2018 Lincoln Navigator overview

 

 

The Lincoln Motor Company was founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland who had earlier created the Cadillac nameplate as his part of the reorganization of the Henry Ford Company, which was Ford’s second company. Leland sold Cadillac to the General Motors Company in 1909 but remained there as an executive until he had a dispute with W.C. Durant and left in 1917.  

Leland named his new company after the 16th President Abraham Lincoln, whom Leland claimed he voted for in the 1860 presidential election, although Leland was only 17.  Lincoln assembled Liberty V-12 aircraft engines during World War 1 as well as a luxury automobile, the V-8 powered Model L. After falling on tough times in the post war period in 1922 Lincoln entered receivership and its assets were bought by the Ford Motor Company and the Model L became the basis of Ford’s luxury line.

 

The first Lincoln logo - a greyhound dog - appeared as a radiator mascot in 1927 to symbolize speed, stamina, and grace. The 1956 and 1957 Continental Mark II are believed to be the first cars branded with the “Lincoln Star” to reflect the brand’s opulence and radiance. The Lincoln Star’s shape has been incorporated in Lincoln styling ever since Lincoln and Continental were combined after the 1957 model year.   

 

 

The 2018 Lincoln Navigator was the centerpiece of the Lincoln display at the 2018 Silicon Valley Auto Show, in a separate area delineated by screens that incorporated the Lincoln star design.

 

The 17-1/2 foot long Navigator is powered by a 3.5 liter (214 cubic inch) V-6 twin-turbocharged engine that develops 450 horsepower and 500 foot/pounds of torque on 93 octane fuel connected to a 10-speed automatic gearbox and an all-wheel-drive system with an electronically locking rear differential. According to the manufacturer that power will propel the nearly three-ton Navigator from a dead stop to 60 miles per hour in 6.0 seconds.

note the multiple incorporation of the Lincoln Star

in the 2018 Lincoln Navigator's grille

The manufacturer’s suggested base price for the 2-wheel drive Premiere edition is $72,055, while the Select edition is $4,000 more.  The next step up at $81,400 is the Reserve edition which includes 22-inch wheels and a Panoramic Vista Roof® and finally there is the top of the line Black Label® (which brings together premium level service and a unique collection of interior themes and membership privileges) for $93,705 before options and destination charges.   

Check out the 2018 Lincoln Navigator online at https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-suvs/navigator/

all photos by the author