Spy Shots: 07 Lincoln Aviator

[ifcar]

The first pictures of the 2007 Aviator wearing its production sheetmetal have been taken - and the Aviator is shaping up quite similar to the new Ford Edge we showed you two weeks ago on TCC.

Riding on the new CD3 platform, the Aviator will compete with the likes of Acura's MDX and the Lexus RX. It will likely be powered by a new 3.5-liter V-6 with 245 horsepower, with other engine options to follow.

The Aviator will begin production in August of 2006 in Oakville , Ont., alongside its sibling, Ford's new Edge. And although the profile may look like the Edge, there are many exterior differences in the front and back. With clearly unique styling, the Aviator carries the concept's taillight design across the back of the tailgate, and incorporates many Lincoln cues up front in its grille and headlamps.

Front-wheel drive will be standard, with an all-wheel-drive version also available.

[Catman]

Looks like Ford is trying to compete with the Lexus RX.  I like the current one better.

[ifcar]

No one bought the current one. Car-based midsize SUVs seem more popular in the premium market by now anyway.

[Catman]

No one bought the current one. Car-based midsize SUVs seem more popular in the premium market by now anyway.

That's true.  Too bad though because the current one is a damn good vehicle with a nice drivetrain.

[Raghavan]

Man, another SUV that goes from RWD to FWD. :angry:
I actually really liked the aviator. a smaller, better looking navigator.

[mazda6er]

Man, another SUV that goes from RWD to FWD. :angry:

When they go from truck based to car based, that tends to happen.

[BMWDave]

It looks nice, although I prefer the nice, crisp styling of the current one.

[giant_mtb]

It's a little too rounded and "cute".

[Raghavan]

Man, another SUV that goes from RWD to FWD. :angry:

When they go from truck based to car based, that tends to happen.

Thanks for clearing that dude.    

[Secret Chimp]

Man, another SUV that goes from RWD to FWD. :angry:
I actually really liked the aviator. a smaller, better looking navigator.

Nobody fuckin' used those things to off-road, there's no difference.

[TBR]

He some how thinks that a RWD vehicle will always handle better than a FWD vehicle of the same type

Anyhow, it looks like the exterior will stay pretty loyal to the concept which is definitely a good thing.

[BMWDave]

He some how thinks that a RWD vehicle will always handle better than a FWD vehicle of the same type

Anyhow, it looks like the exterior will stay pretty loyal to the concept which is definitely a good thing.

Lincoln does need more youthful products at the moment :)

[Raghavan]

He some how thinks that a RWD vehicle will always handle better than a FWD vehicle of the same type

Anyhow, it looks like the exterior will stay pretty loyal to the concept which is definitely a good thing.

No, but if Lincoln wants to be a Caddy competitor again, they have to move back to RWD.

[TBR]

With their cars, yes, but not necessarily with their suvs. And, I think Ford has decided Volvo would be a better sports luxury brand than Lincoln.

[Raghavan]

With their cars, yes, but not necessarily with their suvs. And, I think Ford has decided Volvo would be a better sports luxury brand than Lincoln.

Why not their SUV's either?

[TBR]

Because I think a FWD based AWD suv can be just as sporty as a RWD one. But, no one has really tried it so who really knows? Either way, if all of their cars are RWD it wouldn't make sense for their suv to be FWD based anyway.

[Raghavan]

Because I think a FWD based AWD suv can be just as sporty as a RWD one. But, no one has really tried it so who really knows? Either way, if all of their cars are RWD it wouldn't make sense for their suv to be FWD based anyway.

I don't know, but i heard somewhere that Caddy and Lincoln were losing their older buyers because they wanted RWD, but Caddy and Lincoln went to FWD, so now Caddy's gone back to RWD. I don't know why Lincoln doesn't do that.

[TBR]

Cadillac and Buick have been selling FWD cars for 20 years and that hasn't effected their sales.

[Raghavan]

Cadillac and Buick have been selling FWD cars for 20 years and that hasn't effected their sales.

That's what i read in an article, so....

[TBR]

Well I doubt it is true, otherwise the DTS wouldn't still be FWD.  

[Raghavan]

Well I doubt it is true, otherwise the DTS wouldn't still be FWD.

But they've changed everything else back to RWD.

[mazda6er]

Cadillac and Buick have been selling FWD cars for 20 years and that hasn't effected their sales.

That's what i read in an article, so....

:o  OMG.

So I guess if Volvo is going to be the sporty car brand, that leaves Lincoln to compete with Buick, and Lexus/Toyota? Shouldn't be too hard if they revamp their sedan lineup. And for once, I do believe RWD should be part of the equation.

[TBR]

Well I doubt it is true, otherwise the DTS wouldn't still be FWD.

But they've changed everything else back to RWD.

Yeah, but not to draw the older crowd back in, rather too attract the younger buyers.

[ifcar]

A FWD car-based SUV will almost always be sportier on-road than a RWD truck-based SUV. The only way for this thing to be RWD, yet car-based (which should actually attract younger buyers) would be to base it on a RWD sedan like the Cadillac SRX. But they don't have AWD, so this works better.