The people who design Lincolns have tough jobs these days. Lincoln, like many premium automakers, is the luxury badge of a more affordable brand – Ford. While Lincoln vehicles of the past had clear identities, every Lincoln in the brand’s current stable bears a very strong resemblance to a more affordable Ford model.
Redesigning one is about trying to create some separation.
Lincoln today took the wraps off an all-new, ground-up redesign of its workhorse midsize SUV. Did the designers succeed in making the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus something more than a nicer trim level of the Ford Edge?
We think so.
Lincoln has not revealed pricing. The 2023 Nautilus starts at $44,825.
More Tailored Look
The new SUV is attractive, with its lines looking more stretched than its Ford cousin, even though they share the same chassis. 2023’s biggest trend is huge grilles, and Lincoln has given in by growing the big mesh front of the Nautilus. But designers smartly cut it with a horizontal slash of chrome that keeps it from overpowering the shape.
In profile, a character curve to the doors and a long strake of trim starting behind the front fender lend it sophistication. Every version shown to the press so far wears a rich-looking two-tone paint job. It probably looks more pedestrian painted in one single color.
The second biggest trend of 2023 is disappearing door handles. Lincoln designers have pulled off a cool trick in, instead, building them into the window trim. That mimics the smooth-door look Tesla made famous but gives you a real handle that can’t suffer an electrical failure.
Huge, High-Mounted Screen on 2-Level Dash
Inside, a dual-level dashboard puts a huge wide-screen surface stretching almost from door to door high up as if resting on top of the dashboard. A smaller touchscreen sits below it in the traditional central position. The full set of screens, Lincoln says, play an “awakening” animation that starts low in the center and blooms out toward the sides – a cool effect.
Drivers can personalize the display, Lincoln says, “raising the preferred information of their choice to help keep their eyes up and on the road.” It sounds gimmicky, but in our test drivers’ experience, high-mounted screens really do keep the driver’s attention on the road, while low-mounted screens distract.
Lincoln doesn’t say whether the giant screen is standard or optional.
Other interior features include a “rejuvenation” program that “orchestrates specially curated sensory experiences tied to lighting, screen visuals, personal preferences such as seating position and massage options – allowing clients to recharge.” Lincoln calls it “a stationary experience,” so we assume it only works when parked.
Nautilus buyers will have the option of “specially curated digital scents for the cabin.” Mercedes has enjoyed a monopoly on in-car scent programs recently. But Lincoln has finally answered them with scents right out of the candle store – Mystic Forest, Violet Cashmere, and Ozonic Azure.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are built in wirelessly, as is Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.
A Revel Ultima 3D audio system uses an astonishing 28 speakers. Masters of surprising numbers, Lincoln engineers paired it with 24-way adjustable driver and front passenger seats.
Hands-Free Highway System
The Nautilus will introduce Ford’s BlueCruise 1.2 to the Lincoln lineup. It lets drivers take their hands off the wheel (but not their eyes off the road) on certain pre-mapped stretches of highway and can perform hands-free lane changes if you tap the turn signal. Interestingly, Lincoln is calling it BlueCruise here. Previously, they’d branded it under the ActiveGlide name.
Hybrid Option Available
Buyers will get a choice of two powertrains. The standard model gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine Lincoln says is “targeted” at 250 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard.
A second powertrain gives buyers a hybrid option. It also uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine which, paired with an electric motor, puts out 310 horsepower.
An adaptive suspension works with “a suite of sensors that constantly monitor vehicle motion, body movement, steering, acceleration, and braking activities” to smooth out the ride.
Lincoln expects the 2024 Nautilus to reach showrooms early next year.
