The Lincoln Motor Company introduces the new Lincoln Nautilus, a midsize luxury SUV delivering a powerful turbocharged engine range and a suite of advanced technologies designed to give drivers greater confidence on the road.

Nautilus - the successor to Lincoln MKX - joins the 2019 MKC, the elegant Continental, the all-new Navigator, and the stylish MKZ for a lineup of vehicles instantly recognizable as Lincoln.

"With the introduction of Nautilus, Lincoln has a strong, distinctive portfolio with a common and recognizable identity," said Lincoln President Kumar Galhotra. "We're excited to add Nautilus to our Lincoln family of luxury SUVs, along with a new name that better reflects the ideas and attitudes of our clients."

Lincoln's midsize SUV continues to attract new clients to the brand, with a conquest rate of nearly 40 percent. New clients are crossing over to Lincoln from Cadillac, Lexus and more. Sales continue to be strong, and the vehicle is on track to deliver its best sales year since its introduction in 2007. Tasteful design, exceptional craftsmanship and room for up to five passengers make it a popular choice for clients in the market for a luxury crossover vehicle.

Personalized elegance
The distinctive design of Lincoln Nautilus aligns with the rest of the Lincoln family, presenting a strong, bold signature grille. The midsize utility vehicle maintains its unique, sleek shape, offering a harmonious aesthetic and aerodynamic efficiency. A new wheel selection allows clients to order a Lincoln Nautilus to suit their personal style.

Upon approach, Lincoln Nautilus welcomes clients with Lincoln embrace lighting, first from the outside, then from the cabin. The new cabin is thoughtfully designed, providing a spacious, modern interior that keeps the focus on comfort and serves as a sanctuary from the outside world. Acoustic side glass is added to reduce wind noise for rear passengers, and advanced engineering solutions decrease noise from the road.

Available Ultra Comfort seats can be adjusted up to 22 ways for personalized comfort, providing lumbar massage designed to reduce fatigue. Developed with input from orthopedic surgeons, this feature is especially beneficial on long trips or while waiting in traffic. Heated and cooled seats are available on the Reserve model. Available 13-speaker and 19-speaker Revel® audio systems offer the ultimate sound experience to add to the soothing environment.

Sleek form, effortless function
A sleek console serves to open up the cabin, while the sophisticated push-button gear shift integrates seamlessly with classic knobs and buttons. A concealed wireless charging pad allows compatible smartphones to stay connected, and puts an end to the hassle of tangled cords. A large center touch screen serves as the portal to standard SYNC® 3 with both Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility, enabling clients to manage audio, phone, navigation and more either from that point or steering wheel-mounted controls.

The leather-wrapped, hand-stitched steering wheel is mounted ahead of a 12.3-inch fully configurable digital instrument cluster that displays easy-to-read driver information crisply and clearly.

Confidence assured
New for 2019 is a suite of Lincoln-first driver-assist technologies designed to inspire confidence and make each journey enjoyable.

"The technology in this vehicle is thoughtful and purposeful," said Galhotra. "We focused on bringing in innovative features to make each drive effortless for our clients."

A suite of new technologies for Lincoln Nautilus includes a lane-centering feature that pairs with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality to help subtly maintain the vehicle's position in its lane using a combination of radar and cameras. Also debuting is evasive steer assist, which uses radar and cameras to analyze the gap between slower-moving and stationary vehicles on the road ahead to lessen the risk of a rear-end collision. If the risk is high and there is insufficient space to avoid a collision by braking, the system helps the driver steer around the vehicle.

Additional driver-assist technologies include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Information System, active park assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping aid and an auto-hold feature, which relieves the driver from having to hold the brakes in stop-and-go traffic.

Two turbocharged options
Lincoln Nautilus moves to an all turbocharged engine lineup for 2019, offering a powerful 2.7-liter engine that delivers an estimated 335 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is delivered courtesy of three technologies - turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing.

A standard estimated 245-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is efficient and smooth in operation. Both engines include standard Auto Start-Stop capability, plus an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Lincoln Black Label
For clients seeking a unique personalized experience, Lincoln Black Label is available for the new Nautilus. Lincoln Black Label not only provides premium materials in specially curated designer themes, but also offers a host of membership privileges. These include annual vehicle detailing, anytime carwashes, and access to a select list of restaurants where noted chefs will provide an at-your-service dining experience.

The three Lincoln Black Label themes for the new Nautilus are Chalet, Thoroughbred and all-new Gala:

• Chalet, new for Lincoln Nautilus, evokes the contrasting pleasures of pulse-pounding mountain slopes and the inherent comfort of an après-ski lodge. With Espresso and Alpine Venetian leathers and deep Silverwood appliqués, each touch is designed to awaken the senses
• Thoroughbred celebrates the distinguished and elite lifestyle of horse racing, offering a reflection of traditional American history. Rich Venetian leathers capture the spirit of the equestrian life, while Chilean Maple wood, Alcantara® accents and Jet Black trim carry the excitement throughout
• Gala, inspired by haute couture at New York's Met Gala, features seats draped in a deeply hued and elegant Carmine leather complemented by Onyx leather and an Alcantara headliner. Handsome Nouveax Armor aluminum accents bring a lightness to the cabin, with a luster magnified by the available panoramic roof

Effortless ownership
Lincoln continues to increase its focus on service offerings that provide an effortless ownership experience, like standard Pickup and Delivery for the new Nautilus. Lincoln is the only luxury automaker to provide Pickup and Delivery as a standard service for all its vehicles to save clients time and effort.

