What is it?
2007 Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L
What's special about it?
Lincoln recruited two celebrities to introduce the 2007 Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L. Kermit the Frog warmed up the crowd from atop an Escape Hybrid. Then, Magic Johnson walked in. "Are you up for a little one-on-one?" Kermit teased.
Turns out Magic was actually there to share "some really big news about Lincoln." And that bigness was hard to conceal underneath the sheets, which soon fell away to reveal the largest infestation of chrome ever to land on the grille of a motor vehicle. Evidently, Lincoln didn't pop that all-important "Is this the right amount of bling?" question to its customers as Cadillac did with the Escalade. Or if it did, it got a very different answer.
One thing Lincoln did do was listen to customers' feedback on how they use their Navigators. "A lot of Navigator owners have come back to us saying they need more space," said Michael Peyton, a marketing director at Lincoln.
That's why the Navigator L model is about 15 inches longer than the standard Navigator, rides on a 12-inch-longer wheelbase, and offers almost 25 more cubic feet of cargo space. That adds up to a very usable 42.7-cubic-foot bay behind the third-row seat. Cadillac's Escalade ESV is about the same length and offers a few more cubic feet of cargo space, but it doesn't have the Lincoln's fold-flat third-row. Legroom, by the way, is the same whether you get the regular Navigator or the L.
Lincoln also did some work on the interior. There's a lot more wood than there was last year and it's all real. The leather is higher-grade, too, and the gimmicky covers over the center stack controls are gone. A slick new set of gauges — inspired by fashion eyewear, says Lincoln — and a reshaped steering wheel play up the cabin's boxy lines. The cabin will also be quieter this year, as the Navigator gets additional insulation and thicker glass.
There are also a few more features, including front-seat-mounted side airbags and three-row head curtain airbag coverage. The THX audio system returns, but this time it amplifies 600 watts, and you can supplement it with optional Sirius Satellite Radio and an MP3-player jack.
Underneath, the platform hasn't changed, but both '07 Navigators adopt the Ford F-150's front frame stub (the part of the frame from the A-pillar forward), which adds a little extra stiffness while providing more commonality among Ford's full-size trucks and SUVs — good from an efficiency standpoint, Chief Engineer John Viera told us. This part of the frame is also lower than before, which makes the Navigator "more compatible" with smaller vehicles in a collision.
Other changes include the use of monotube shocks at all four corners and a new five-link design for independent rear suspension that Viera says provides more flexibility in tuning. The front brake discs are also larger.
Now here's the not-so-good news: The regular Navigator has put on over 200 pounds. And a four-wheel-drive Navigator L weighs over 6,200 pounds. Yet, both are powered by last year's 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter V8. A six-speed automatic is standard.
Lincoln says the regular Navigator will arrive at dealers in early September 2006 followed by the Navigator L in early January 2007. Expect to pay about $2,000 to $3,000 more for the L.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The oddity of watching a Muppet interact with a former NBA pro helped smooth the transition between Ford's commitment to green vehicles and its commitment to making money off big SUVs for as long as they're profitable.
Unquestionably, the 2007 Navigator L offers a lot of convenience for those who can't travel light, but with all that extra weight on its back, there's going to be a price to pay at the pump. Ford had better hurry up and build a hybrid Navigator. — Erin Riches
2007 Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L
What's special about it?
Lincoln recruited two celebrities to introduce the 2007 Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L. Kermit the Frog warmed up the crowd from atop an Escape Hybrid. Then, Magic Johnson walked in. "Are you up for a little one-on-one?" Kermit teased.
Turns out Magic was actually there to share "some really big news about Lincoln." And that bigness was hard to conceal underneath the sheets, which soon fell away to reveal the largest infestation of chrome ever to land on the grille of a motor vehicle. Evidently, Lincoln didn't pop that all-important "Is this the right amount of bling?" question to its customers as Cadillac did with the Escalade. Or if it did, it got a very different answer.
One thing Lincoln did do was listen to customers' feedback on how they use their Navigators. "A lot of Navigator owners have come back to us saying they need more space," said Michael Peyton, a marketing director at Lincoln.
That's why the Navigator L model is about 15 inches longer than the standard Navigator, rides on a 12-inch-longer wheelbase, and offers almost 25 more cubic feet of cargo space. That adds up to a very usable 42.7-cubic-foot bay behind the third-row seat. Cadillac's Escalade ESV is about the same length and offers a few more cubic feet of cargo space, but it doesn't have the Lincoln's fold-flat third-row. Legroom, by the way, is the same whether you get the regular Navigator or the L.
Lincoln also did some work on the interior. There's a lot more wood than there was last year and it's all real. The leather is higher-grade, too, and the gimmicky covers over the center stack controls are gone. A slick new set of gauges — inspired by fashion eyewear, says Lincoln — and a reshaped steering wheel play up the cabin's boxy lines. The cabin will also be quieter this year, as the Navigator gets additional insulation and thicker glass.
There are also a few more features, including front-seat-mounted side airbags and three-row head curtain airbag coverage. The THX audio system returns, but this time it amplifies 600 watts, and you can supplement it with optional Sirius Satellite Radio and an MP3-player jack.
Underneath, the platform hasn't changed, but both '07 Navigators adopt the Ford F-150's front frame stub (the part of the frame from the A-pillar forward), which adds a little extra stiffness while providing more commonality among Ford's full-size trucks and SUVs — good from an efficiency standpoint, Chief Engineer John Viera told us. This part of the frame is also lower than before, which makes the Navigator "more compatible" with smaller vehicles in a collision.
Other changes include the use of monotube shocks at all four corners and a new five-link design for independent rear suspension that Viera says provides more flexibility in tuning. The front brake discs are also larger.
Now here's the not-so-good news: The regular Navigator has put on over 200 pounds. And a four-wheel-drive Navigator L weighs over 6,200 pounds. Yet, both are powered by last year's 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter V8. A six-speed automatic is standard.
Lincoln says the regular Navigator will arrive at dealers in early September 2006 followed by the Navigator L in early January 2007. Expect to pay about $2,000 to $3,000 more for the L.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The oddity of watching a Muppet interact with a former NBA pro helped smooth the transition between Ford's commitment to green vehicles and its commitment to making money off big SUVs for as long as they're profitable.
Unquestionably, the 2007 Navigator L offers a lot of convenience for those who can't travel light, but with all that extra weight on its back, there's going to be a price to pay at the pump. Ford had better hurry up and build a hybrid Navigator. — Erin Riches
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