Shinola inspired mother of pearl exterior and provided beautiful dark brown leather
New levels of luxury for interior of Aviator
Lincoln has partnered with Detroit luxury watch brand Shinola to build a concept Aviator. The Lincoln Aviator Shinola concept is filled with new textures, finishes, and looks, but, best of all, it’s a reminder of a time when Lincoln partnered with other high-end brands to create some interesting if not always memorable special edition models.
The automaker says it started with a watch, duffle bag, and a bike seat. Lincoln designers were given the run of the Shinola flagship showroom, finding details that they could bring to the Aviator. It starts with copper touches inspired by the bike seats. The exterior accents of the Lincoln including the grille, side trim, and even the wheels see a copper finish.
Inside, the seats are surrounded by Shinola whiskey leather. The dark hide covers the dash, upper doors, center console, and most of the steering wheel; the deep colour and soft hides are taken from that duffel bag. Creme suede inserts in the seats highlight the deep brown to brighten the cabin and together make this Lincoln look more luxurious than anything we’ve seen from the company in decades. A woven textile in the
seats makes up the Shinola brand stripe, and Lincoln augmented the stripe with the addition of a subtle blue. Surrounding the climate controls and second-row console is a new woven metal mesh material that is intended to represent the fine mesh of a watch band.
“The goal is to impress occupants with our very own expression of craftsmanship, showcasing our meticulous attention to detail,” said Lincoln colour and material designer Liam Butler. “This stripe is unlike anything I’ve ever seen sewn into a vehicle, so we wanted to make sure it was done with care.”
We’re surprised that a Shinola clock wasn’t added to the dashboard, but this design study is still a look at what Lincoln could accomplish. It’s also a look to the company’s history and a time when Lincoln offered special interiors from the likes of Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Pucci. And yes, those were all offered in the same model year. For now, it’s a concept. For later? We wouldn’t be surprised if it moved forward.
