Carmaker Lincoln and Watch Company Shinola Team up for a Concept SUV
Lisa Steuer McArdle
· 3 min read
It seems strange that a vehicle manufacturer would team up with a watch company to produce an automobile. But it happened this summer, and an interesting concept car resulted from the unique collaboration.
Lincoln
partnered with watch company Shinola to produce a concept SUV
for this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California
, according to Car and Driver
. 
Lincoln and Shinola: The odd combination
A bike seat, watch, and a duffle bag kicked off the story of the Lincoln Aviator
concept
car. That, in part, explains how Lincoln and Shinola came together to create the vehicle.Lincoln designers set out to explore Shinola's popular lifestyle products on display after visiting the brand's flagship showroom in Detroit. They discovered different ways to incorporate compelling design elements into the unique theme.
The result was an Aviator concept. The concept SUV blends Shinola's modern aesthetic with the design principles of Lincoln.
The collaboration allowed Lincoln's team to test, learn, and explore new materials and different colors for designing autos. Eventually, the outcome was an ultra-luxe vehicle that embodied Shinola's aesthetic of approachable luxury that exhibits thoughtful details.
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Aesthetic choices and the Shinola influence on Lincoln's SUV concept
MORE: Recall Alert: 36,000 Lincoln Aviators Have Potential to Catch Fire
First, the soft-white exterior on the Lincoln Aviator Shinola concept is inspired by Shinola's iconic mother of pearl stone watch dials that have hints of blue.
Additionally, the vehicle's exterior gives off a rose-gold hue highlighting progressive utility, thanks to copper accents inspired by the copper-plated structure attached to a Shinola Runwell bike seat.
The luxurious smell and soft touch look of Shinola whiskey leather also adorn the concept SUV's interior. Those who understand leather will appreciate that the whiskey leather is quite appealing to the most refined senses.
Also, to brighten the vehicle's cabin and give off a pearl hue that mimics the unique exterior color, the Aviator concept's seats feature a crème suede that perfectly matches the inserts.
You will also notice that seats in all three rows of the Lincoln Aviator Shinola concept have a unique, textural appearance, thanks to the woven textile sewn into them. That is the result of taking cues from the Shinola brand stripe.
The intention, in this case, is to impress occupants with Lincoln's expression of craftsmanship that showcases meticulous attention to detail.
On the other hand, the instrument panel features woven metal mesh, and it also appears on the second-row console. That, in turn, imparts industrial luxury with similar copper accents as the vehicle's exterior. That is a direct representation of a Shinola watch band. Also, soft material is used on every surface inside the concept SUV to make the cabin warm and inviting.
Is the concept SUV going into actual production?
For now, the Aviator SUV is a one-off concept and is merely a design study that appeared at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California this August.
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