviator will have at least 500 (400 from the 3.0 + 100 electric?) for significantly less. Reception from other people seemed good too....I think they have a hit on their hands, finally one they've needed.






As for the rest of the show, here area a few thoughts:


-The Ford display was pathetic because of the lack of product. You walk through and it's like - oh look, the same stuff as the last three years. I usually spend a lot of time in the Ford display, but aside from Ranger, we just walked through - there was nothing to see. Their 'big display' was a Raptor. They had a Ranger XLT supercab there, behind a barrier. Still can't get in it. They didn't even have pricing info on the stand. They should've had a loaded model there. An even more glaring omission - the 2019 Edge in any trim. This is like the one new vehicle they have for this year, and they didn't have a single one - not even behind a barrier. They had 2 or 3 2018 Edges.


-The new A8L was awesome inside - extremely comfortable seats. The Q8, while I'm not big on it's exterior design, had a nice interior....and it doesn't have a D-pillar - just a C-pillar - there's no pillar before the 3rd window, it's just glass.


-Silvererra - I wanted to like the front of the new Sierra, but something just seemed off about it. Also got to play with the trick tailgate of the Sierra - it definitely has some useful functions, and I'll give them credit for coming up with something new, but it was a LOT of moving parts. Seemed like a dirt haven to me. The Silverado....eek the corner fins on the front end look just as odd in person as photos. The power up/down tailgate was neat, though gimmicky. The interior of both - major disappointment. It barely looks like they changed it from the last one, and that one wasn't good looking either. Materials didn't seem all that good either (these were High Country and Denali models).


-Blazer - I actually thought it looked a lot better in person than pictures, especially the headlight arrangement - they darkened them enough so they don't look obnoxious.....still don't like that split look with the headlights down low, but this is one of the best implementations I've seen. The back is another story. That bumper panel is just horrible. This was an LTZ model, so it was body color (lower trims, that cutout is black plastic), but the way it fits (intentionally), it looks like the pieces don't fit together properly.....there's a recess, but it's not enough of one to look like it's on purpose.


2kwI9uO.jpg The vehicle also seemed low too.




-Camaro SS - the regular version refresh doesn't look bad, but the SS.....ugh it looks horrible. My buddy and several other people said why is the badge there?


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-XT4 - I actually preferred the clear taillights to the red ones. The interior had some cheap parts, but overall was nice. It looks better in person than in pictures. I think it'll sell well.


-CT6 - They had the refreshed CT6 there - I didn't sit in it, but from the outside it looked nice.




Overall, it was a nice show - I always enjoy seeing the new models. Some brands (BMW, Mercedes) were missing, and they didn't have the high-end section this year (they usually have a section of Bugatti, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini), but you can't sit in them anyway, and they're all over the roads, so I didn't miss that much. I look forward to next year (and the smaller Fort Lauderdale show in April after the major ones) when Ford has some product to actually show.

Edited by rmc523
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Great insight, thank you !!! Being from Miami I have had to 'deal' with how they work with their car shows...It's not one of the worst,, but they aren't aiming to be higher up as they could be. You would think being one of the densest areas of FL, and very affluent that their car shows would be a bit "more" when what it is. Even when they have a "new release", its usually a "locked up in the back" type of deal. Great pics though...

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Hope they put the plug in on the driver side. Why force you to go to the other side. Also hope you are wrong on the horsepower. They need 300 from the ICE and at least 200 hp from the electric side to be serious.

We know the 3.0L will be around 400 hp at least and you’re not going to get 200 hp from a PHEV electric motor. 100 is all you’d need (or be able to use). That extra 100 hp comes with instant torque - combined with stump pulling torque at low rpm from the 3.0LEB and you’ll roast the tires.

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Hope they put the plug in on the driver side. Why force you to go to the other side. Also hope you are wrong on the horsepower. They need 300 from the ICE and at least 200 hp from the electric side to be serious.

All Ford BEV/PHEVs currently have the plugs on the driver's side.

 

It was actually weird for the C-Max because the electric plug is on the left side fender, and the gas was on the passenger side. Weird oversight but it would have required adding another fuel fill bot at the plant which wouldn't have been worth it given the volume built.

Edited by fuzzymoomoo
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Weird oversight but it would have required adding another fuel fill bot at the plant which wouldn't have been worth it given the volume built.

Flex and Edge (both built at OAC) have the fuel on opposite sides. Drives me nuts as I always have to check depending on which vehicle Im driving.

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In case some are not aware, there is an arrow on the fuel gauge that tells you which side the filler is on.

 

I do love that blue color and a PHEV would be perfect for us as most of our trips are fairly short and I'd like a little more room than the MKX (thanks to my F150 spoiling me).

