Lincoln is continuing its campaign for “quiet luxury” with the introduction of the Navigator Concept, which will be on display at the 2016 New York International Auto Show. The seven-seater luxury SUV concept serves as a preview for the fourth-generation Navigator, expected to go on sale in the US as a 2017 model.
The exterior visuals here do appear pretty reserved for a concept. Lincoln’s trademark grille design, also seen on the 2017 Lincoln Continental takes its place here, flanked by slim headlamps and thin LED positioning lights on the front apron.
Clean, modern lines can be seen when viewing the concept from the side, leading up to a tail lamp design that spans the length of the SUV’s rear. The contemporary design is finished off with a Storm Blue coat of paint and hypnosis-inducing wheels.
Access into the cabin requires operating the Navigator Concept’s powered gullwing doors that are not only enormous, but are supplemented by deployable concertina steps. The retractable steps themselves include a special lighting sequence to welcome passengers. Fancy stuff, but as is the case with most concepts, the gullwing doors are highly unlikely to appear on the production car.
According to Lincoln, its design team drew inspiration from luxury sailboats and yachts when designing the new concept. That is highly apparent when you spot the teak finishes on various areas of trim, which complement the leather-wrapped interior rendered in light blue. Just like the Continental, the concept also sports Lincoln’s ‘Perfect Position’ 30-way-adjustable seats.
Passengers are well catered to with dedicated Revel infotainment systems and displays located on the second- and third-row seats. A centre console for the front and second-row occupants allows for control of the SUV’s air-conditioning and other features.
If that isn’t enough, the Navigator Concept’s boot space gets a custom wardrobe management system, which according to Lincoln, “holds gear chosen for a day on the water.” Other pieces of clothing can be included here if you need a luxurious mid-day outfit change.
The Navigator Concept also previews Ford’s (Lincoln is a division of Ford) emerging semi-autonomous tech, featuring lane-keeping assist, pedestrian detection, pre-collision assist, automatic braking and a 360 degree camera—all of which are likely to appear on the production model.
Power comes from a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine delivering more than 400 horsepower. Beneath the metal, the next Navigator will ride on a new chassis. The current Navigator rides on the Ford T1 platform.
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