I agree with everything you said here, except your statement about the Defender:
“Sep 10, 2019 — * US market only (3,500kg for UK, Europe and RoW) ** Retractable fabric sunroof available from launch on Defender 90. Introduced on 110 in 2020.“
Yes, I know. I'm obviously exaggerating. But the dilemma here is basing it on Bronco. To do it cheaply, you'd keep the roll cage as-is, but I think that approach is doomed to fail. I'm just pointing out that if they're going to do this, they need to do it right.
Defender doesn't have a folding fabric roof.
Yes, give it a pano roof.
None of those look good.
The whole point of this type of project would be to look unique from the other models in the lineup. The first two look too similar. The last, just nah.
Mercedes Finally Made Its Big, Illuminated Grille Look Good
I don't understand/like the interior, but I like the overall exterior shape. I'd still like the grille to be toned down (I don't mind the shape, but all of it lit up is too much), but I like the elegant overall shape that their soap bar EVs have been lacking.
I'm thinking it's one of those "90%" concepts that's basically what they're planning on introducing, but isn't quite production. Take the windows for example, I doubt we'll see such flush glass on a production Corolla, but I'm sure the shape/look will be the same.
At that point why not just bring over the the Everest-it would be an easier/lower cost starting point for a Lincoln model and wouldn't be "compromised" by the Bronco's aspects. The real question is it worth it to rip up the re-enforcements that the Bronco has just to add a new fixed roof structure for a Lincoln Model, which once again begs why not use the Everest instead.
I'm also guessing doing something like that would require a crash test due to the changes in the passenger cell.
I had an idea of just having the driver and passenger side roof coming off, but after thinking about it, it makes almost no sense to use any of the Bronco in a Lincoln when they already have the Everest design which would be much easier (outside of needing all new stamping at least in NA) to make it into a Lincoln.
What actually works on a Bronco doesn't translate well into a "quiet flight" luxury car-heck I'm not a fan of taking my Bronco on a long highway drive with all the wind noise it has when I have a Bronco Sport that provides a better highway driving experience.
Although, it should be a fixed roof, I do like the idea of having the option of having an open top, such as the defender’s folding fabric roof, which doesn’t actually look to be available anymore. They could also have the pano roof to better control NVH if the purchaser wanted it.