Here Is What Lincoln Might Look Like In The Future

A group of transportation design students from Southern California's ArtCenter College of Design was recently tasked with creating a few Lincoln models for the year 2040.

Lincoln has a long-standing collaboration with the ArtCenter College of Design, and four teams of transportation design students were partnered by film students, entertainment designers, illustrators, and animators to picture the environment in which Lincoln models will live in 2040.

They eventually came up with the four cars shown in this video. The Lincoln Glider is the first model, and it is based on classic Lincoln Zephyr and Continental cars. It's a unique two-seater that's been designed to be entirely driverless, with pedals that can be hidden behind the firewall. It was also built with the ability to transport a wheelchair for people with disabilities.

The second vehicle is a four-passenger car that "leverages its digital technology that enables its passengers to link the present and the past," according to a short video named “Anniversary.” A family SUV with touchscreen windows and a moonroof that sketches out different stars in the sky is portrayed in the “Amongst the Stars” clip.

The final vehicle is a six-seat luxury cruiser that looks more like an excellently living room than just an automobile.

Due to the pandemic, the students behind the designs were unable to deliver the films to Ford and Lincoln leaders in person. Instead, they were shown to executives via Zoom call, including Ford CEO Jim Farley.

Jordan Meadows, the global strategic design specialist for Lincoln and assistant professor at ArtCenter, stated that ArtCenter is known for amazing vehicle design, and it's in the center of Hollywood.  They were searching for that amazing narrative evolution, that rich storytelling, more than simply the vehicles themselves. Understanding the future environment in which a concept car will exist is essential.