For years, rumors have swirled claiming that the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair will be discontinued in the near future, with many of them suggesting that the current 2025 model year would be the last. However, as Ford Authority reported last month, both of the small crossovers will live on for the 2026 model year, though it may be an abbreviated one, since the Louisville Assembly plant is slated to undergo a major retooling this coming December. However, while the 2026 Ford Escape won’t be sold in certain states, that won’t be the case with the 2026 Lincoln Corsair.
As Ford Authority reported earlier this week, the 2026 Ford Escape will only be available with the non-California emissions system, which means that it can’t be sold new or registered in six U.S. states – California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon, and Washington. However, according to sources familiar with the matter, this won’t be the case with the 2026 Lincoln Corsair, as it will be available in all 50 U.S. states, including those that aren’t adopting California’s stricter emissions rules starting next year or in future years.
In any event, the 2026 Lincoln Corsair and Escape are expected to represent the proverbial end of the line for both small crossovers, as long expected. Reports indicate that both will be replaced on the assembly line by an all-new, all-electric vehicle once Louisville’s retooling is completed. It’s unclear what that new EV will be, but it’s possible that it could be the automaker’s very first model riding on its under-development low-cost platform – a mid-size pickup.
As Ford Authority reported earlier this month, the Louisville plant will indeed undergo a comprehensive retooling in preparation for the production of that new EV, as the automaker has already submitted plans to the city outlining specific details pertaining to that action. That remodeling includes the addition of an electric vehicle charging station spanning 12,000 square feet, which is set to feature a canopy providing cover for 16 charging units and a substation.
Comments
If the Corsair and Maverick are replaced by all electric vehicles, we won’t be buying any more and you will have just lost two customers!
Is there any truth to the rumor that Ford will offer a 2026 Ford Thunderbird Coupe?
Ford can live without the Escape, but Lincoln can’t live without the Corsair. So what happens to Lincoln? There is no evident successor if we are months away from a retooling.
the Corsair is Lincoln’s current best selling model and the Escape sells pretty well too. That, in addition to the two models having good customer satisfaction ratings, (Especially with the Lincoln), it makes you wonder if the bean counters at Ford are brain dead. Why discontinue two popular and well liked models, only to be replaced with EV’s that currently have a lot of buyer resistance? If i were Ford, I’d update these two models a bit and delay this EV switch for another few years. By that time, hopefully EV tech will have improved enough to get the folks hesitant to adopt it, willing to consider an EV. For me, right now, I would not want an EV of any brand. They have higher insurance costs. the recharge times and infrastructure to have enough charging stations across the country just isn’t there right now. No, I will wait til they last longer and are cheaper to fix and the insurance is, at least, not more than an ICE car.
Seems like a dumb move that will hurt sales. I love my Corsair.
I don’t understand how Lincoln can even remain viable as a standalone brand selling less than 100k units a year with a threadbare lineup. People rip Chrysler with its current one vehicle lineup, but that Pacifica outsells the entire Lincoln brand and shares the showroom with three other brands. Dropping the Corsair would be murder for sales numbers. If that’s the case, perhaps Ford should just roll the Lincoln brand with Ford and call it a day.
Without the Corsair Lincoln is dead in the water. Lincoln needs a volume compact size vehicle to survive. That means the Nautilus will be the entry level vehicle and the MSRP will be north of $70K when the tariffs kick in so Lincoln’s sales volume will be cut in half with just 3 models. It can’t survive selling less than 70,000 vehicles a year. A horrible business decision by Ford Management. Scary part no word from Lincoln on a Corsair replacement. My Nautilus lease is up early next year and I was planning to replace it with a Corsair. Not now, no way would I buy a discontinued model
Long ( very long) time Ford owner that cannot get over the mgmt. decisions at Ford. The Fusion was a great car, they dropped it ( I had owned 2 of them). Now, people buy a Camry or Hyundai/Kia. We have been happy owners of an Escape and now a 24 Corsair that we love. I hope that Ford execs. read these comments from loyal customers. If/when our Corsair needs to be replaced, we will not replace it with an Aviator or Nautilus regardless of cost, my wife needs a smaller car! So, I guess we will move on to Lexus or the Germans. Just makes no sense at all.
Ford execs are working overtime to destroy this company. One boneheaded decision after another. Since 2008 I’ve had three Fusions (no longer available) and three Escapes (possibly ending production soon) and the only issue I had was a battery leaking on the second Fusion. When Farley took away the keypad and power liftgate, I turned to Lincoln Certified. I now have a Corsair which is the best vehicle I’ve ever owned. My brother got one too. The fact that Ford will do away with these models shows you Dearborn’s brain trust doesn’t know what the hell they are doing.
Another one of many short-sided decisions from Jim Farley. He’s ultimately responsible for the demise of the Edge and now the Escape/Corsair. The small/midsize SUV segment is a huge market and it appears that the only ICE vehicle Ford will offer in this segment is the Bronco Sport.
Is anyone in Ford’s “ivory tower” in Dearborn Michigan listening to the voice of the customer?
I LOVE my Corsair. This is a dumb move by ford. I was a long time Chevy guy. Nothing but Tahoe’s. When it was time to down size i took a Chance on a Lincoln Corsair and i love it.
I own four Fords (2005 50th Anniversary TBird, 2015 F-150, 2017 Fusion, and a 2019 Edge ST). We love them all. Getting ready to replace the Fusion later next year, but Ford in their lack of wisdom no longer sells a gasoline sedan. Thought I might go to the Escape 2.0 Platinum, but now they have apparently killed that. Not sure if I want to pony up for the Corsair when it looks to be hitting the graveyard as well. Looks like it’s time after 40 years to say good bye to Ford. But in reality they left me. Looks like a Kia K5 GT will be my next vehicle.
I can’t believe they’re turfing the Corsair. Are they crazy? This is my third Corsair, leased, and now I don’t know what I’ll get! I love my Corsair. This is a stupid move.