Kinda makes you wonder if Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward wishes he held out for more… Introducing the new
Lincoln Navigator, complete with a HUGE chrome grille, spruced-up taillights with the Lincoln “look,”
optional 20-inch chrome wheels and new trim. The “L” version of the Navigator offers up 14.7 inches of extra
length/25 cubic inches of space in the third row set of seats for additional cargo… or more room to lounge out with
some XBOX 360 controllers.
Follow the jump for more photos and the full press release.
2007 Lincoln Mercury Navigator
OVERVIEW
LINCOLN NAVIGATOR: ELEGANT AMERICAN
LUXURY
* Dramatic, distinctive design: Lincoln Navigator’s fresh look combines power
and refinement for the American luxury-SUV customer
* Comfortable, capable interior: All-new
seating offers exceptional comfort, craftsmanship and convenience. PowerFold™ third-row seat provides
segment-exclusive flexibility and ease of cargo storage
* Quiet, confident driving experience:
All-new frame and independent suspension deliver superior ride and handling. Acoustic windshield, thicker glass and
tuned mirrors contribute to Navigator’s “whisper quiet” interior
* New Lincoln
Navigator L: Provides an additional 25 cubic feet of cargo space
The 2007 Lincoln Navigator’s
distinctive new design delivers American elegance.
DISTINCTIVE AMERICAN
ELEGANCE
The new Lincoln Navigator, America’s original full-size luxury SUV, will offer uncompromising
levels of luxury, capability, functionality.
The Lincoln Navigator L extends luxury even further
with an additional 25 cu. ft. cargo room behind the third-row seat.
The Lincoln Navigator’s expressive
design brings a unique elegance and an unrivaled presence to the full-size luxury-utility segment. Lincoln Navigator
charts its own path, offering confident ride and handling, outstanding comfort and craftsmanship, and class-leading
capability.
“Lincoln Navigator has always been in a unique class,” says Al Giombetti, president, Ford,
Lincoln Mercury Marketing and Sales. “It offers a great blend of style and functionality, but more than that,
it’s got street appeal.”
Lincoln extends luxury SUV capability even further with a new addition to
the lineup. The Lincoln Navigator L is 14.7 inches longer than the regular model and offers luxury buyers an additional
25 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third-row seat.
EXPRESSIVE DESIGN MAKES A DRAMATIC
STATEMENT
The 2007 Lincoln Navigator’s distinctive design combines power and refinement to deliver Lincoln
luxury. Lincoln Navigator looks powerful and capable without looking pretentious.
The
precision-detailed grille extends into the HID headlamps, creating a cohesive design.
“Lincoln Navigator
features refined power, grand style with modern and elegant execution,” says Chelsia Lau, Lincoln Navigator chief
designer. “The dramatic design conveys power, both from under the hood and from the feeling behind the
wheel.”
That statement of power begins with the bold chrome grille. The horizontal and vertical lines are
inspired by the Lincoln star, detailed with sharp, organized surfaces. The precision detailing of the grille extends
into the high-intensity-discharge (HID) projector headlamps. The lower grille carries through the theme, housing the
integrated fog lamps.
“We wanted to integrate every aspect of the front-end design,” says Lau.
“By continuing the grille into the optics, they are no longer just headlights, but industrial jewelry that
completes the overall design.”
The upper grille is carried into the chiseled chamfers that define the
prominent “powerdome” hood, reinforcing Lincoln Navigator’s imposing presence.
Lincoln Navigator is finely crafted, from the fit and finish of the chrome body molding to the elegant available
20-inch aluminum wheels.
The Lincoln Navigator profile is defined by clean, sheer, tapered surfaces. That design
language is consistent throughout the vehicle, from the smooth quarter panels to the chiseled side mirror shells. A
Lincoln-signature chrome strip highlights the beltline, while chrome body-side trim extends from the front wheel well
to the back for a tailored appearance. A proud, stable stance on 18-inch machined aluminum wheels – or available
20-inch chrome wheels – plants the vehicle to the road.
For 2007, Lincoln Navigator again offers
power-folding running boards, improved for more seamless integration. With the doors closed, the running boards fold
out of sight and are perfectly 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.
The new taillamps give a nod
to the 2007 Lincoln MKZ luxury mid-size sedan, with wing-shaped lamps that cut into the liftgate and wrap around the
vehicle. A bold chrome outline and white inserts in the red optic areas complete the exterior.
MODERN-LUXURY
INTERIOR SETS THE BAR
The Lincoln Navigator engineering team carefully looked at the needs and desires of
Navigator buyers, then collaborated on the all-new luxurious interior to answer those needs.
