When was the last the words “Lincoln” and “supercar” were mentioned in the same sentence? 50 years ago? Never? In any case, Lincoln just swung for the fences with what could possibly be the boldest statement to come out of the 2018 New York Auto Show. America’s once-proud luxury brand is all set to unveil the Aviator SUV, and while that itself is reason enough to get excited, the automaker added fuel to the fire, describing the capabilities of its plug-in hybrid system as “mightier than many supercars on the road today.”

A part of me wishes that this was an early April’s Fool joke that Lincoln just cooked up so we can resume our normal lives. Then again, another part of me is all-in on this proclamation, largely because the Aviator looks the part of an SUV that can get down and dirty with the best supercars in the world today.

To say that the Aviator looks stunning is a massive understatement. It looks like a piece of art, the kind that Lincoln was once known for. Times have changed, but it’s comforting to know that America’s old go-to luxury marquee can still bring out the goods when called upon.

Now about that performance claim. Lincoln didn’t exactly reveal details of what the Aviator is carrying, but photos of the SUV revealed a plug-in hybrid setup. That means we’re looking at a good ol' one-two combustion and electric motor combination somewhere in there. But seeing as this is Lincoln, it didn’t just fit a typical four-cylinder to pair with the electric motor. Without revealing the juicy bits, the automaker hinted that the Aviator can have a bi-turbo V-6 unit and an electric motor that can join forces to produce supercar-like power and performance numbers.

Certainly, there should be a sprinkle of hyperbole in that statement. For as long as we’ve known about Lincoln, it’s never been the type of company that polishes its own horn as far as power and performance are concerned. But what if it’s actually telling the truth? What if the Lincoln Aviator, as grandiose as it looks, is actually capable of dancing with the world’s supercars?

It’s easy to imagine the possibilities, but like everything else that involves bold promises, we’ll hold our judgments until we see the SUV actually do it. Hell of a way to make an impression, though. Well done on that end, Lincoln. You certainly have our attention now.

References

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator.

Read more Lincoln news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.