Additionally, starting Jan. 1, 2018, new Lincoln owners will receive a six-month complimentary CLEAR membership, allowing them to speed through security at participating airports and major arenas nationwide. Lincoln Black Label members will receive a 12-month complimentary membership.

Ease of ownership is also enabled through the Lincoln Way™ app. Lincoln Way allows clients to start, lock, unlock and locate their new Nautilus, as well as schedule remote starts to enable the vehicle to heat or cool to comfortable levels. Owners can use the app to monitor fuel levels, and check tire pressures and battery status. Lincoln Way also allows clients to make monthly vehicle payments or pay for parking.

Lincoln is a company that is going through an almost unbelievably renaissance since the debut of its much-loved new Navigator. The Navigator's success was based on Lincoln bucking its long-time trend of taking whatever Ford made and adding chrome to it, and instead making it a beautiful and unique object worthy of the Lincolns of yesteryear.

The Lincoln Nautilus takes what the Navigator did and… well kind of ignores most of it. It's not an unhandsome vehicle on the outside, but on the interior where the Navigator truly shines, the Nautilus looks pretty boring by comparison. Still, who knows, it could smell like the Chateau Marmont inside and have butter-soft leather, so it's hard to say.

Regardless of where you fall on the Nautilus, Lincoln has released both a configurator and pricing for the Navi's pint-sized cousin and with a starting price of around $40,000 it could be one hell of a deal.

We'd have ours with the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6, all-wheel drive and of course in Black Label trim with Rhapsody Blue paint and the Chalet theme Venetian leather interior plus all the tech we can muster. How about you?

Its name is new, but the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus is really a rebranded, restyled and updated version of the second-generation Lincoln MKX, which has been on sale since 2016. Renaming your bestselling vehicle is risky, but Lincoln has been struggling, and it feels the names of its vehicles are partly to blame.

Recall that since 2007, Ford's luxury brand has used letters to name some models, including MKZ and MKX, and traditional names on others like Navigator and Continental. Well, now it's ditching the letters and renaming those vehicles. The MKX is now the Nautilus. The smaller MKC is rumored to become the Corsair, which was a name used by Edsel back in the 1950s. The seven-passenger Aviator will go on sale in 2019, and the MKZ's new name is anybody's guess. Zephyr again, maybe? NordicTrack is already taken.

Lincoln has also been rolling out a new grille design, which debuted on the Continental in 2017 and replaces the unloved winged look that was supposed to remind luxury buyers of the elegance of the 1939 Lincoln Continental — but didn't. Fitting the new grille to the 2019 Nautilus completes that rollout, and the five-passenger SUV is certainly more handsome than before. Its mesh is a repetition of the Lincoln Star logo, and it works. The SUV's front fascia, headlamps and hood are new as well, and the hood has grown a sizable and attractive center peak.

Underneath that hood is a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection. It's the same engine used in the smaller MKC and the Ford Edge, which shares the Nautilus' chassis, but Lincoln doesn't use the name EcoBoost for this and its other powerplants. The 2.0-liter replaces the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 as the standard engine, and it's rated 250 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm on 93 octane fuel.Those numbers are down from the V6, which was rated 303 hp at 6,500 rpm and 278 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. But Lincoln has also replaced the antiquated six-speed automatic transmission with an eight-speed, so overall performance is comparable, and city fuel economy is up significantly. With the V6 and front-wheel drive, the MKX was rated 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The new combination has a 21 mpg city rating. The considerably more powerful twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 remains optional, rated 335 hp at 5500 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque at 3250 rpm. It also benefits from a new eight-speed automatic, which improves its fuel economy from 17 mpg to 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg to 27 mpg on the highway.

Both engines are offered in all trim levels with standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, which is a new system to Lincoln that disconnects the rear driveshaft to improve highway fuel economy. All-wheel drive adds 163 pounds to the SUV.

We drove two Nautiluses (Nautili?) around Santa Barbara in Southern California, both with all-wheel drive and 21-inch Continental rubber. The first was a 2.0-liter-powered Nautilus Reserve, and the other was a top-of-the-line Black Label with the 2.7-liter V6. Both were quick and quiet. The 2.0-liter is smooth and refined. Power delivery is linear, and the new eight-speed is a huge improvement, with tightly spaced ratios, no reluctance to downshift and firm 6,000 rpm upshifts at wide open throttle.

