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There Will Be No Lincoln Pickup Or Blackwood, Mark LT Successor: Exclusive

As sales of pickup trucks continue to grow, particularly those of trucks with luxurious appointments and trim levels, one simply can’t help but wonder if now is the time for a new Lincoln pickup. On the surface, the idea of a luxurious Lincoln truck, such as a revived Lincoln Blackwood or Mark LT, makes perfect sense given the high levels of interest in and popularity of the increasingly-expensive Ford F-150 King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited trim levels. Even so, it doesn’t look like a pickup is in Lincoln’s future.

2002 Lincoln Blackwood

2002 Lincoln Blackwood

In an interview with FoMoCo Vice President and President of the North American region, Kumar Galhotra, Ford Authority executive editor, Alex Luft, asked whether a Lincoln pickup truck, potentially a follow-up to the Lincoln Mark LT or Blackwood, is something the automaker was considering.

The answer was very simple: “No, no pickup plans for Lincoln,” Galhotra said with a chuckle, adding “We‘re very focused on Lincoln SUVs, which are doing great.”

Lincoln SUV sales are showing promise, gaining 1.5 percent in retail market share to more than 7 percent of the premium SUV segment during the second quarter of 2020. The automaker’s two remaining sedans – the Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln Continental – will be discontinued at the end of the 2020 model year, leaving the luxury brand with a portfolio consisting of four utilities – three crossovers (Corsair, Nautilus, Aviator) and one SUV (Navigator / Navigator L).

Thus, it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing another Lincoln pickup any time soon, if ever, and we can’t really blame FoMoCo for shying away from the idea. After all, the Lincoln Blackwood was a failure by all accounts: only 3,356 units were produced across a single model year (2002) before the model was scrapped.

2006 Lincoln Mark LT interior

2006 Lincoln Mark LT interior

The Blackwood was essentially a Ford F-150 SuperCrew pickup with different body panels, a different grille and front end that was styled to look like the era’s Lincoln Navigator. The Blackwood also featured a few unique interior appointments, including a navigation system, plus two very unique features: a split “barn door” style tailgate, and a hard bed cover. Both features were standard. Power was derived from the Ford modular 5.4L V8 engine rated at 300 horsepower, while a four-speed automatic transmission swapped cogs.

2006 Lincoln Mark LT

2006 Lincoln Mark LT

Despite the Blackwood’s lack of commercial success, FoMoCo tried its luck one more time in making a Lincoln pickup, introducing the Mark LT in 2006. Much like the Blackwood, the Mark LT was also essentially just a rebadged Ford F-150 with a unique grille, tail lights, wheels and a few luxurious interior appointments. Lincoln sold 10,274 units of the Mark LT in its first year of production, but sales quickly waned and the model was discontinued after the 2008 model year.

2021 Ford F-150 Limited - the most luxurious F-150 trim level

2021 Ford F-150 Limited – the most luxurious F-150 trim level

Despite their lack of commercial success, it’s clear now that the Lincoln Blackwood and Mark LT were simply ahead of their time. During the time both models were on sale, the notion of a luxury pickup truck hadn’t pickup up steam. Fast forward to today, and luxury trucks are more popular than ever. In fact, many buyers are replacing luxury sedans with premium pickups. To that end, the upper trim levels of the Ford F-150 – such as the Platinum and Limited – are very luxurious in their own right, thereby seemingly negating the need for a new Lincoln pickup.

The interior of the 2021 Ford F-150 Limited is a temple of luxury

The interior of the 2021 Ford F-150 Limited is a temple of luxury

We’ll have more exclusive insights like this to share soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Lincoln news and ongoing Ford news coverage.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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Comments

  1. Don’t know what they were thinking. They admitted it was a rebadged F150.

    Reply
    1. They could and should do a Lincoln version of the F-150, but done right. Not a rebadge but a different vehicle, much like Expedition is to Navigator.

      The Blackwood and Mark LT didn’t work because the product lacked substance over the F-150.

      Reply
      1. agreed. I want to see a Lincoln pickup that actually wears Lincoln styling instead of being an F-150 with a different grille. A true Lincoln half-ton would have the potential to be far and away the most gorgeous pickup on the market.

