Ford’s luxury brand late April provided a look at its upcoming electric vehicle design language with the reveal of the Lincoln Star Concept.
The fun, fanciful, and digitally enhanced SUV is presented on a multipurpose rear- and all-wheel-drive battery electric platform and hints at what the three EVs Lincoln has planned for the next few years might look like, inside and out.
As is a concept’s prerogative, the Star shines like its name with all sorts of bejewelled, transparent, and lit-up features, like backlit doors; an electro-chromatic frunk that goes transparent when the vehicle is in motion; and a grille that puts on a light show when activated.
The exterior profile is reminiscent of the windswept lines of Lincoln’s gas-powered SUVs like the Nautilus or Corsair, but with a more dramatic, less rounded flair. In other words, it looks like what it is: a modern SUV.
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
But Lincoln has been hard at work conceptualizing a ‘gliding sanctuary’ in the interior, with rotating front seats, rear seats that recline and have individual leg rests, plus controls for fanciful “rejuvenation moods” that combine video, audio, and scent outputs to evoke certain emotions for certain times of day. There’s “Mindful Vitality,” which uses “invigorating, upbeat audio, dynamic abstract artwork, soft, glowing lighting and a flowery fragrance” to get you fired up. Or “Evening Chill” with “night sky video and an evergreen fragrance” to calm you down.
Behind the semi-transparent steering wheel (which has a see-through one-touch pedal to match) there’s a curved horizontal display that runs the length of the dash, with a smaller mounted screen below it. The next-gen Lincoln Intelligence System is also on board, with touted vehicle-to-vehicle connected capabilities and new parking and visibility driver-assistance features.
The actions of the front and rear storage compartments are entertaining to watch unfold, literally. Lincoln has devised a frunk that flows uninterrupted into the cabin, and a rear cargo space that converts into an outdoor seating lounge when the rear door opens.
It’s all good fun, conceptually speaking, but not at all likely to make it to production in this form.
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
2023 Lincoln Star Concept Photo by Lincoln
“As Lincoln enters the next chapter in our transition to a zero-emissions future, the Lincoln Star Concept will lead the way for our portfolio of fully electric vehicles,” said Lincoln president Joy Falotico in a press release. “It is an excellent example of how we are redefining luxury for the next generation as we work to transform the vehicle into a third space – a true place of sanctuary – for our clients.”
The new Lincoln Star Concept paves the way for Lincoln’s promised electric offerings, which should make up half of the brand portfolio by 2025, including three new fully electric vehicles, and a fourth by 2026.
Keyword: Lincoln's electric Star SUV literally unfolds to put on a light show