The Rivian R1-S, the car the new electric Lincoln SUV would have been based on (Image: Rivian)
Words by Robert Percy
One of the big new EVs I was really looking forward to in the next few years was Lincoln’s proposed Rivian-derived SUV. Based on Rivian’s all-electric skateboard platform, which Lincoln was able to use thanks to Ford’s heavy investment into the company, it would have been broadly similar to Rivian’s own R1-S full-sized SUV. With the claimed performance figures and unbelievable traction that the R1-S is supposed to have, it could have been a real heavyweight contender in the luxury SUV market. It could have also been a potentially brand-changing car for Lincoln, a brand that’s struggled with an image problem for quite some time. Unfortunately, it looks like the Lincoln-Rivian partnership could be over thanks to the ever-encroaching economic effects of the coronavirus.
The cancellation of the project was first reported by Automotive News, with other publications picking it up soon after. According to the initial report, Ford and Lincoln came to the decision to cancel the future SUV’s production on 28th April. Multiple news outlets reached out to Lincoln for comment including The Verge, who received this statement from a spokesperson for Lincoln:
“Given the current environment, Lincoln and Rivian have decided not to pursue the development of a fully electric vehicle based on Rivian’s skateboard platform. Our strategic commitment to Lincoln, Rivian and electrification remains unchanged and Lincoln’s future plans will include an all-electric vehicle.“
Whilst it’s a bit of a shame that we won’t be seeing an epic all-electric SUV from Lincoln, hope isn’t quite lost yet. Lincoln are apparently still open to creating a new car based on the Rivian platform. Maybe this is just a temporary hold-off and in the mid-2020s we’ll see an absolutely epic electric Lincoln rear its head.