        Reply
  2. WOW, EPIC FAIL – Grow some BALLS Ford / Lincoln and do the dam truck the right way. The Blackwood was missing the SuperChargered 5.4 that Harley Davison F150 got to use but Lincoln didn’t, then it should have a Power retractable bed cover. The Mark LT was simply a F150 with a Lincoln grill and reflector tail lights add- All kinds of WRONG. Lincoln can’t live on SUVS alone, your already talking about cutting the Nautilus. You want a BadAss truck that will sale HIRE ME, Am sick of Lincoln looking less than Hyundai

    Reply
  3. For the record the Lincoln Aviator is not a across over and there’s always more Luxury to be had, Ford and Lincoln are afraid to bring it, 3rd times a Charm

    Reply
    1. The Aviator is the definition of a crossover. It’s unibody.

      Reply
      1. Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator 2920 models are not crossovers

        Reply
        1. What are you talking about? Both 2020 models in question are unibody crossovers.

          The Explorer has been a crossover since the last generation.

          Reply
          1. What Am talking about is the 2012- 2019 Explorer is a FWD car based crossover platform. The new 2020 Aviator and Explorer models are New RWD not based on a car platform

            Reply
            1. The NAVIGATOR and EXPEDITION are nice vehicles. However the former is a rebadge of the latter.

              Reply
            2. Roy – You’re wrong and confused.

              2012-2019 Explorer is a unibody crossover on a FWD-based platform.

              2020 Explorer and 2020 Aviator are unibody crossovers on a RWD-based platform.

              Drive wheels have nothing to do with it, they’re all still crossovers. None of these three vehicles are body-on-frame, which is the only thing that would make them NOT a crossover.

              Crabby – expedition and navigator share a platform. They’re very far from being rebadges.

              Reply
              1. Well they could have done a better job to shape the NAVIGATOR body to erase any resemblance to the EXPEDITION. Perhaps they will.

                Reply
              2. We can Agree 2 Disagree, to you a 61 F100 unibody might be a cross over to me It’s Not. I like Ford said it’s a SUV not a crossover

                Reply
  4. I have owned 3 Mark LT’s, one of the early 2006’s , a 2008, and my current 2006. I have always been pleased with the ride and especially the services that Lincoln provides. If they made the Mark LT again here in the United States, I’d buy it.

    Reply
    1. A Lincoln truck needs to looks like a Lincoln inside and out, not a Ford with a Lincoln grill are it will fail again. A lot of customers who cross shop the F-150 and Mark LT only seen a Lincoln grill. That’s not enough for the money most bought F-150 Limited or Platinum

      Reply
      1. To me, I would rather have a base Lincoln than a fancy Ford. That’s about it. And as I expressed, I like the overall experience of Lincoln purchasing and especially Service I have
        had from my dealer ( 14 vehicles in about 16 year time span ).

        I have my eye on either the 2021 F150 hybrid, or a 2021 Transit with all wheel drive. I need all weather capability.

        Reply
        1. A base Lincoln is worth less than a F-150 Platinum or Limited in the long run, it’s your money spend it as you wish. I buy investments not names

          Reply
          1. The Platinum or Limited trims in the F150 were not available in the 2006 to 2008 time frame. The luxury truck of the time( in the US ) was the Mark LT.

            At the time, I was in the market for a new truck. I liked the Lincoln.
            I have had F150’s from 1992 on, 1985 E350 diesel, 1985 F250 diesel, E250 vans, E150 vans, 2006 and 2010 Mercury Mariners, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, 1999 Mercury minivan. ( Windstars and 1978 Ford Fiestas and ran in the family, too)
            I like all my vehicles, I can’t necessarily keep them all at the same time.
            I would not consider a vehicle to be an investment unless it has a job to do every day. No payback from the investment if it’s only job is to exist. None of these, be it Mark LT or Limited or whatever, is going to be worth particularly anything in 20 years. If I like the vehicle and can afford it, yes, it is my money to spend.

            Reply
    2. Glen Paik I need a rear red tail light cover on left rear of body (not on the tailgate) 2008 Lincoln Mark LT truck. I cant find this part so let me know if you have any info. Thanks!

      Reply
  5. If I wanted to pay $70 K for a limited half ton then I at least want a premium name and look to it . The Mark LT had all of the chrome lower body panels and although it was just a grill the whole aftermarket made a fortune on imitations. We’ll see 25 years out which is kore desirable!

    Reply
  6. My neighbor kid has a F150, ordered a Lincoln grill and tailgate chrome panel. Everyone thinks he bought a Lincoln.

    Reply
  7. Victim of idenity theft.

    Reply
  8. Purchased 2001, 2003, 2013, and current 2016 Lincoln Navigators new. Would buy a Lincoln truck in a heartbeat if designed equally well. Until then, Lincoln being my preferred mfr. ends with the 2016 Navigator.

    Reply

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