Posted on: Oct 23, 2012 | 24,055 reads

Lincoln Developing New Navigator

Lincoln has big plans to revitalize its lineup, and the next item on the table is a new Navigator.

Although it's still some time off, Lincoln is hard at work on its next-generation full-size Navigator SUV and like its Ford F-150 platform mate, some significant changes are likely to happen. Before delving any further, we should note that none of this is official yet, but the guys over at the Car Fanatics forum are claiming it's from a company insider. According to their source the new Navigator is "being developed as a domestic Land Rover" instead of the rebadged Ford Expedition it essentially is in its current iteration.

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As in the case of the next F-150, the Navigator may also feature extensive use of aluminum in an effort to eliminate some extra pounds. Expect to see a lineup of engines that'll include the 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbo V6 as well as a 5.0-liter V8. The current 5.4-liter V8 will be dropped entirely and don't even consider the 6.2-liter from Ford's Super Duty series as an option. An EcoBoost V8 that's reportedly still under development may also be in the cards at some point too. Intriguingly, if an EcoBoost V8 does emerge, it reportedly won't be offered in the Expedition, which should debut at around the same time as the Navigator, giving the Lincoln an extra edge.

All this, of course, is speculative at this time, but it does sound about right as Lincoln strives to compete more effectively with Cadillac. If that's ever going to happen, then positioning the next Navigator as distinct from the Expedition could prove a smart move for Ford. With a new Escalade just around the corner as well it looks as though the full-size luxury SUV isn't dying anytime soon.