Lincoln Navigator is
awash in fine details, like the elegant chrome trim on the shifter.
“The typical Lincoln
Navigator owner is a check-every-box buyer,” says Raj Nair, executive director, Body-on-frame Vehicles. “If
there’s an option, they want it. We set out to offer these demanding buyers more luxury, more features and a
greater level of craftsmanship.”
The Navigator’s interior features a flowthrough center console that
sweeps up into the rectangular “eyebrows” that frame the dash panel. The strong graphic presentation is
echoed in the shape of the instrument bezels, a design inspired by popular rectangular fashion eyewear.
Lincoln
Navigator offers the elegance of genuine Dark Ebony or Anigre wood trim on the console and upper door panels. The wood
trim is bookmatched so the grains are precisely aligned. For example, the coin-tray cover is laser cut from the center
console wood trim for perfectly matched wood grain.
“Today’s luxury buyer isn’t satisfied with
just leather seats and wood trim,” says Lau. “What modern luxury buyers are looking for – and what we
delivered in Lincoln Navigator – are superior craftsmanship and exquisite details. Details such as bookmatched
wood grain, soft white lighting and butter-soft leather are what make Lincoln Navigator truly luxurious.”
Details like satin-nickel accents on the center stack, binnacle inserts and door trim and
chrome accents on cup-holder rings, steering wheel and door releases speak to Lincoln Navigator’s fine
craftsmanship. A touch of black on the center stack and instrument panel provides further emphasis of refinement. At
night, the interior is bathed in Lincoln’s signature cool-white lighting, creating a soothing atmosphere.
LINCOLN SIGNATURE SEATING
Premium leather contributes to the overall comfort, further improving
Lincoln’s signature seating.
Lincoln Navigator’s seating offers premium luxury comfort
in all three rows.
According to Lowell Lampen, manager of SUV Seats, a key to seating comfort is providing a soft
cushion as soon as customers sit down. It’s important to balance that initial feel with firm support making seats
comfortable for long trips. The standard 10-way power driver and front passenger seats are designed to comfortably
accommodate a diverse group of occupants, from 4-foot-10 to 6-foot-5, from 90 pounds to 300 pounds. Power-adjustable
pedals and memory functions enable drivers to fine-tune their positions. The front seats also offer next-generation
heating and cooling for the ultimate in comfort – another Lincoln hallmark.
Even Lincoln Navigator’s seat
frames were refined to improve comfort by eliminating the vibration from the floor.
This premium seating extends
to the available 40/20/40-split second row seat and 60/40-split third row, which effortlessly tumble to create a flat
load floor. With seating for eight, the Lincoln Navigator offers 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space, while Navigator L
offers 42.7 cubic feet.
With both the second- and third-row seats folded, the Lincoln Navigator can accommodate
103.5 cubic feet, while Navigator L offers a cavernous 128.2 cubic feet.
The second-row seats feature new
mechanisms that enable one-hand fold-and-tumble operation to access the third row. For increased visibility, the
second-row head restraints fold forward 90 degrees to improve driver rear view.
Lincoln Navigator’s third-row
seat folds flat into the floor for added cargo space. The available PowerFold™ third row offers 54.5 cubic feet
of cargo space at the touch of a button.
The available power liftgate provides
even more convenience. For 2007, the system has been redesigned to use side-mounted pistons for improved rear
visibility.
STATE-OF-THE-ART ENTERTAINMENT
Lincoln Navigator has an available 14-speaker THX® II
Certified audio and DVD-based navigation system.
Lincoln Navigator offers a host of features and
options that provide a high level of convenience. The voice-activated DVD-based navigation system features a 6.5-inch
touch screen designed for improved clarity and incorporates text-to-speech technology that reads and communicates
directions and street names in three languages. The efficiency of the dual-zone climate control has been improved,
bringing the cabin to a comfortable temperature in a third of the previous time.
Lincoln Navigator offers a
first-in-class 600-watt THX® II Certified premium audio system with six-disc CD changer and 14 speakers. A power
amplifier is mounted behind the center stack, and a center speaker array is mounted above the center stack for optimum
sound clarity and quality. For even more sound choices, SIRIUS satellite radio is available, as is an integrated MP3
audio jack.
If rear passenger entertainment is in order, Lincoln Navigator has an available entertainment system
with a larger 8-inch screen and two wireless headphones to keep the sound contained.
‘WHISPER QUIET’ REFINED
RIDE
Navigator’s cabin is impressively quiet so passengers can enjoy better conversations,
music or movies.
