Lincoln Aviator

The Lincoln Aviator is a mid-size, three-row luxury SUV manufactured and marketed under the Lincoln brand of Ford Motor Company &mdash; and now in its second generation, with a hiatus from 2006 to 2020.

The first generation Aviator was manufactured for 2003–2005 model years as a rebadged variant of the third generation Ford Explorer &mdash; and assembled at the now-closed St. Louis Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri, alongside the Explorer and Mountaineer.

For the 2020 model year, Lincoln reintroduced the Aviator as a badge engineered variant of the sixth generation Ford Explorer manufactured at Chicago Assembly and offered with a plug-in hybrid variant.

First generation (UN152; 2003)
The Aviator was launched for the 2003 model year with three-row six-passenger seating configuration and optional second row bucket seats with center console or second-row bench seating (at no cost).

Along with the choice of four-wheel drive (4WD) configuration and towing packages, the Aviator was offered with optional heated/cooled front bucket seats, xenon (HID) headlights, 17-inch chrome wheels, and a DVD-based navigation system. These options were late availability in 2003 on the premium model and 2004 (Ultimate), 2005 (Elite). The Aviator was equipped with dual front/side airbags, side-curtain airbags, stability and traction control.

Chassis
Sharing its chassis with the third-generation Explorer, the Aviator is derived from the body-on-frame Ford U1 platform. Sharing its 113.7 in wheelbase with the Explorer/Mountaineer, the Aviator is fitted with four-wheel independent suspension.

A standard towing package was fitted to all 4WD Aviators with a heavy-duty towing package optional on either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4WD models.

Powertrain
In place of the SOHC two-valve version of the 4.6 L Modular V8 shared with the Explorer/Mountaineer and other Ford trucks, the Aviator was fitted with the DOHC four-valve version of the engine, shared with the Mustang Mach 1 and Marauder.

Producing 225 kW and 407 Nm of torque, the DOHC V8 engine in the Aviator came with two more horsepower than the 5.4-L V8 in the Navigator (though with 75 Nm less of torque). As with the Explorer/Mountaineer, rear-wheel drive was standard, with Lincoln offering all-wheel drive as an option; all versions were equipped with a five-speed 5R55S overdrive automatic transmission.

Body
The Aviator derived its body construction from the third-generation Explorer, sharing its body structure, doors, and roofline with both model lines. The Aviator adopts a number of styling cues from the second-generation Navigator, with visually similar front and rear stayling, lower door panels/running boards, grilles, and headlamps, and license-plate surrounds. Styled similar to later-1960s Lincolns, the rectangular-designed instrument panel featured an instrument cluster with electroluminescent gauges and needles. The Aviator received model-specific seats and leather, with American walnut wood trim on the doors and steering wheel.

Trim
At its 2002 launch, the Aviator was offered in Luxury base trim and Premium trim level. For 2004, the Premium trim was renamed Ultimate.. For 2005, the Luxury trim became the sole offering, with previous content remaining available as stand-alone options, including a rear-seat DVD player. An Elite option package was offered, which bundled all features of the Premium/Ultimate trims; the package offered a DVD-based navigation system.

Kitty Hawk Special Edition
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' 1903 flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor Company, Lincoln offered a "Kitty Hawk" limited edition of the Aviator; it was the official vehicle of the 2003 EAA Countdown to Kitty Hawk. Along with special Kitty Hawk badging and trim, the limited-edition featured mink zebrano wood trim, argent painted and chrome grille, and a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tip, chrome wheels, xenon (HID) headlamps, black premium leather heated/cooled seats with Kitty Hawk logo embossed on front seatbacks, black carpet floor mats with stitched Kitty Hawk logo, available only in black exterior color.

Marketing and reception
Lincoln played up the similarity to the Navigator full-size SUV with magazine ads that read, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Especially when it's yourself you're imitating." The Aviator was met with relatively positive press coverage.

While the Aviator's styling borrowed cues from its big brother, the Navigator, it also looked similar to the very widespread Explorer with which it shared the platform. Also working against the Aviator was the fact that it was priced similar to the larger and relatively popular Expedition. Car and Driver said in a comparison test, in which the Aviator tied for fifth place, that only the car's high price and lack of certain features and no low range with the 4WD model held it out of contention for the top spots.

Replacement
The first-generation Lincoln Aviator was discontinued after the 2005 model year, with the final vehicle produced by St. Louis Assembly on August 19, 2005. At the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, Lincoln previewed an intended second generation. In a break from the Explorer/Mountaineer, the model line was shifting its design from a three-row SUV to a two-row crossover SUV, becoming a Lincoln counterpart of the Ford Edge CUV. The second-generation Aviator was released as an early 2007 vehicle.

IN 2007, Lincoln rebranded its model line, adopting an "MK" model across its lineup, with the exception of the Navigator and the Town Car. The Aviator nameplate was dropped, becoming the Lincoln MKX (X= crossover); based on the Ford CD3 platform, the production MKX served as a counterpart of the Ford Edge.

Second generation (U611; 2020)
At the 2018 New York Auto Show, Lincoln unveiled a prototype version of its planned second-generation Aviator, scheduled to enter production in 2019.

A more detailed production was later introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28, 2018. Lincoln confirmed that the Aviator would go on sale in the summer of 2019 as a 2020 model in North America and China afterward.

With 494 hp and 630 lbft of torque and all of the power and torque coming from a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with a hybrid system, the Aviator Hybrid's output makes it on par with likes of other midsized performance SUVs such as the BMW X5 xDrive 50i (456 hp and 479 lbft), and the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid (455 hp and 516 lbft).

Overview
The 2018 Aviator prototype marked the debut of an all-new vehicle platform for Ford Motor Company; while the vehicle is RWD, the architecture is designed for multiple powertrain layouts, including all-wheel drive (AWD) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The second-generation Aviator shares its platform architecture with the sixth-generation Explorer. While again mechanically related to the Explorer, the Aviator received its own styling.

No specific engine or transmission details were announced as part of the unveiling; the production Aviator will offer plug-in hybrid (PHEV) capability as an option, the first Lincoln vehicle to do so.

Several technological features debuted on the 2018 prototype Aviator. Tying the vehicle camera system with the continuously controlled dampers, Suspension Preview Technology looks at the road ahead for surface irregularities (i.e., potholes), preparing the suspension for impact and its effect on vehicle ride. Phone as a Key allows an Aviator to be driven without keys; the technology allows the smartphone of the owner to serve as the vehicle key fob, with the door-mounted keyless entry keypad allowing access in the event of phone battery failure (the interior is designed with wireless charging for smartphones).

A number of safety technology features were included, with Lincoln CoPilot360 packaging automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping system, lane centering, reverse camera, and auto high-beams. Reverse Brake Assist applies the brakes if the vehicle detects an object when the transmission is in reverse.

Lincoln designers worked with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to compose 25 unique sound effects to be used for the door chime and other indicator alerts for the Aviator.

2025 refresh
The facelifted Aviator was revealed on February 5, 2024, for the 2025 model year. It features a redesigned front fascia, refreshed interior and redesigned headlights. The PHEV Grand Touring trim was discontinued for 2025.

Safety
NHTSA crash test ratings (2020):


 * Front Impact Rating:
 * Side Impact Rating:
 * Rollover Rating: 15.1%