With fresh infusion of funds from Ford Motor Company, an all-new contemporary family design language, growing sales and a return to the classic 'travel theme' model names, Lincoln is on quite a roll these past few years. The Continental full-size sedan started it all and the Navigator full-size SUV carried it forward. The Nautilus, a midsize crossover that recently debuted at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, continues the American luxury brand's resurgence.
Set to replace the brand's best-selling MKX, the Nautilus is an important model for Lincoln. It was crucial they got this one right and the folks at Lincoln have got the design and styling aspects spot on. The fascia is significantly redesigned and gets the signature chrome-embellished trapezoidal grille from its siblings. The new headlights are simple yet classy while the hood and fenders have creases at the right places for that muscular look. The profile remains largely unchanged with the only significant addition being the chrome Nautilus badge under the rear view mirrors. MKX's characteristic shoulder line that sort of disappears in the middle before re-appearing towards the end of the rear door is still there as are the midly-flared wheel arches and the full-length taillights.
The Nautilus creates a positive impression, no doubt, but you just can't help think a substantial redesign all around would have complemented the new fascia and the name change better.
The same applies to the interiors as well which are just a mild overhaul from the erstwhile MKX. The two-tone cabin is lavishly equipped with Lincoln offering three premium 'Black Label' trim themes. Creature comforts like the optional 'Ultra Comfort' seats that can adjust up to 22 ways, provide lumbar massage and developed with inputs from orthopedic surgeons and driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, lane-centering feature, evasive steering assistance, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and active park assist are aplenty.
A pair of turbocharged engines featuring direct fuel injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing power the Nautilus. The base engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit that churns out 245 horsepower while the more expensive variants get a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 mill that generates 335 horsepower and a peak torque of 515 Nm. Both the engines are mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission that transmits the power to all four wheels.
The Nautilus goes on sale next spring with the United States of America and China expected to be its major volume markets. Together with the Continental and the Navigator, the Nautilus makes the new Lincoln lineup quite an impressive one. What's next, Lincoln?
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