2026 Nissan Sentra Stuns With Fastback Silhouette, More Standard Features - Autoblog Nissan Gave The Sentra 2026 Looks But Left The Power In 2016 | Carscoops https://www.motor1.com/news/773169/2026-nissan-sentra-specs-trims-details/  

If anything it might just limp around on life support till they figure out how they want to spend money. That is what I got out of it. I think much of this is from the expected pivot to EVs that they where planning and money being diverted from that to figuring out what the path forward is going to be for a couple of product cycles and any pending pollical changes that could happen that would make it more difficult. 

I vaguely remember Mythbusters doing a test on this and coming up with the result you posted.

I was under the impression that bed cap didn't really do much aerodynamically on ICE pickups due to the high pressure bubble that is created by the air flowing over the cab at higher speeds.    I think you'll see the biggest improvement with lower frontal area vs using a cap on something like this. 

Drawing you posted resembles the AeroX cap that MotorTrend tested on a Lightning while trying to improve high-speed driving range.  Initial test results indicated their cap experiment didn’t work, but I’m pretty sure an OEM cap with proper design could be more effective in reducing coefficient of drag.  For what it’s worth there’s a lot of improvements to be had when one considers that pickups can have a Cd twice as high as the most aerodynamic cars.  And when we add pickups’ greater frontal area on top of that, it’s not hard to see why miles per kWh is often in the proverbial toilet.  With proper design I don’t see why a Cd below 0.30 can’t be achieved with a removable and or folding/adjustable aerodynamic cap.  May look a lot like a car though when cap is on, which may not go over well with traditional truck buyers.   https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2023-ford-f-150-lightning-xlt-yearlong-review-update-6   https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2023-ford-f-150-lightning-xlt-yearlong-review-update-7-fast-back-roof-cap-range-results

Farley may want to re-think that priority since Lincoln was Edsel's baby and the Ford family holds Edsel in highest regard. 

FWIW, here's some Borg info:   The only new product I’m aware of is the 3-Row C2 based EREV, which is the Lincoln partner to the Ford. But it’s definitely not imminent (by my definition) and I’m unclear if this will be an additional nameplate or successor to the Aviator. And I still don’t know what’s happening with Corsair. At one point Valencia was going to supply Ford with a next-gen Escape based on the next Kuga. It’s possible a Corsair could come from there. Europe is poised to get new C2 Hybrid products. Lincoln isn’t working on any real BEVs, Skunkworks or otherwise. The 4-Door Mustang Hybrid is coming, but a Lincoln isn’t planned and it’s definitely not imminent. I’d have to think a small performance sedan from Lincoln is very unlikely, especially since Farley is unlikely to allow Lincoln to borrow Mustang and Lincoln would need a dramatic image overhaul that I don’t think will ever be in the budget. Lincoln has recently undergone a complete management overhaul and is no longer reporting directly to Farley. The state of the slate is uncertain at this stage and a lean outlook is unavoidable in the transition. Lincoln is still recovering from several rounds of cancelled EV products, but the opportunities will be there when Skunkworks and the new C2 Hybrids are available.   --   There was a high-end luxury Bronco on the table very recently, but it never made it to production. Lincoln has a fairly narrow field of view with a focus on serene pampered luxury, a Bronco wouldn't fit that customer. And I don't think Ford would allow Lincoln to mess around with a copy of the Bronco (or Mustang). It's possible they are poised to re-think that with their new leadership, but Farley's interest in Lincoln is obviously low. I think it's just going to be status quo for the foreseeable future. It's cheaper to float Lincoln on fumes than it would be to close it up. It's never going to be a Farley priority and they won't be given the budget to make any big investments, especially as the economy and uncertainty worsens.

GT says hello.....but obviously that wasn't a regular production vehicle.

I have to imagine that hybridization was probably on the table at some point.  I wonder if it was dropped to hit launch dates, especially as covid began happening.   And with Bronco sales being what they are (selling well), plus the EV pivot/siphoning of funds, they likely pushed it off to a refresh or redesign.

One of the theories for some time is that they'd stick electric motors on the front wheels to create a hybrid/eAWD.  We'll see what they do.