Lincoln used to sell the Aviator SUV with an optional plug-in hybrid powertrain, but it was dropped from the lineup after 2023. Now, there’s a new Aviator PHEV in town, only this time, the towns it will be driving in will exclusively be across the Pacific Ocean. This is the Lincoln Aviator EX8, designed specifically for China and revealed via a regulatory filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Developed as part of Ford’s joint venture with Chinese automaker Changan, the new Aviator EX8 looks completely different from the Aviator SUV sold on our shores. It’s handsome and confident, with a blockier shape and an upright front end, and the large rectangular grille is adorned with a series of cascading chrome trim pieces. A large U-shaped trim piece spans the base of the front fascia, giving the SUV a planted look. It’s about the same size as the Aviator sold here, coming in a tad shorter, about an inch narrower, and roughly an inch taller. The rear is simple, with just a full-width rectangular taillight.
The EX8 is motivated by a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Changan that produces 148 horsepower, but the MIIT documents didn’t reveal any details on the number of electric motors, their positioning, or their output. In 2025, Changan launched a range-extender PHEV SUV called the Nevo Q07, which comes in single- and dual-motor configurations with up to 389 hp and a total range of 870 miles.
Extracted and lightly reformatted for readability. · Source: pt