Designed to express its “Quiet Flight” design DNA in a medium sedan, the new Zephyr is Lincoln’s latest attempt to solidify its position as a luxury manufacturer in China. Unveiled today at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show, it integrates the automaker‘s characteristic full-width lightbar into the front fascia. It is mirrored at the back, by what Lincoln calls “3D floating effect” tail lights into which the brand’s name is embedded.
With a wheelbase of more than 2,900mm, the automaker says it blurs the lines between mid- and full-sized
sedans. A Chrysler 300‘s wheelbase, for reference, is 3,052mm,
while the 2020 Ford Fusion’s is 2,850mm. That means plenty of rear seating space and ample legroom.
Up front, the automaker says it has
catered to the requirements of Gen Z consumers with a 12.3-inch digital cluster
with a 27-inch “coast-to-coast” touch screen that makes “a stunning visual
impact.” It supports an array of multi-touch gestures and customizable
displays, allowing customers to choose between full or split-screen views. It
is powered by Lincoln’s Constellation HMI, which applies Dashcard interactive
design. That allows for Solo, Co-pilot, and Individual intelligent operation
modes, as well, which optimize the display for different scenarios.
The phase-4 SYNC+ system is exclusive to
Chinese customers and allows the Zephyr to be continuously updated over the
air. Co-Pilot 360 2.0 and Lincoln ActiveGlide debut on the car and allow for
Level 2+ driving assistance capabilities. The infotainment system also has a
feature called “Future Letter,” which allows owners to customize content on the
coast-to-coast screen and schedule it to appear at a designated moment in order
to delight passengers. To add to the sense of luxury, the cabin has four
relaxing modes, digital scents, and 128-color ambient lighting.
Under the hood, the Lincoln is powered by
a 2.0-liter gas engine that is capable of producing up 235 hp in other, similar, products. It is hooked up to an eight-speed transmission. No
pricing information has been revealed, but Lincoln says the Zephyr will go on
sale exclusively in China during the first quarter of 2022.
