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Refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator Unveiled As Cadillac XT6 Rival

GM’s crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, just pulled the sheets on the 2025 Lincoln Aviator, unveiling a refreshed rival for the Cadillac XT6. The refresh includes new styling, a wealth of standard interior tech, and more. The new Aviator will launch this summer.

The front end of the refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator.

Outside, the refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator shows off an updated front fascia complete with a contoured mesh grille and restyled LED headlamps. Sequentially animated daytime running lamps are available. There’s also two new exterior colors options for Lincoln Black Label models, specifically Cenote Green and Whisper Blue Metallic. Further exterior upgrades can be had with the new Jet Package, which features unique wheels for each trim (up to 22 inches in diameter), plus black exterior accents and more.

Inside, you’ll find three rows of seating, a panoramic roof, and heated and ventilated front seats. The Lincoln Digital Experience system handles infotainment duties via a 13.2-touchscreen mounted on top of the dash, which is matched with a 12.4-inch instrument cluster. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless device charging, and a 5G wireless connection are all included as standard.

New for 2025 is Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving tech, which is available for Aviator for the first time in conjunction with the latest refresh. Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 2.1 is standard, bundling in Evasive Steering Assist, Lane-Keeping System with Blind Spot Information System, Reverse Brake Assist, and a 360-degree camera.

Motivation is derived from a standard twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine, which is rated at a maximum of 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. All of the go is harnessed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. Adaptive suspension is standard, while four-wheel drive is available.

The refreshed 2025 Lincoln Aviator will be assembled at Ford’s Chicago Assembly plant, and will officially launch during the summer months. Order books are open now.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. The front design is terrible. Chinese styling…

    Reply
  2. In my opinion there’s no comparison. Lincoln actually tried. They put in a luxury car interior and styled it to look expensive. It’s also RWD biased. The XT6 is no better than a Acadia. I feel there was little to no effort put into the XT6.

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    1. To be fair there was plans to have the XT6 as a RWD based vehicle built on the omega platform with the CT6. This would have competed well with this Aviator. Those plans were scrapped when Cadillac decided to be the first GM to go all electric. That’s why we now have the Vistiq and Lincoln has nothing to compete with.

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      1. @Brandon
        Absolutely wrong.
        Yes the CT6 and XT6 were supposed to be RWD based but GM did NOT change their mind because they wanted to shift to BEV’s. That is false.
        They changed their decision because the Program was expensive and they chickened out as they always do. Took the easy route and they paid the price for it.

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        1. “That said, Cadillac seems to have moved on from the Omega platform, anyway. The CT6 is no longer in production in North America and Cadillac focused on its upcoming electric vehicles. In fact, electrification was a factor explaining why the Cadillac XT6 went to C1 in the first place, with GM pulling much of the brand’s resources forward and funneling them into its new EV projects.

          In light of the Cadillac’s impending shift to EVs, Omega was deemed a dead end and was put to pasture in favor of more affordable platforms. According to Cadillac Society‘s sources, the BEV3 electric platform and new VSS-R rear-wheel drive platform will both implement lessons GM learned when developing Omega, so at least the effort wasn’t a total waste.”

          Mceachern, S. (2020, February 26). Cadillac XT6 was to use RWD omega platform | GM authority. GM Authority. https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/02/cadillac-xt6-was-supposed-to-use-the-rwd-omega-platform/

          It seems to me that it was canceled to save money and invest into EVs. The factory where the CT6 was made is now “Factory Zero” and makes the Hummer EV

          Reply
      2. They always had plans to do something great, but it never happens
        V8 ATS
        Bronco like GMC
        Bronco like Blazer
        Turbo i6
        Sexy Buick coupe
        2nd gen new GTO

        Those are off the top of my head. The reality is they are just pumping junk out like the 3 cylinder Trax and a 4 cylinder in the Silverado. They have a couple of nice vehicles but a whole lot of who really gives a crap. At least when Toyota makes boring blah it runs forever.

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        1. Couldn’t have said it better!

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        2. Toyota is no better actually.

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    2. @Bryce
      Totally agree with you.
      I said it the minute that Cadillac revealed the XT6 that is was basically a Dud and DOA

      Reply
  3. Agreed. GM phones a lot of stuff in. Or maybe they’re trying really hard with the xt6. Which is worse?

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  4. At least Lincoln updated the Aviator. Why can’t Cadillac put some effort into updating the XT6? I don’t understand why the XT6 is being killed off while the Traverse/Acadia/Enclave are getting updated.

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  5. Lincoln is on borrowed time. Only refresh and nothing in the pipeline. Read GM Inside News for more. Ford is sunsetting Lincoln by first cutting dealerships than starving of product. Worked for mercury.

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    1. Not sure what you mean but I do believe they will have BEVs out eventually but they are not talking about future products in the meantime.

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  6. The only thing I can see a difference is the front-end design enhancements rather that’s good or bad with some on here. Nice vehicle no one seems to care about buying hardly.

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  7. Wow they finally tucked in the rear wiper. Waiting to see if it has an actual engine cover. It’s still playing catchup to the Escalade that outsells 3 to 1.

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    1. The rear wiper was always tucked in during its current lifecycle.

      The Aviator can’t seem to catch a break from getting looked at for purchase and the Navigator outsold it last year.

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  8. The Front and Back look like they were done in separate studios….that didn’t talk to each other…and were staffed by interns…that surfed the web for styling ideas.

    Not the kind of compelling styling to evoke the “rebirth” of Lincoln.

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    1. Ford needs to put as much effort in Lincoln as it does with the Mustang and Bronco. We should form a secret skunkworks to fix damaged brand Lincoln then present the ideas to Ford and show them what needs to be done. I was wishful thinking we could get a coach door edition Aviator.

      Reply

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