Enjoying the Lincoln Navigator’s entertainment offerings is even easier, as engineers
“soundly” beat their initial targets for interior quietness.
“Our initial targets were a
significant improvement over the already stringent levels we set with the previous Lincoln Navigator,” says John
Viera, Navigator chief nameplate engineer. “But as the program progressed, we made such dramatic improvements in
quietness we had to set new targets. The result is a vehicle that will provide our customers with a truly unexpected
quality of quietness on the road.”
Additional noise-dampening insulation was added to the headliner and
dash to help decrease wind and powertrain noise. Noise-absorbing padding was added to the carpeting to further reduce
tire and road noise. Thicker side glass and new cut-line seals were added for decreased wind noise.
Additional
structure was added to the roof to reduce body boom, and a stiffer chassis and new body mounts further isolate road
noise and vibration. Side mirrors were “tuned” to reduce wind noise in the cabin, and tire tread designs were
optimized to minimize road noise.
IMPROVED RIDE AND HANDLING FOR LUXURY DRIVING EXPERIENCE
An all-new,
stiffer chassis and refined independent rear suspension contribute to Lincoln Navigator’s impressive, confident
ride and handling.
Lincoln Navigator also offers a confident, refined driving experience
commensurate with a luxury vehicle.
The vehicle features a stiffer frame for improved handling and decreased
susceptibility to squeaks and rattles. The frame features a tube-through-tube design, creating one of the stiffest
frames in the industry.
The 2007 Lincoln Navigator has an all-new independent rear suspension (IRS). The new IRS
features a five-link design, with the fifth link controlling fore/aft movements while the short and long arms control
lateral forces. This allows for greater control of wheel movement, as well as enabling lighter suspension components
for improved response.
Power is provided by Lincoln Navigator’s 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton™ V-8, mated
to a 6-speed automatic transmission, that generates 300 horsepower and 365 foot pounds of torque. A wide-ratio, 6-speed
transmission has smaller steps between gears than a typical 4-speed automatic and offers improved shift quality and
faster acceleration. With a wide 6.02:1 gear ratio and two overdrive gears (fifth and sixth), the Lincoln
Navigator’s 6-speed offers up to a 7 percent increase in fuel economy on the highway over a typical 4-speed
automatic.
STANDARD ADVANCETRAC® WITH RSC®
Lincoln Navigator’s confident handling helps
prevent accidents from occurring. And Lincoln Navigator’s safety system features a comprehensive package of
features.
The 2007 Lincoln Navigator is equipped with dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags,
seat-mounted side air bags and three-row side curtain air bags with rollfold technology.
Lincoln’s safety package includes standard AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability
Control), which utilizes a gyroscopic roll rate sensor to enhance the vehicle’s rollover
resistance.
Additional standard safety features include:
* Dual-stage
second-generation driver and front-passenger air bags that tailor deployment based on crash severity, safety belt usage
and occupant size.
* Three-row Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bags designed to activate
in rollovers and side impacts for enhanced head protection.
* Seat-mounted side air bags for
the first row and energy-absorbing knee bolsters and glove box for the front passenger.
* New
frame design meets the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers vehicle-to-vehicle frontal crash compatibility voluntary
agreement.
QUICK SPECS
POWERTRAIN
5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton™ V-8
• 300 hp @ 5000 rpm,
365 ft. lbs. @ 3750 rpm
• Standard 6-speed automatic overdrive
CHASSIS
• 4-wheel ABS and
Advance Trac® with RSC®
• Wheelbase (Navigator/Navigator L): 119/131 in.
• Length
(Navigator/Navigator L): 208.4/223.3 in.
• Max width: 78.8 in.
SUSPENSION
• Front
– Independent, double-wishbone, short- and long-arm, (SLA) design with coil-over shocks, 36-mm
stabilizer bar
• Rear – Independent, multilink design with coil-over shocks, 18-mm, 19-mm
or 21-mm stabilizer bar
WHEELS / TIRES
Machined aluminum wheels: P255/70R18 A/S BSW tires/18 in.
P255/70R18 A/S OWL tires/18 in.
Chrome-clad aluminum wheels: P275/50R20 A/S BSW tires/20 in.
CAPACITIES (Navigator: Navigator L)
Cargo volume behind 2nd row: 54.5/86.3 cu. ft.
Cargo volume behind 3rd row: 18.2/42.7 cu. ft.
Payload 4×2/4×4: 1766/1637 lbs.; 1837/1683 lbs.
Towing 4×2/4×4: 9100/8900 lbs.; 9030/8680 lbs.
These specifications are preliminary and subject to
change.
Lincoln Navigator goes on sale in summer 2006.