For all the talk in the past week about aluminum and making vehicles lighter to boost fuel efficiency, Lincoln’s modestly upgraded Navigator goes against everything we’ve heard and seen from Ford Motor Co. — at least for now.
The update sports changes to the interior, exterior and powertrain, but no major changes to the materials that form the body of the 17-year-old nameplate. The upgrade will allow Lincoln to keep pace in the full-size luxury SUV segment until the Navigator’s next overhaul in 2016.
Despite the modest overhaul, Lincoln says the Navigator — the highest-priced offering in the luxury brand’s growing lineup — will top its segment in fuel economy, towing and cargo space.
“It’s kind of amazing,” Andrew Frick, Lincoln’s marketing manager, said of the efficiency and towing gains in an interview this week. “But we’re always looking for different ways we can adjust to what the customer wants.”