Lincoln Motor Company is currently undergoing reinvention. Ford’s luxury marque has, arguably, seen a harder fall from grace than Cadillac. But, that’s a different debate for a different day.
On thing Cadillac has always had going for it, though, is the Escalade. The body-on-frame SUV has continued to be a sales success over the years and oozes exclusivity the brand wishes its other vehicles did. So, can the newly-revealed, 2018 Lincoln Navigator L take a piece of the Escalade’s pie?
It may have the right stuff. Lincoln has pampered the Navigator L with a new Black Label “Destination” trim. The brand says the design motif was inspired by vintage luggage and looks classy with a capital “C.” Mahogany Red leather, detailed diamond weave on the seats, and khaya wood appliqués provide a subtle, yet striking, contrast.
Outside, the Lincoln Navigator L is massive. It’s nearly one foot longer and boasts 15 additional cubic feet of space. That figure gives it better cargo space than the Escalade ESV, too. Lincoln has also elongated the rear doors for easier exiting and entering.
The “Black Label” badge also warrants special treatment for customers as well. VIP perks such as personal shopping, specialized service and even a culinary experience are included.
We don’t know what Cadillac HQ has planned for a new Escalade, but there’s no denying the Navigator has stepped up its game. Head to Ford Authority for a full breakdown of the new luxury SUV.
Comments
The next generation of GM large SUVs and pickups will be out in about 12-to 18 months.
that’s a possibility but it seems more likely they will come as a 2020 model and the new pickups will debut in 2018 as 2019 MY. but who knows.
At first, the front end of the Navigator does represent an attractive vehicle. Then your eyes shift towards the back and the lines of the OLD and UNATTRACTIVE Expedition become evident survivors in this supposedly “new” model. I am sorry, but that is a deal breaker for me. The Expedition and its clone, the old Navigator, were simply homely, if not ugly. Their design is what kept me in Suburbans and Denalis all these years.
And the wheels are awful.
Somehow the front emblem and fascia is so huge I thought Lincoln had become Edsel 🙂
In every respect better looking then the current Escalade inside and out in my opinion. That interior looks awesome.. Good seeing Lincoln making a comeback but not sure how it will compete with the Escalade in term of sales. But I think it make a dent in its sales harder then it has in the past.
A rising tide lifts all boats. Cadillac won’t give Lincoln an inch of wiggle room; Escalade is their bread and butter.
I do think the interior looks pretty good in the nav. But for me, I can’t get passed that exterior. It looks so atrocious
This is the case for nearly every Lincoln product. I love the interior and the vehicles have awesome powertrain options but they’re exterior design cues are ugly. Good lord are they ugly. This is the nicest thing Lincoln has produced for a while and it’s obvious they took a lot of style from current gen Escalade.
Like people think the Escalade is ugly? Look again and look at the Navigator. But I felt like Ford is the exact opposite. The Expedition looks good outside, but I can’t get passed the fact that they used the F150 interior.
The interior of the Navigator is much improved , but that grill is way to busy looking and the wheels are just plain ugly and the greenhouse from the A to D pillar are in a way boring .
Lincoln may have started this segment but Cadillac took it another level and with a new freshening coming soon GM will never even worry about competition from the Navigator .
How does it ride? That’s the big question. Looks only go so far if you hop in a overly stiff/squishy seat and start feeling every pothole magnified by 22″ wheels. Cadillac is a bit heavier with the electrostatic shocks + premium Bose sound cancelation. There might be a stark difference in the way these mammoths behave, and if it’s not like a lady, it won’t sell
The touchscreen in the Nav. looks like a complete afterthought. Anyone who has seen how GM has integrated their screens into the dashboards of their vehicles can attest to that. To see this kind of screen on the Lincoln makes you wonder what else was done so rashly and what consumers are being asked to pay all that money for. The myriad of buttons below it on the console looks cheap too. Outside, the front end styling is subjective but could almost be pleasing until you see the exterior aft of the front doors. Just a rebadged Expedition without any attention paid to a flowing, functional and exclusive design. The Caddy has nothing to fear if this is the best that Lincoln can do.
Here is the reality here.
Lincoln could make a better SUV in every way to the Cadillac but they just do not yet hold that image card that the Escallade holds.
The fact is the Escallade holds an image card even greater than Cadillac at this point. Peopke so not call them a Cadillac the owners call them Escallade.
That is like Corvette at a Chevy.
You can not design that image factor, you can not engineer that image factor nor can you buy it and Bolt it on. The image factor has to be earned in the eyes of the public and given by them. The Escallade early on was one of the originator for the luxury SUV and many celebrities and athletes took to it giving them the edge that they have maintained.
For Lincoln to take that title is a very diffiult task. They can’t discount their way to the title. They can not over price their way there and competing head to head is very difficult at best.
Also Cadillac did earn their image over a number of years and improvments.
Right now the image for Lincoln is that you could not afford the Escallade.
This is not Lincolns first challange.
But like Cadillac challenging the German brands Lincoln does not need to take the crown from Cadillac to make a hansom profit.
The key to the luxury segment is not so much being king of the hill as it is reaping obscene profits from models that have ever so large profit margins.
If Ford makes a good profit here even under selling Cadillac they will call it a win.
Many people make the mistake that they feel luxury needs to be sold like a Chevy, Ford Or Toyota when volume is secondary to total profits.
“The key to the luxury segment is not so much being king of the hill as it is reaping obscene profits from models that have ever so large profit margins.”
