For years now, a variety of automakers – all German luxury brands, plus Infiniti, in fact – have launched a variety of coupe variants of their respective crossover models. These crossover coupes are basically the same exact vehicle as their regular counterparts, save for one notable detail – each has sleeker, more expressive styling, with a rapidly sloping roofline toward the rear. Currently, Lincoln doesn’t build or sell any crossover coupes, but the luxury brand isn’t opposed to the idea, either.
“I can’t say anything to our future products, but I think we would investigate anything that would appeal to our customer,” Summer Cole, Lincoln Brand Marketing Manager, told Ford Authority executive editor, Alex Luft, in a recent interview.
The sheer number of crossover coupes currently on sale has grown exponentially in recent years as luxury shoppers choose style over cargo space, and that list currently includes models such as the BMW X4 and X6 – coupe versions of the X3 and X5, respectively – the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe and GLE-Class Coupe, the Audi Q5 Sportback, Q7, and Q8 coupes, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, and Infiniti QX55, a coupe version of the QX50.
It’s curious that Lincoln has sat on the proverbial sidelines as this particular trend has taken over, especially considering that these crossover coupes use the same architecture as the regular models and have a different top hat, but sell at a considerable premium, thereby making them more profitable. As such, the luxury brand has foregone the opportunity to earn the additional sales volume and profit opportunity that comes from this trendy segment, though judging from these comments, perhaps it is planning on taking advantage at some point in the future.
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Comments
Seems unlikely, Lincoln is such a small volume automaker with only 3-4 models, they can’t tolerate any marginal segments.
“Crossover coupe”. The very name is idiotic. Why don’t automakers just call them “tall hatchbacks”? That’s all they are.
Exactly. And, coupés are generally 2 door cars, not 4. That is, until BMW came out with their “gran coupé” naming convention.
More boring crossovers. When a sedan or a sports coupe? As former Lincoln buyer, I stopped buying Lincoln and migrate to other brands the day they stopped producing sedans. Not everybody likes SUV’s or crossovers or is willing to buy one no matter what.
The very same day?
Maybe not everybody likes them but that’s the profitable part of the market for the Ford brand and where Ford goes with its platform and BIW choices, Lincoln is destined to follow.
I think Lincoln has compromised the styling and function of the Aviator with a sagging roofline. The only way a niche “crossover coupe” in the lineup can make sense is if it stops the designers from continuing to ruin (otherwise) core vehicles with a sagging roof.
Calling the Aviator’s roof “sagging” is just laughable.
The styling is BETTER with that roofline, and I have no idea how any function is compromised.
Maybe rear storage access for tall items?
I wouldn’t be surprised if wind resistance is reduced with this foil shape (this was us to good effect in Prius) and expect to see much more of that.
Why would they even consider this when they can’t even build there vehicles now? I have been waiting over 18 months to order an Aviator and still can’t get it done.
No doubt you found the hidden link how rough design studio talk causes production bottlenecks.
Kinda like the Personal Coupe concept of the 1960’s – 1980’s reinvented….kinda sorta. The only thing I have against this concept is that the vehicles will look like large eggs which is what the Mercedes and BMW versions look like. The design needs to be different and not egg-like. Maybe make the C or D pillar wider and pick up the blind spot with cameras. This could open the possibility of a new wave Mark 9 perhaps offering 2 row seating. Piggy-back the Mark 9 off the new personal Thunderbird 2-row and the segment could heat up and become something other than the usual boring SUV.
I think we will see much more of this as EV platforms will put fewer constraints on the shape and variety of the top hats that are developed for them. Also with the powertrain development cost savings it would make sense that there would be more money for developing additional variants.
Toyota is coming out with their new Crown hybrid only model. To me it looks a little like a Lincoln sedan. Wait and see how well it is going to sell. I bet it sells better then any existing Lincoln.
If Toyota can do it ( and do it before anyone else does it ) why can’t Lincoln?
If you are going to do a cross coupe, the window beltline must be lower otherwise the “fast” roof does not look good. Reference Mercedes to see what I’m talking about here. The overall profile/ look must be lower in order to achieve that personal look that was so popular years ago. Another example is comparing the profile of a 1976 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe and 1976 Continental Mark IV. (Same with the 1977’s only MarkV replaces MarkIV)