Numbers first, because with the Lincoln Aviator they are the story: 4.6 L Modular V8, 225 kW. Lincoln built from 2002 to 2019, in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids.
Where it came from
The Lincoln Aviator is a mid-size, three-row luxury SUV manufactured and marketed under the Lincoln brand of Ford Motor Company — and now in its second generation, with a hiatus from 2006 to 2020. The first generation Aviator was manufactured for 2003–2005 model years as a rebadged variant of the third generation Ford Explorer — and assembled at the now-closed St.
Louis Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri, alongside the Explorer and Mountaineer. For the 2020 model year, Lincoln reintroduced the Aviator as a badge engineered variant of the sixth generation Ford Explorer manufactured at Chicago Assembly and offered with a plug-in hybrid variant.
Under the skin
Under the skin sits 4.6 L Modular V8; it is rated at 225 kW. Kerb weight is 2269 kg. Power-to-weight lands near 99 horsepower per tonne, which is brisk everyday performance. The gearbox is a 5-speed 5R55S overdrive automatic. The wheelbase is 113.7 in. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
In context
Where it sits in Lincoln's history is not in doubt: the Lincoln MKX (2006–2018) / Lincoln MKT (2010–2019) / Mercury Mountaineer followed it; it was built at Hazelwood, Missouri (St. Louis Assembly), United States. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Mazda RX-8, the Volvo B12M, the Lamborghini Murciélago. Nearby in the Lincoln catalogue sit the Lincoln First Call and the Lincoln Funeral Car.