[Bloggin]

Now looking at the rear, I wonder if Lincoln will make it more like the concept, without the upward curvature on the sides, since the front end will lose the curvature with the split wing grill going.

Notice the upsweep line at the rear bumper that connects with the tail lights, which mimics the upsweeping line attached to the current front grille.

With the current grille leaving, and the front end looks like it will be more horizontal, the rear lines need to adjust as well. Which will give the MKX a more athletic look.

 

[Assimilator]

Really don't care for the huge overhang in the side profile, they really bulked it up just to accommodate the new boxy fascia.

 

[rmc523]

If e-latches were going added to the MKX they would have to do it with the existing door stampings, they never change these out since it's far too expensive for an MCE budget and I'm sure it's not that important to them.

Exactly. So sure, it's possible they could make the handle fixed (with the inner pull like on the Conti) and have them be electronic, I just don't see it happening until a full redesign. Especially when it's evident that only the front/rear are changing, with no changes to the doors.

Really don't care for the huge overhang in the side profile, they really bulked it up just to accommodate the new boxy fascia.

I think it's more that the top part is out further because of the squarer, more upright grille, not that the front actually sticks out further (the camo adds some length too).

 

[Assimilator]

I think it's also worth pointing out that these images were snapped in early Spring, which probably means it took awhile for an outlet to buy them up. But this is farther along than we think.

 

[igor2]

RE: side profile .. Continental has similar "woosh" character line (at times Lincoln sway a little too close to Buick for my tastes) and it works fine with the new front.

 

[Andrew L]

RE: side profile .. Continental has similar "woosh" character line (at times Lincoln sway a little too close to Buick for my tastes) and it works fine with the new front.

That "woosh" is supposed to be reminiscent of the Mark II and 60s Continental

 

[gjrip]

I'm an idiot, those weird strip things in the camo that I thought were maybe E-latches are on like every body panel and are just a numbered stickers.

No E-latch then I guess lols. I TRIED, GANG.

 

[Assimilator]

I think you can still have an e-latch in the existing door handles but I think the e-latch was done primarily to solve a design challenge similar to other products with unconventional door handles. Unless the car door opens and closes for you I don't really see the need outside of the design consideration.

 

[2b2]

RE: side profile .. Continental has similar "woosh" character line (at times Lincoln sway a little too close to Buick for my tastes) and it works fine with the new front.

That "woosh" is supposed to be reminiscent of the Mark II and 60s Continental

actually/imho (tho quite generalized)
that's what was called the "coke-bottle" styling theme all thru the 60's on MOST Mfgs;
tho starting with swept fenders (way)back in classic days...
...Buick's "sweep-spear" is just another sub-set.

actually², the only U.S eras that come to mind easily, that haven't somewhat followed that, were the 50's "bathtub" and 80's(?) "space-pod"(also minivans) themes
:nerd:

 

[igor2]

I am not saying Lincoln copied modern buicks. I am saying I dislike the bubbly buick styling and that woosh is a bit to curvy for my liking -- I do not like it on buicks, I do not like it on lincolns.

 

[Assimilator]

I am not saying Lincoln copied modern buicks. I am saying I dislike the bubbly buick styling and that woosh is a bit to curvy for my liking -- I do not like it on buicks, I do not like it on lincolns.

Buick and Lincoln have similar aesthetics, although I would say Lincoln is more conservative and rolling back some of the trendy looks more synonymous with Ford or other mainstream manufacturers. Lincoln seems to be more interested in upscale architecture closer to the Europeans and developing a more prominent and stately design that better communicates the car's 'class' and 'status'. To me it's definitely too retro and stuffy and I don't like the 'softness' of their overall aesthetic, but it perfectly encapsulates their identity better than any Lincoln design has since the 70s even if it doesn't actually resemble any Lincoln we've seen before. I understand their inspiration (Audi/British Design) but it could use some more progressive and exciting character. But at this time I think they just want to give fewer reasons for people to avoid their products, and a me-too aesthetic instead of the 'look at me' form of the previous design is probably the right target.

