When we last saw the 2020 Lincoln Corsair, it was via a heavily veiled teaser video that revealed the new moniker, but not much else. This time around, Lincoln has let the wraps come off its MKC replacement, and folks will certainly be in for a treat when it eventually makes its way to showrooms.
Buyers looking for a radical change will find plenty to talk about, with the exterior styling leading the way. The front fascia is much more cohesive than before, and the bulk of the design takes a significant amount of inspiration from its bigger stablemates the Aviator and Navigator, with just a pinch of Nautilus DNA thrown in to really spice things up a notch. It’s certainly an improvement over the MKC which did not do a very good job hiding its Escape based hertiage (despite a commendable mid-cycle update a few years ago. Diffrentiation is a key pillar here, and the distinctive suit of clothes is a noticeably diffrent affair versus the 2020 Escape and its puffed up Euro Focus infused vision.
When the 2020 Corsair evevntually makes its way to Lincoln showrooms, buyers will have a choice of two diffrent engine offerings, with the base 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. Buyers that want more power can opt for the beefier yet very familiar 2.3 liter turbocharged four cylinder which gets a slight power bump to 280 horsepower and a torque increase to 310 lb-ft. Like the Escape, a plug-in hybrid version of the Corsair is in the works, but Lincoln is keeping things under wraps for the moment, with an unveiling set to take place sometime in the near future.
The interior however, will perhaps be the Corsair’s calling card. Like the Aviator, Lincoln designers were given free reign abd the end result is a decidedly more upscale cabin with an 8.0 inch touchscreen infotainment system being the key drawing point for tech savvy consumers.The Corsair will be the only Lincoln offering without a Black Label variant, but this omission is tolerable considering the potent levels of standard equipment the Corsair offers as it is. Options include 24-way power massaging front seats, ambient lighting, a massive panoramic sunroof, and exotic leather options to contrast its elegant wood trim and spirited undertones.Lincoln’s basic safety suite is on hand, and includes itens such as blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assist, and a few other select items make their home on the options list.
Lastly, the Corsair also brings Lincoln’s new phone-as key technology to the party, which allows the key fob to be left at home and your app equipped smartphone to act as the fob. And yes, Lincoln engineers understand the challenges of modern phone charging, and have included a backup code entry system in the event your phone is snuffed to a halt by a dead battery. While this technology has already been debuted by several other brands in recent years, Lincoln’s interpretation of the technology is expected to have more marketing presence especially in the utility segment.
The 2020 Lincoln Corsair enters a very hotly contested slice of the luxury SUV market, with the elegant Lincoln aiming to take a bigger bite of the sales cake while also stealing buyers from rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Acura RDX, and even the Lexus NX. Pricing information was not released, but look for the first units to arrive at a showroom near you later this year.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.