2020 Lincoln Corsair to offer plug-in option?

Lincoln is fast-tracking the crossover to production.

Lincoln is getting ready to replace the MKC with a new model named Corsair. The company hasn't revealed much about the model yet, but documents it sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) give us an idea of what it will hide under its hood.

The big news is that the Corsair will be available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain built around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, The Truth About Car reported. Technical specifications remain under wraps, but the technology should allow the crossover to travel on electricity alone for short distances. The gasoline-electric model will come exclusively with all-wheel drive, and odds are it will be positioned at the very top of the line-up.

The Corsair's other engine options will carry over from the MKC (pictured). Buyers will be able to select a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder rated at 237 horsepower, or a 2.3-liter four-cylinder tuned to deliver 275 horsepower. Front-wheel drive will come standard, and all-wheel drive will be offered at an extra cost. The NHTSA document doesn't list transmission options, however.

As we previously reported, Lincoln fast-tracked the Corsair to production. It will arrive in showrooms in time for the 2020 model year, which is about a year earlier than originally expected. This time-frame suggests it will make its debut in the coming months. While nothing is official yet, we wouldn't be surprised to see it in the metal for the first time during the 2019 New York auto show, either as a close-to-production concept or as a production-ready model.