Just days after the rumor that the Continental would be discontinued due to poor sales, Lincoln turns around and releases a teaser for the Lincoln Aviator Concept, signaling the return of the name for the first time in 13 years.

Apparently, someone over at Lincoln realizes they spent all that money on reviving the wrong damn car, and with the Continental likely to take its place on the guillotine, the Aviator will come back in all its glory. Rumor has it that it will be based on the Ford Explorer, so expect it to sport the same general style, along with the 3.5-liter engine as standard equipment. It should deliver somewhere between 290 and 365 horsepower (with the latter being from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost) and feature more upscale trim, standard leather seating, and a high-end audio system.

Of course, the car debuting at the New York Auto Show is just a concept, so we won’t see the production model until probably 2020 – right around the time they’ll discontinue the continental. You can expect the Aviator to be a spiritual successor to the MKT three-row SUV and will be the next big key in Lincoln’s move to expand its SUV presence on the market.

Expect to see more teasers and maybe even a leak or two before the Aviator shows up in New York, so make sure you stay tuned for the latest news about Lincoln and the New York Auto Show.

References

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator.

Read more Lincoln news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.