Aviator EV to lead Lincoln's electric push, and Oakville to play a part

After appearing to fall behind most of its competitors in the push toward electrification, Lincoln has a plan to add some form of battery power to its entire lineup by the end of the decade.

That will include four battery-electric models, the first of which is set to be revealed next year, timed to the 100th anniversary of Ford purchasing the Lincoln brand. Lincoln continues to invest in its gasoline-powered utilities, except for the Nautilus, which will be discontinued when its life cycle ends in 2023.

Dealers have clamored for more product to sell, and they'll soon get their wish. By mid-decade, Lincoln will add at least two new nameplates, in addition to EV versions of utilities such as the Corsair and Aviator.

Corsair: Despite strong customer reception to the larger Aviator, Lincoln's littlest crossover remains its bestseller. U.S. sales this year are up 8.1 per cent through July, to 14,106, despite the ongoing chip shortage. Sales in Canada up 28 per cent to 1,163 through two quarters. Ford only reports sales on a quarterly basis in Canada. A Lincoln spokeswoman said a plug-in hybrid model called the Corsair GT should be on sale by the end of the month. Expect a freshen late next year and a redesign in 2024.

Brand executives plan to add a battery- electric variant, which forecasting firm AutoForecast Solutions has said will be called the Corsair-E, in 2025. It's scheduled to be built at Ford's Oakville Assembly Plant in Canada, which will switch over to EV production after 2023.

Electric small crossover: Lincoln will launch another C-segment EV, currently known by the program code CX802, in 2025 from Oakville Assembly in Ontario. It's unclear whether the vehicle, expected to be sold in multiple global markets, will be a new nameplate or a variation of the Corsair EV. It will be built on the same GE2 platform as the Corsair EV and the next-generation Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Nautilus/electric midsize crossover: Like the Ford Edge, the Nautilus remains bound for the scrap heap. The brand plans to discontinue the Nautilus in the U.S. — and likely Canada — once its life cycle ends in 2023. The vehicle will be replaced in the lineup by a midsize crossover EV, currently referred to as CDX818, but it's unclear if it will carry the same name. The Nautilus moniker is relatively new, and a source said it wasn't the brand's first choice when it sought to rename the MKX. The EV is scheduled to debut in 2025 and come from Oakville Assembly.

Aviator: The Aviator remains a key product for Lincoln, and U.S. sales are up 11 per cent year to date through July. In Canada, sales are up 29 per cent through the second quarter. The gasoline version is scheduled to be freshened in 2023. Lincoln President Joy Falotico has said the Aviator could become the brand's bestseller, and Lincoln picked the nameplate to lead its latest electrification push by introducing the Aviator GT plug-in hybrid last year. And it's not stopping there.

Executives this year said they would reveal the brand's first battery-electric vehicle sometime in 2022. That vehicle will be the Aviator EV, which will go on sale in 2023 and be built alongside the Ford Explorer EV and Mustang Mach-E in Cuautitlan, Mexico.

Navigator: Lincoln just freshened its largest SUV with new technology and some minor cosmetic tweaks to the interior and exterior. The 2022 Navigator, on sale early next year, will be the first Lincoln to feature Ford Motor Co.'s hands-free driver-assist technology, branded as Lincoln ActiveGlide. It also gets over-the-air-update capability, the Sync 4 infotainment system and a pair of new Black Label themes. The exterior includes new headlamps, taillights and tweaks to the grille. Lincoln plans to redesign the Navigator in 2023, when it also will add a hybrid model.