 

[rmc523]

Buick and Lincoln have similar aesthetics, although I would say Lincoln is more conservative and rolling back some of the trendy looks more synonymous with Ford or other mainstream manufacturers. Lincoln seems to be more interested in upscale architecture closer to the Europeans and developing a more prominent and stately design that better communicates the car's 'class' and 'status'. To me it's definitely too retro and stuffy and I don't like the 'softness' of their overall aesthetic, but it perfectly encapsulates their identity better than any Lincoln design has since the 70s even if it doesn't actually resemble any Lincoln we've seen before. I understand their inspiration (Audi/British Design) but it could use some more progressive and exciting character. But at this time I think they just want to give fewer reasons for people to avoid their products, and a me-too aesthetic instead of the 'look at me' form of the previous design is probably the right target.

I can agree with most of this. Not sure what you mean with the 'retro' comment, though.

Your last point is your best - right now, they're playing it safe design wise to try to win people back and attract people to the brand (or like you said, at least giving them fewer reasons to not buy it), much in the way that Lexus design for decades was just "there." Hopefully Lincoln avoids any hideous predator grille transitions, though.

---

Regarding the MKX specifically, I was with a friend last night and we saw an MKX Black Label in the parking lot, and we were discussing it. He hasn't been a fan of the current grille setup, but when I mentioned that the refresh was going to give it the Continental's grille, he commented that that would look really good on there. It'll definitely be interesting to see 1) obviously what it'll look like, and 2) how sales do after the changeover, as there may be many people that are turned off by the split wing, but would buy it with a different design.

 

[Assimilator]

I definitely think the new fascia is more upscale and does look more like the cars I actually admire (Audi in particular), although it has been crossed with British-like ornamentation so it's much softer around the edges and bit more sculptural and posh which doesn't really float my boat personally. I think they did the right thing but I don't think Lincoln has the same mass appeal of global luxury brands, but who knows what will happen after a few decades of plugging away at this.

When I mean 'retro' I just mean traditional luxury design with boxier surfacing and proportions to highlight large dimensions, square prominent grills, and a non-sporting character. I prefer the Audi approach which is to take those visual ideas and execute them in a more progressive and technical way, but then it really wouldn't be Lincoln.

 

[Bloggin]

I wonder if Lincoln will offer a version of the MKX without the black cladding like the concept, or at lease from around the wheel wells. It seems to add more visual 'weight' to the vehicle and give it a less premium more utilitarian look. Look at the F-Pace that is similarly styled.

 

[rmc523]

I wonder if Lincoln will offer a version of the MKX without the black cladding like the concept, or at lease from around the wheel wells. It seems to add more visual 'weight' to the vehicle and give it a less premium more utilitarian look. Look at the F-Pace that is similarly styled.

I did this real quick just to see what it might look like....

 

[Andrew L]

I like it better without the black cladding!

 

[rmc523]

I like it better without the black cladding!

I kept the strip of cladding around the wheel wells, as that's a common thing on many models, plus I wasn't sure how it'd look without it.

 

[SP1966]

I did this real quick just to see what it might look like....

It looks sleeker with the black plastics. I do think white is probably not the best color for this test though.

 

[SP1966]

I wonder if Lincoln will offer a version of the MKX without the black cladding like the concept, or at lease from around the wheel wells. It seems to add more visual 'weight' to the vehicle and give it a less premium more utilitarian look. Look at the F-Pace that is similarly styled.

The F-Pace is longer (most of the additional length up front) and a dark color so it minimizes the vehicles height. With the shorter MKX, especially in light colors it would end up looking fat.

 

[Assimilator]

They would need to restyle the lower trim since it's tucked under and rounded which gives the car a generally 'chubby' appearance if painted all the same color. I think it looks better with the two-tone cladding to thin out and heighten the visual profile of the vehicle all around.

The MKX has a generally 'dated' appearance because of the abundant cladding and ill-defined ground effects, but it's going to take a major redesign to address that.