February 20, 2006

In the world of luxury, there is often a fine line between elegance and extravagance.  Lincoln, a brand known for exclusivity and excess, eager to set a new standard for the American Luxury SUV, may have committed a styling faux pas with the new Lincoln Navigator.

Wearing nearly as much chrome on the front as a Peterbuilt, and with the grill area rivaling that of a 48-inch barbeque, to say the new Navigator styling is exuberant seems like an understatement. Its distinctive face uses a combination of horizontal and vertical chrome lines to fill the upper and lower grill areas. The main grill resembles the Lincoln emblem turned on its side, and extends into the HID projector headlamps. The grill is capped by a chrome strip that outlines the new powerdome hood design.

The chrome theme is continued throughout the Navigator, from the mirrors, to the chrome strip that highlights the beltline, to the chrome body-side trim that extends from the front wheel well to the back for a tailored appearance. Available 20-inch chrome wheels complete the look, while 18-inch machined aluminum wheels are standard.

The Navigator again offers power-folding running boards, that fold out of sight when the doors are closed. The new tail lamps wrap around the rear and extend into the liftgate, and are outlined in chrome.

Like the 2007 Ford Expedition, the 2007 Lincoln Navigator will be offered in an extended version, the Navigator L. By extending the wheelbase by 12 inches, and the overall length 14.7 inches, the Navigator L offers an additional 25 cu. ft. of cargo room behind the third-row seat.

The Navigator interior features a flowthrough center console that sweeps up into the dash panel. The interior is enhanced with ebony and anigre wood trim on the console and door panels. Elements like coin-tray cover are laser cut from the same piece of wood for perfectly matched wood grain.

The 10-way power driver and passenger seats are designed to provide a good combination of support and comfort for passengers of various sizes. Power-adjustable pedals and memory functions enable individual drivers to fine-tune their positions. The front seats also offer heating and cooling for the ultimate in comfort. The second row seating consists of a 40/20/40-split seat, while the third row 60/40-split seats fold to create a flat cargo area. The second-row seats feature new mechanisms that enable one-hand fold-and-tumble operation to access the third row, and the third row is available with a power folding option. For increased visibility, the second-row head restraints fold forward 90 degrees to improve driver rear view. The available power liftgate has been redesigned to use side-mounted pistons for improved rear visibility.

A 14-speaker THX II Certified audio system is available to deliver mobile entertainment. The system is powered by a 600-watt amplifier, and includes center channel speakers, and a six-disc CD changer . The voice activated DVD-based navigation system with 6.5-inch touch screen is capable of reading street names and directions in three languages. SIRIUS satellite radio is available, as is an integrated MP3 audio jack. The Navigator offers an 8-inch screen for second row passengers, complete with two wireless headphones.

All that entertainment will be further enhanced by the quiet atmosphere provided by a special acoustic windshield, thicker side glass, and noise-dampening insulation in the headliner, dash and carpet.

The Navigator features the new frame and independent rear suspension, shared by the new Expedition, which provides improved handling and comfort. Power is provided by a 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton V-8 engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, with a total of 300 horsepower and 365 foot pounds of torque.

Safety features include dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags that adjust deployment based on crash severity, safety belt usage and occupant size, seat-mounted side air bags and three-row side curtain air bags that activate in rollover and side impacts. Also standard is AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control), which utilizes a gyroscopic roll rate sensor to enhance the vehicle’s rollover resistance.

The new 2007 Lincoln Navigator will be available in summer of 2006. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.