 

Then again an Explorer would probably be just as good for us and cheaper but I suspect it will only have the 3.3L.

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Hope they put the plug in on the driver side. Why force you to go to the other side. Also hope you are wrong on the horsepower. They need 300 from the ICE and at least 200 hp from the electric side to be serious.

 

My numbers were just a guess. As I pointed out, we already know the 3.0 has 400-hp (and that's in a FWD/AWD platform), so that's a starting point for the gas motor. Any electric power is a cherry on top. I've seen comments about supercar like power ( think that was the term), so I think 400+100 is a good floor for an estimate.

 

Great insight, thank you !!! Being from Miami I have had to 'deal' with how they work with their car shows...It's not one of the worst,, but they aren't aiming to be higher up as they could be. You would think being one of the densest areas of FL, and very affluent that their car shows would be a bit "more" when what it is. Even when they have a "new release", its usually a "locked up in the back" type of deal. Great pics though...

 

Yeah, something I didn't think of in my initial post - this year's show may have been affected by last years and the construction. With the show being cancelled last year, plus all the construction that's been going on at/around the convention center, perhaps some brands decided to skip for those reasons and will return next year. I'm hopeful anyway. There was a LOT more room to put the missing brands---the memory lane and really anything in that upper right corner were really spaced out to use up the space.

 

All in all it's a nice local show. We tend to get the previous year's concepts, but I'm fine with that - I'd rather see them there a year late than not at all like the much smaller Fort Lauderdale show (which has increasingly become more of a dealer-run show).

 

Great pics rmc...thanks for posting! The Aviator really is stunning. And I love that color!

 

You know, I actually liked the color a lot too - it was like a Slate blue type color - subdued, but still blue. I'd love to see the car in a nice true blue color though (my mom would love one in that + Chalet theme).

 

 

 

Flex and Edge (both built at OAC) have the fuel on opposite sides. Drives me nuts as I always have to check depending on which vehicle Im driving.

 

 

 

I'm driving my Flex and Fusion equally now, and I have to pause each time I get gas to look down and see which side the fuel door is on.

 

 

Same with me an the Mustang/Flex - I've pulled to the wrong side of the pump in the Mustang a couple of times.

 

In case some are not aware, there is an arrow on the fuel gauge that tells you which side the filler is on.

 

I do love that blue color and a PHEV would be perfect for us as most of our trips are fairly short and I'd like a little more room than the MKX (thanks to my F150 spoiling me).

 

Then again an Explorer would probably be just as good for us and cheaper but I suspect it will only have the 3.3L.

 

The arrow definitely helps (if you look at it), but sometimes you just go into autopilot mode.

 

On a related note, I DESPISE people that don't pull all the way up at the pump. Just yesterday I went to fill up the Mustang, and followed a lady into the station off the road. She stops at the first (of 2) pumps, and gets out and walks inside. I was like.... :rant::rant2::swear: I had to drive around her to get to the other pump. and THEN....get this......she comes back and gets in her car and leaves without even getting gas!

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On a related note, I DESPISE people that don't pull all the way up at the pump. Just yesterday I went to fill up the Mustang, and followed a lady into the station off the road. She stops at the first (of 2) pumps, and gets out and walks inside. I was like.... :rant::rant2::swear: I had to drive around her to get to the other pump. and THEN....get this......she comes back and gets in her car and leaves without even getting gas!

 

You should buy a diesel. Most places only have 1 or 2 diesel pumps, and people routinely pull up at the diesel pump to get gas, when ALL THE OTHER PUMPS ARE OPEN! One guy apologized to me, and I had one lady give me a dirty look as I sat there in my truck behind her car waiting for 5 minutes as she strolled out of the store with her big soda without a care in the world.

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Aviator should be outstanding, the PHEV is going to be a screamer but extremely pricey. Explorer is not getting the PHEV 3.0L in the US so Lincoln will have a pretty big exclusive, which should make the Aviator a true standout flagship for Lincoln.

 

My only gripe is the dashboard design, that 4:3 floating screen is already very outdated to look at and the Explorer is going to have a more impressive vertical setup (as are other Fords). I wish Aviator didn't follow the Navigator design so closely, they needed to make more design progress.

 

As much as I love my Lincolns, their designers seem to be a number of years behind.

Edited by Assimilator
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There is an incredible lack of spacial awareness in society today and it dives me crazy. It's one of the things I'm going do drill into my kids' heads.

 

Agreed completely. It's "I'm doing what I'm doing, who cares about everyone else, they can go around."

