Posts tagged luxury

We can forgive Lincoln for not getting it right the first time.  After all, the Navigator was the eighty-two year old manufacturer’s first foray into the world of trucks, and it helped to launch a whole new category besides.  The category of high-luxury, full-size SUVs was all but created by the Navigator and Cadillac Escalade.  As a freshman effort, the Navigator was acceptable.  It was a bit (well, a lot) too similar to the less expensive Ford Expedition, and it rode like a truck, and maybe it didn’t quite seem like it was worth its $50,000 price tag, but Lincoln got a solid C+ for effort.

The sophomore Navigator is another matter entirely.  Now that Lincoln has gotten its feet wet with big SUVs, the redesigned 2003 Navigator is a serious contender.  It’s now deserving of its title as Lincoln’s flagship.  Close study of the competition and its own heritage has allowed Lincoln to remake the Navigator into a vehicle whose comfort and opulence are impressive for a car or a truck.  The new Navigator suggests that Lincoln may have rediscovered what made it one of America’s great nameplates.

It starts with the design.  The new Navigator retains most of the styling cues of the old, in conservative Lincoln fashion, but everything has been tightened and smoothly integrated.  The cobbled-together look of the old Navigator is gone.  In its place are smoother body panels and taillights, a slick roof rack, and the familiar Lincoln family grille, slightly revised to look more like that of the LS and Town Car.  The new eight-spoke 18″ wheels resemble those of Lincoln’s recent show cars.  The distinctive hood with its central ridge leading down to the Lincoln badge on the grille is now being used on all Lincoln products.

The spirit of the Fifties is alive in the Navigator’s power-operated toys.  Open the doors of a full-Cleveland Navigator (the model Lincoln calls the “Ultimate”), and electrically operated running boards extend to greet you.  Third-row seats lower at the touch of a button, and the tailgate is powered as well.  The side mirrors are heated, power-folding, reverse-tilting appendages with built-in turn signals and “puddle lights” that illuminate the ground around the Navigator at night.  The seats are heated and cooled, and rear-seat passengers are treated to a DVD entertainment center.

We were skeptical to hear that Lincoln chose the 1961 Continental as the inspiration for its full-size SUV, but were pleasantly surprised by the results.  The dash is dominated by a flat metal panel, which harmonizes nicely with other metal trim for an elegant, simple look.  Behind it, the sound system controls are lit by unique white LEDs, which are black during the day and glow brilliantly after dark.  The interior has been completely redone, with richer materials and a design that’s distinct from the Ford Expedition on which the Navigator is based.  The interior is spacious, with three rows of big wide seats.  Real wood is used (as it is in all Lincolns, believe it or not), complementing the standard leather.  The big Lincoln feels more like a car than a truck over the road, thanks in part to “Silent Steel” panels used in the floor and instrument panel.  Silent Steel is a metal and plastic-laminate sandwich that neutralizes the sound-amplifying effects of large pieces of automotive sheet metal.  Lincoln uses Silent Steel to soften road noise and muffle the sound of the engine.  The Navigator is positively funereal inside, even when it’s being hustled through a rather un-truck-friendly autocross course that we had access to.

The Navigator’s ability to survive in the domain of sports cars is indicative of the other big change in Lincoln’s flagship.  Step two in the revitalization of the Navigator takes place underneath the truck.  The new four-wheel independent suspension provides handling that’s head and shoulders above that of the Navigator’s closest competitor, the Cadillac Escalade.  Body movements are much more controlled during quick turns, and the rear end doesn’t feel like it wants to hop out of line whenever there’s a bump in the road.  New rack-and-pinion steering improves steering feel and offers more precision than last year’s F-Series based steering.  Lincoln has also beefed up the Navigator’s four-wheel disc braking system with larger components.  That’s a good thing, considering this truck’s 5760-lb weight.

The 5.4 liter V8 puts out 300 horsepower.  Changes to the engine and drivetrain have all been made with the intention of making the Navigator smoother; revised exhaust systems, new engine mounts, and a Silent Steel oil pan are chief among the changes.  The Navigator’s towing capacity has risen slightly also, to 8,500 pounds in two-wheel drive models and 8,300 in four-by-fours.  On the road, the big 5.4 gets the Navigator moving much like the big, heavy truck that it is, but one things are rolling there’s plenty of power.  Around town the four-speed automatic transmission is smooth.  AdvanceTrac stability control is also available.

The Navigator can be had in Luxury, Premium, and Ultimate models.  As you can probably assume, there is no stripped-down bargain model.  Navigator pricing starts at $48,775, and this time around, it won’t have you asking yourself if you’ve spent too much for too little.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2003 Lincoln Navigator, which we tested.
Length:         206.0 in.
Width:            80.2 in.
Height:            77.8 in.
Wheelbase:        118.8 in.
Curb weight:        5760 lb.
Cargo space:        104.7 cu.ft. (all seats folded)
Towing capacity:    8500 lb.
Base price:        $48,775
Engine:         5.4 liter DOHC V8
Drivetrain:         four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower:         300 @ 5000
Torque:         355 @ 2750
Fuel capacity:        28 gal.
Est. mileage:        12/17