Without an EV in its current lineup, Lincoln risks falling behind in a rapidly growing segment. The Model L100 concept, just revealed at Pebble Beach, shows the brand's commitment to electrification, and some bold ideas for its upcoming designs.
Lincoln is the featured marque at this year's Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance, with a sizeable contingent of classic vehicles on disaply. Among them are examples of the Lincoln Model L: the brand's first vehicle, it was introduced as the company made the transition from wartime V12 engine supplier to automaker. The Model L100 concept celebrates its namesake and commemorates 100 years of Lincoln as one of Ford's brands.
A feature of the Model L, common at the time, was a retractable awning instead of a fixed metal roof. The Model L100 borrows the idea as one of its stylistic signatures. Glass instead of fabric, the roof lifts along with the rear-opening doors to create an exceptionally open cabin for ingress and egress.
Once you're inside, the front seats can be flipped to turn the car into a social experience instead of a driving one. Front and rear passengers can converse easily, or do the important business things we imagine important business people do in their cars.
The center console was inspired by the chessboard, with a crystalline miniature of the vehicle acting as the main controller. It's meant to capture light and depth, and replace the steering wheel. This concept is autonomous, of course.
“Concept vehicles allow us to reimagine and illustrate how new experiences can come to life with the help of advanced technologies and allow our designers more creative freedom than ever before,” said Anthony Lo, chief design officer, Ford Motor Company. “With the Model L100, we were able to push the boundaries in ways that evolve our Quiet Flight brand DNA and change the way we think about Lincoln designs of tomorrow."
The design Lo and team have created is low, sleek, and wide. With LED lighting signatures illuminating the nose, badges, and even the car's covered wheel wells. Lincoln demonstrated the LED wheel spokes lighting up in succession to simulate the movement of a traditional wheel.
Lincoln's final detail: A crystal greyhound hood ornament that's visible through the transparent hood. The design was originally selected by Edsel Ford back in the 1920s to symbolise elegance and grace. Edsel had clearly never seen a greyhound taking a nap when making that decision.
The automaker plans to launch four EVs by 2026, and we can expect them to take at least some styling cues from this elegant concept.
