I find it amazing how 'original' ideas like these seem to appear all at once from a variety of opposing automakers. Rolls-Royce, among others, now incorporates pillarless reverse opening rear doors in its new Phantom luxury sedan, while Nissan immediately comes to mind regarding its double-glass roof equipped Quest minivan and single glass piece in its 2004 Maxima. Despite the sudden popularity of these two features among designers, looking for new ways to entice luxury buyers is exactly what Lincoln needs to do.
But being different doesn't always result in successful sales. The memory of the brand's recently aborted Blackwood pickup truck must burn deeply every time a Cadillac Escalade EXT drives by the Lincoln camp. With this freshly in mind risking the marque's future on an off-road capable luxury sedan is probably out of the question. Still the opportunity to bust open a new automotive sector and score a big hit must be tempting.
The Navicross rides on modified LS architecture, incorporating full-time all-wheel drive and traction control. "We started with an advanced vehicle architecture that delivers the 'sport' that we were looking for in dynamics," commented McGovern. "Then we sectioned it to achieve the right proportions and gave it the stance that defines it as indefinable. We're not only testing the industry's definitions, we're stretching the luxury envelope." It also offers adjustable ride height to improve ground clearance and aerodynamic drag, depending which height it is set to, and Hill Decent Control (HDC) benefiting control - both features derived from parent company Ford's Land Rover brand.
Its midsize dimensions make the Navicross proportioned correctly for maximizing interior space while still maintaining an element of sporting pretensions, both for pavement and off-road use. It rides high, with reasonable ground clearance and breakover angles similar to SUVs, but its lack of a low gear will probably mean it wouldn't be capable of anything but light duty adventures. But of course SUV owners tend to keep their vehicles on pavement 99.99% of the time as it is, so whether or not it can dominate uncharted tracks of wilderness is a moot point useful only to marketing departments who can add machismo to their basket of buyer's benefits.