^ This. I’m rolling my eyes at every person bemoaning the new Navigators price being much higher; listening to them complaining that the Navigator should be priced thousands less to “undercut the Escalade”.
It seems like someone at Ford finally realized that unit sales don’t mean crap if you each unit sold is just barely in the black. If it’s being sold as a luxury product, then it needs to be completely in the black every single time.
If you want to compete in image you can not discount your way there. Just look at the 300. It was building a good image till FCA came along and now discount it vs investing in it. Now it is priced in the Malibu range with a V6 and screams I can’t afford a better car to those who see you in it.
The Lincoln needs to sell at Cadillac prices if the want to convince people they are as good then back it up with product he is continually refined.
I think the only problem with the escalade or any of the gmc chevy counterpart is the space. Just because ford have IRS.
Click bait for ford authority.
The Navigator and the Explorer are the illegal alien’s classy vehicle of choice, since the resale value of them is so poor, here in Central CA, you see loads of themm covered with mud, either parked around the edges of strawberry and lettuce fields, or driving around the cheesier parts of town, with 15 people in them. I don’t see that changing. Not one bit.
Hey BorisRoberts,
Sounds like you have an axe to grind with agriculture workers and what they drive. Perhaps you should take it up in the Letters to the Editor of your White Supremacist Magazine. And I love your assumption that those who drive Navigators and Explorers parked around strawberry and lettuce fields are “illegal aliens.” Which brings us on point with the topic germane to this medium, cars and trucks. For your information, the resale value of the Ford Expedition and the Navigator is low, not because “illegal aliens” buy them. Illegal aliens buy them used because they are affordable and meet their needs. And their passenger capacity is usually 7 – 8, not the 15 you state. But if there are 15 to a vehicle – you may have time to count, I don’t – then call your local CHP or Sheriff’s Office to report this heinous crime. And since you see them in the “cheesier” parts of town, I do question what your business is in those parts of town.
White Supremist? That’s a very typical response . What makes you think I’m white, Vato? My mother is an immigrant, my wife is an immigrant. Do you know the difference? They applied to emigrate. And waited. Then signed a contract that they would obey all laws, and not become a burden on our social services system. Which neither of them ever have, or ever will .
I never said the illegals are the cause of low resale. The reason for low resale, is the Ford emblem.
Which brings me back to for reply. The automatic assumption that I’m white, and that I’m a white Supremist. That is an extremely racist assumption. “It’s all Whitey’s Fault.” You forgot to mention “White Privilege “. I’ll readily admit, and I bet you won’t, as with most people, that I probably am, as with nearly everyone, everyone but you, in the truest sense of the word, a racist. Not to say I discriminate against anyone (I don’t), nor am I in a position to. And wouldn’t even if I were in a position to. I’ll form an opinion of someone based on their looks. I assume that Mexicans make the best Mexican food (because they do).
You didn’t mention FoxNews, or NRA Member, RightWing Republican, any other stereotypes. But your knee-jerk reaction says all I/we needed to know about you. “But….they do the jobs Americans won’t “, like carpentry, tile setters, landscapers, etc.
And to answer your question about why I was over on “that side of town”, I had some new tires put in my Escalade.
It isn’t about “helping the poor, poor illegal aliens”. It’s about making money off their backs. Both Right and Left want them here, they are “The Perfect Employee”. No medical, maybe $10, $12/hour, no workers comp, no retirement, no vacation. No nothin.
Yeah, keep repeating that B.S., it’s Whitney’s fault, they hate the little guys. Keep spewing it. You have yourself convinced.
He probably did, but when the police department picked up the caller on the other end said ,”Hola, este es el descuidado departamento de policÃa de California.” I mean, since when did callifornia ever care about enforcing law and order? Especially when it comes to illegal immigration. If we want to bring up living standards for imigrants we need to make them permanent citizens so they have a reason to stay and make long term investments instead of living like they will leave all their crap behind and just move back home, but back to lux vehicles, when will the true redneck luxury come back? The suburban 2500 and its Ford competitor the excursion!
Hey Hu. I have no beef wth you. “No tengo carne contigo”.
My Escalade is 10 times the vehicle my buddies Expedition/Navigator is, much more reliable, a whole bunch more power (my Aluminum 6.2 vs his 7.3 diesel, his is the 3/4T 4X4. Cowboy version), and I’d buy another. It’s an 08, coming on 100k, it’s been 100% reliable. I was going to unload it at 100k, but it still feels fairly tight.
Anyway, next is an 09-13 CTS-V, because $100k for a new one is too much.
Boris Roberts,
No offense taken and none intended. I had a 2016 Yukon Denali with the 6.2 liter V8, a pavement burner. Congratulations on your planned purchase of a CTS-V. It is an awesome car. Be sure and take the driving school in Pahrump, Nevada that GM offers for CTS-V buyers. I took the school for Vetted and it is an exciting and educational school, lots of track time.
I priced the Black Label for $104,595. IMO, that is too much for a flagship vehicle w/ only a V6. But that really does not matter to the buying public because they will buy the Navigator no matter what and vote w/ their money. If Land Rover can charge over $100K for Range Rover with the V6, Lincoln sees the opportunity to do so too to make them relevant.
Lincoln is keeping an eye on Cadillac w/ the Escalade and they see that the Escalade is going upmarket on the next generation models in a few years once they debut. So, Lincoln has to keep up with the Escalade.
I am excited to see the sales of the Navigator along with the road tests coming over the next several months.