Lincoln Motor Co. doesn’t plan to launch an autonomous car for retail patrons anytime quickly, however its designers have some concepts about what one may appear like.

Ford’s luxurious model on Thursday unveiled the Mannequin L100 idea, a self-driving sedan that is longer than the extended-length Navigator L and powered by a solid-state battery. The idea, not supposed for manufacturing, consists of some wild options, corresponding to a digital flooring that shows customizable colours and graphics; a crystal “jewel-inspired chess piece controller” that replaces a conventional steering wheel and acts considerably like a pc mouse to assist occupants information the car; and “good” wheel covers that may be programmed to show patterns or different data, corresponding to battery cost ranges.

The Mannequin L100 — named for the centennial anniversary of the 1922 Lincoln Mannequin L — debuted Thursday forward of the Pebble Seashore Concours d’Class, the place Lincoln is the featured marque. Its exterior design shares some similarities to the lately unveiled Star idea, and designers say the Mannequin L100 will doubtless encourage their work on future manufacturing fashions.

“It is like a breath of contemporary air for our inventive juices,” Ryan Niemiec, Lincoln inside design chief, instructed Automotive Information. “It expands the place our minds are going with the model.”

Lincoln is celebrating its one hundredth yr underneath Ford possession and is getting ready to remodeling its international portfolio for the electrical age. Executives have promised to launch three electrical automobiles globally by 2025 and a fourth in 2026.

“Lincoln has been one of the enduring and classy automotive manufacturers on this planet and in some ways, it’s completely positioned for a second century outlined by nice design, zero-emissions and technology-led experiences,” Govt Chair Invoice Ford stated in an announcement. “Lincoln has at all times been particular to me and my household, particularly my father and my grandfather. If there’s one secret to Lincoln’s longevity, it’s the model’s potential to steadiness its core values with a want to innovate and create the long run.”

The outside of the Mannequin L100 encompasses a glass roof and reverse-hinged doorways that give occupants quick access to the car. As an alternative of a conventional EV “frunk,” Lincoln positioned a crystal greyhound hood decoration — a nod to its first brand — inside a clear hood, which it refers to as a “jewellery field.”

There are not any conventional screens contained in the car. As an alternative, a sliding middle console options the “chess piece” controller than might be moved from the entrance to the again of the cabin, relying on the way it’s configured. The front-row seats might be rotated to create a social setting because the car drives itself.

Kemal Curic, Lincoln’s international design director, instructed Automotive Information his crew started engaged on this idea — beforehand recognized internally because the Centennial — even earlier than they designed the Star. He stated such initiatives have benefited each designers and engineers.

“It is virtually like you possibly can have limitless creativity,” Curic stated. “With the L100 and Star, we are able to check concepts and get suggestions, so once you see vehicles down the highway, they’re going to look even higher. We are able to take quite a lot of concepts from these ideas, they usually’ll find yourself in some type on automobiles ultimately.”