Last week, we brought you the reports that claimed Lincoln was planning to build its own off-roader. A luxury model based on the Ford Bronco that would go after the likes of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Or, more likely, the smaller and cheaper G that Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to reveal. Now, thanks to some time in Photoshop by one digital artist, we have an idea of what the Lincoln Bronco might look like. Luxury Face On Rugged Bones Ok, this rendering of a possible Bronc-Linc from jlord8 on Instagram isn't going to win everyone over. It's more of a badge engineering job than a true transformation. But if you let that idea sit and simmer for a while, it might make more sense. Spending boatloads of cash to redesign the entire body is expensive and Ford lost $8.2 billion last year. On paper, at least.The most obvious changes are the addition of Lincoln's signature grille, headlights, and LED light bar. The sleek luxury SUV look merges with the sharp lines of the Bronco a lot better than we would have expected. The new hood and slight extensions of the fenders and their tie-downs helps with that.You'll need the brush guard if you want to do any off-roading. The fancy-pants Lincoln grille isn't going to stand up to off-roading the way a Bronco's might. Plus, Bronco owners probably don't care as much if they get damage.The lower driving lights are Bronco headlights. They don't exactly blend in harmoniously, but they're a solid solution to a tough problem. Put a thumb in front of them and picture it as purely paint, and you'll probably see the issue. Plus, the round lights also give this rig a G-Class vibe. A little bit, anyway.One detail you might not notice is the wheels. The turbine-style Lincoln design with beefy all-terrain rubber actually looks pretty good. First Time On Trail For Lincoln In 165 Years? Ford A Lincoln off-roader would be something serious for the car company. In its 108 years, Lincoln has tried a lot of different things. Recent attempts at something new have met with mixed results, like the hit that is the Navigator and the big miss of the Blackwood and Mark LT.Could it make the idea work? There is certainly a precedent for rugged luxury, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class transition from rodeo to Rodeo has set the high mark for it. But Mercedes-Benz has decades of history as a rough and tumble military and off-road vehicle. The Bronco doesn't really have that history in the same way, and Lincoln definitely doesn't.Doing less, with a design like this, could mean more. A very light redesign of the expensive parts like body panels, combined with clever changes to upgrade the interior, could help make it work economically. The lower the spend, the fewer units Lincoln needs to sell to make the math work.In its best-year ever, Mercedes-Benz sold 49,700 G-Class models around the world. That includes strong electric G sales and work vehicles. That shows that there is demand, and there is profit, but a company like Lincoln will need to tread carefully.Source: jlord8 / Instagram
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