Except for an extended version bearing the L designation, there really aren't any major departures or developments in the 2007 Lincoln Navigator that's due on the market this summer.
All of the changes from the present Navigator are of a tweaks and refinements nature, which isn't that bad since the version of Lincoln's luxury sport-brute model currently available is pretty good.
Lincoln has then wisely decided to further develop the existing package with the new model, starting with a fresh exterior style, upgraded seating, less noise in the cabin, and a revised ride and handling package. Nothing big, mind, except for that L version, which is a considerable 373 mm longer than the regular model, which translates into extra (.7 of a litre) storage space.
Adding the L version to the Navigator and the EL version to its Ford Expedition sibling was necessary for Ford if the struggling firm's to have any chance against the fleet of brand new sport-brutes in various denominations and sizes that General Motors is currently rolling out. Both companies are hoping that the recent gas price scare in North America is nothing but a blip on the public consciousness and that millions of people will pay big bucks for these profit-producing machines.
The first thing Lincoln has tried to do with the new Navigator is give it a more compelling look, since it will be competing directly with the trendiest SUV on the planet -- the Cadillac Escalade.
How successful they are on that front probably depends greatly on your appreciation of chrome, since Navigator's front end is easily its most striking feature. Chelsia Lau, Navigator's chief designer, says the chrome grille "begins the statement of power" that is then built on throughout the rest of the vehicle.
Al Giombetti, the president of Ford, Lincoln Mercury Marketing and Sales, says Navigator's "expressive design brings a unique elegance and an unrivaled presence to the full-size luxury-utility segment. The distinctive design combines power and refinement to deliver Lincoln luxury. Lincoln Navigator looks powerful and capable without looking pretentious."
This all adds up to what Giombetti calls "street appeal."
Lau says "a proud, stable stance on 18-inch machined aluminum wheels -- or available 20-inch chrome wheels -- plants the vehicle to the road.
On the more prosaic side, Lincoln Navigator again offers power-folding running boards, which have been improved for more seamless integration. With the doors closed, the running boards fold out of sight and are integrated into the lower body wrap. When one of the side doors is opened, the running boards fold out in presentation, offering a step bar for easy ingress and egress. This is not an affectation; for many people the running board is critical.
One of the design criteria was to answer a typical Navigator buyer's desire to check every option box, so Giombetti says the company set out to offer "more luxury, more features and a greater level of craftsmanship."
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| 2007 Lincoln Navigator (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
Lincoln has then wisely decided to further develop the existing package with the new model, starting with a fresh exterior style, upgraded seating, less noise in the cabin, and a revised ride and handling package. Nothing big, mind, except for that L version, which is a considerable 373 mm longer than the regular model, which translates into extra (.7 of a litre) storage space.
Adding the L version to the Navigator and the EL version to its Ford Expedition sibling was necessary for Ford if the struggling firm's to have any chance against the fleet of brand new sport-brutes in various denominations and sizes that General Motors is currently rolling out. Both companies are hoping that the recent gas price scare in North America is nothing but a blip on the public consciousness and that millions of people will pay big bucks for these profit-producing machines.
 |
| 2007 Lincoln Navigator (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
How successful they are on that front probably depends greatly on your appreciation of chrome, since Navigator's front end is easily its most striking feature. Chelsia Lau, Navigator's chief designer, says the chrome grille "begins the statement of power" that is then built on throughout the rest of the vehicle.
Al Giombetti, the president of Ford, Lincoln Mercury Marketing and Sales, says Navigator's "expressive design brings a unique elegance and an unrivaled presence to the full-size luxury-utility segment. The distinctive design combines power and refinement to deliver Lincoln luxury. Lincoln Navigator looks powerful and capable without looking pretentious."
This all adds up to what Giombetti calls "street appeal."
Lau says "a proud, stable stance on 18-inch machined aluminum wheels -- or available 20-inch chrome wheels -- plants the vehicle to the road.
 |
| 2007 Lincoln Navigator (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
One of the design criteria was to answer a typical Navigator buyer's desire to check every option box, so Giombetti says the company set out to offer "more luxury, more features and a greater level of craftsmanship."