Lincoln officially unveiled its 2018 Lincoln Navigator with more power and refined looks.
It used to be that you could graft a Lincoln grille on a Ford Expedition and you were 90 percent there to what a Lincoln Navigator looks like. That’s not the case anymore. According to Lincoln and their official press release they dropped earlier yesterday (Apr. 12, 2018) the Lincoln Navigator is here and holds true to its concept form. Check out a couple of press photos they provided for us below and soak in the quiet luxury that is a new face for Lincoln’s luxo-barge.
Although Lincoln wants you to focus on the luxury, it’s the 3.5L twin-turbo V6 we’re most interested. For this new model year the 2018 Lincoln Navigator makes 450 HP and 500 lb-ft which is +60 HP and +40 lb/ft compared to last year. Paired with that engine is Ford’s all-new 10-speed automatic transmission which should pay dividends at the pump compared to its old 6-speed. As far as efficiency is concerned, Lincoln incorporated its aluminum weight savings found in the F-series and paired down the Navigator by 200 pounds.
As far as the exterior is concerned we’re blown away as to how close to the concept Lincoln stayed, it’s 90 percent there. Of course gone are the gull-wing doors and the concertina wooden staircase as well as the flush door handles but what did we expect? The wheels make a return from the concept and instead of flush door handles we have chrome pull handles. But other than that, it’s pretty much all there.
Inside, it’s almost indistinguishable from its Ford Expedition counterpart. The biggest difference is in the seats with Lincoln taking a cue from its Continental sedan. Standard are 10-way adjustable seats with optional 24 way and 30-way adjustable seats as part of the package.
As far as tech and extra’s go, Lincoln was proud to tout its adjustable headlights which have a wide pattern array at low-speeds and a narrow beam pattern at higher speeds. Passengers should have plenty of access to USB and 12-volt outlets so recharging devices shouldn’t be a problem.
This new Lincoln Navigator is the SUV that Lincoln deserves. We’d love to see what color options are available as the Navigator’s chosen light blue isn’t exactly our cup of tea.
With its new look, we dare say that the Navigator is now one-up over the Cadillac Escalade. With more power, a more handsome exterior, and a plush interior to beat, choosing Cadillac over Lincoln for an SUV has become harder than ever.
