Quick Look - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
06/15/1997
Greg A. Godsell
It often seems that Ford can do no wrong with the truck market. Most recently, the redesigned F-Series full sized pickup trucks bowed to rave reviews and brisk sales while the Ford Expedition has itself poised to become the full-sized sport utility vehicle king. Ford now looks to spread this truck magic into the soft luxury vehicle market and give Lincoln some new life. Enter the 1998 Lincoln Navigator.
The Lincoln Navigator, which bowed at the Detroit Auto Show in January, is due to show up at dealerships by the end of this month. A modified version of the Ford Expedition, the Navigator may prove to be one of the best bargains around in the luxury sport utility segment.
The Navigator is powered by Ford's 5.4-liter SOHC V-8 engine. The engine is good for 230 horsepower at 4,250 rpm and 325 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm. This power is transferred to the road by the Control-Trac all-wheel-drive system, which can automatically adjust the front/rear drive bias to suit the driving conditions. If you're interested in saving a few dollars, you can opt for a 4x2 model instead. When this drivetrain is combined with a towing package, the Navigator can pull an impressive 8000 pounds.
Prospective buyers will find a vehicle that is also strong on interior utility. The standard seating configuration consists of 2 front row bucket seats, 2 second row bucket seats, and a third row bench that can hold up to three more people. Optionally, the middle bucket seats can be replaced with a bench to bring maximum seating to 8. Leather and burled walnut surfaces round out the vision of a luxury vehicle.
The Navigator takes the already quiet Expedition vehicle and further removes road noise from the package. Upgrades to the sound absorption panels can be found within the floor, pillars, hood and even the instrument panel. A unique air suspension package (air shocks in the front, and air springs in the rear) is added to help balance the contradictory requirements of a sport utility vehicle and a luxury automobile. The suspension is load-leveling, and will change the ride height of the vehicle based on 4x4 settings and trailer loads. This allows the vehicle to display more uniform handling characteristics under all potential uses. With the ignition turned off, the Navigator sits 1 inch lower to the ground than while running.
In short, this vehicle is capable of some serious towing, while maintaining pleasant road manners and a distinctive luxurious interior. You will find that the $43,900 base price for the 4x4 vehicle compares favorably to other "luxury" SUV entries such as the Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus LS450 or the Range Rover. None of these vehicles will have the overall utility of this full-sized truck. More than 9,000 people have placed advanced orders for Navigators. This comes as no surprise to us. The Navigator should prove to be yet another Ford truck success.