 

I always pull up to the farthest forward pump. Obviously if I park and then the person in front pulls away, that's different.

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Aviator should be outstanding, the PHEV is going to be a screamer but extremely pricey. Explorer is not getting the PHEV 3.0L in the US so Lincoln will have a pretty big exclusive, which should make the Aviator a true standout flagship for Lincoln.

 

My only gripe is the dashboard design, that 4:3 floating screen is already very outdated to look at and the Explorer is going to have a more impressive vertical setup (as are other Fords). I wish Aviator didn't follow the Navigator design so closely, they needed to make more design progress.

 

As much as I love my Lincolns, their designers seem to be a number of years behind.

I agree with you on the interior. It is gorgeous but that floating screen is going to be dated by the time it comes out as the industry seems to be going back to the traditional vertical stack as you mentioned.

 

I actually don't really have a huge problem with it though, as it leaves room for a more significant refresh on the interior come time for the MCE, especially knowing what little I know about the Corsair, Lincoln's body design seems to be more derivative and evolutionary going forward rather than revolutionary.

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I know this will sound sexist but it’s simply a fact - women are less spatially aware than men, generally speaking. It drives me crazy in grocery stores when they stop in the middle of the aisle completely oblivious to the other people trying to get around them. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to tell my wife to move out of the way. I am constantly aware of not blocking the aisle or other people, probably because it ticks me off so much when others do it.

 

Driving is the same way. No regard for people wanting to get out of a driveway or cross street. Leaving huge gaps in front causing people behind to not be able to get into a turn lane. It’s maddening sometimes (and sometimes the same applies to guys).

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Aviator should be outstanding, the PHEV is going to be a screamer but extremely pricey. Explorer is not getting the PHEV 3.0L in the US so Lincoln will have a pretty big exclusive, which should make the Aviator a true standout flagship for Lincoln.

 

My only gripe is the dashboard design, that 4:3 floating screen is already very outdated to look at and the Explorer is going to have a more impressive vertical setup (as are other Fords). I wish Aviator didn't follow the Navigator design so closely, they needed to make more design progress.

 

As much as I love my Lincolns, their designers seem to be a number of years behind.

 

One thing I've noticed in the Navigator, and the Aviator also seems to have this - the screen seems completely vertical, with no tilt toward eye level, which I find a bit strange.

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I know this will sound sexist but it’s simply a fact - women are less spatially aware than men, generally speaking. It drives me crazy in grocery stores when they stop in the middle of the aisle completely oblivious to the other people trying to get around them. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to tell my wife to move out of the way. I am constantly aware of not blocking the aisle or other people, probably because it ticks me off so much when others do it.

 

Driving is the same way. No regard for people wanting to get out of a driveway or cross street. Leaving huge gaps in front causing people behind to not be able to get into a turn lane. It’s maddening sometimes (and sometimes the same applies to guys).

 

This used to more true and I think it is the way females brains work versus ours. But now a days with the feminization of America guys are just as bad. Also all of the problems people have with millennials seem to be seeping upwards as well.

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We know the 3.0L will be around 400 hp at least and you’re not going to get 200 hp from a PHEV electric motor. 100 is all you’d need (or be able to use). That extra 100 hp comes with instant torque - combined with stump pulling torque at low rpm from the 3.0LEB and you’ll roast the tires.

 

The current EB 3.5 in the Explorer has 365 hp. You don't need any more from the ICE. To compete in the future a PHEV has to be able to drive on the pure electric side - preferable for 50km aka @ 30 miles. You are not going to be able to do that with only 100 hp. 0-60 on pure electric should be under 8 seconds with a top speed minimum 75 mph.

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The current EB 3.5 in the Explorer has 365 hp. You don't need any more from the ICE. To compete in the future a PHEV has to be able to drive on the pure electric side - preferable for 50km aka @ 30 miles. You are not going to be able to do that with only 100 hp. 0-60 on pure electric should be under 8 seconds with a top speed minimum 75 mph.

 

They're using the 3.0EB in the Aviator PHEV. It has 400hp. Not sure what the Explorer's 3.5 has to do with it. My point was 100-hp from the electric would be the minimum.

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The current EB 3.5 in the Explorer has 365 hp. You don't need any more from the ICE. To compete in the future a PHEV has to be able to drive on the pure electric side - preferable for 50km aka @ 30 miles. You are not going to be able to do that with only 100 hp. 0-60 on pure electric should be under 8 seconds with a top speed minimum 75 mph.

 

The current Fusion Energi has a 7.8Kwh electric motor with 118 hp and a 22+ mile range. That's a combined 518 hp. It certainly doesn't *need* more than that, although nobody would complain.

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