As expected, the V6 is noticeably quicker, with a surge of power at 3,000 rpm and a strong pull up to six grand. This engine uses a different eight-speed (both are designed and built by Ford, according to engineer Jim Pfeiffer), and its unique gearing is well-matched to the V6. The new combination should shave a few tenths off the MKX's 6.9 second run to 60 mph. Paddle shifters are standard, and both engines have very smooth stop-start systems.Lincoln has also added acoustic side glass to quiet the interior, which is impressively isolated from wind and road noise, even above 80 mph on the choppy concrete of California's 101 freeway. Other interior changes include some new interior colors and trim choices, wireless phone charging and the virtual and configurable gauge cluster lifted from the Navigator. The very comfortable 22-way power adjustable seats, which include massage, remain an option.

The 8-inch touchscreen for the Sync 3 infotainment system also remains, as does the pushbutton shifter, which can take some getting used to. Select S (Sport) instead of D (Drive), and the Nautilus gets a bit more steering effort and tighter throttle response. It also remaps the transmission for more aggressive gear selection, which includes downshifting under hard braking.

Tap a few buttons on the steering wheel and you can also set up the suspension to your liking, anchoring your selection to the D and S modes. There are three settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport. The differences between the three are subtle, but noticeable. There's considerably more body control in Sport. Around town the Comfort setting is pleasantly plush, but its softer damping fails to control those big wheels and tires as well, and there's some road surface intrusion into the front seats at highway speeds. Normal is a wonderful compromise with impressive isolation, compliance and no float. It feels the best most of the time, and it would be our go-to along with S mode.On the twisty two-lanes around Castaic Lake, which are smooth as glass, the Nautilus could keep a satisfying pace. Its all-wheel drive and 265/40R21-sized tires providing admirable grip, and there's plenty of power to get you to the next corner. Lincoln revised the suspension damping and changed the rear suspension bushings, but its engineers say the goal was to improve the ride, not to add handling performance. I'd say they achieved both.

Unlike the MKX, every Nautilus, even the lower base and Select trim levels, comes with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 – a sizable assortment of driver aids including a blind spot warning with cross-traffic alert, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and a lane-keeping system. Buyers can pay extra for evasive steer assist, which is also new. It'll steer the SUV to help avoid collisions if braking alone is not enough.

A drivers assist package is offered on Reserve and Black Label models, adding Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering technology. This system will steer the SUV down the road, but it does ask you to keep your hands on the wheel. Using the system on the freeway, we found it to be too easily confused by broken lane markers. It didn't feel as locked in as other systems we've tried. The Lincoln's automatic emergency braking is also a little rough around the edges. Like a new teen driver, it over-applies the brakes at times.

With the 2.0-liter and FWD, pricing starts at $41,335, and jumps to $45,540 for the Nautilus Select and $49,870 for the Reserve. That's one or two grand more than the 2018 MKX, but it's competitive with the class-leading Lexus RX. Lincoln says less than 10 percent of MKX buyers went for the Black Label trim, but it expects more Nautilus customers to step up. Lincoln limits Black Label sales to only its best dealers and standalone stores, which is about 25 percent of its 800 retailers nationwide. Black Label prices start just under $58,000, a nearly $3,000 increase from last year.

For years, Lincoln has been talking about its comeback. It keeps telling us about its resurgence. But the products just haven't been there. The MKSand Continental were disappointments, and the MKC is nothing special in a very competitive class. Well, it's finally beginning to actually happen. Lincoln's resurgence is real. Or, it's getting real. It began with the new Navigator, which makes the Cadillac Escalade feel like a farm truck, and now the Nautilus, which feels like much more than a tweaked MKX with a new grille. Maybe the Aviator can keep it going.

But the executives running Lincoln would be smart to realize that nobody really cares what the car is called. Letters, numbers or nouns, none of it makes any difference. It's the car that matters. Just make it good.

The Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, or Auto Shanghai 2023 in short, is currently in full swing, and the novelties keep pouring in, even if some of them have DNA that makes them a lot more Western rather than Oriental.

Many of the new models follow the trend of the electric revolution, from the Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW i7 M70 xDrive sedans to the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV and 2024 MG Cyberster electric roadster that looks like a solid EV alternative to the iconic Mazda MX-5 Miata. But the Maybach EQS SUV, for example, will be a tough sell in China as tensions are still there, and it's made in Alabama, the United States.

Concurrently, the flip side of the coin, believe it or not, is the ICE-powered third-generation 2024 Lincoln Nautilus mid-size luxury crossover SUV. Born as the Lincoln MKX during the mid-2000s, it evolved throughout two generations to remind us of the classic science fiction adventure novel by Jules Verne, 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,' and its mysterious Captain Nemo, leader of the fictional crew of submarine Nautilus. The name change occurred for the 2019 model year during the mid-life cycle refresh of the second iteration.

Now, just as the original Nautilus was a sanctuary for Nemo and his crew, so is the Lincoln model intended for the upcoming owners; complete with signature design, a fully reimagined cockpit featuring a giant full-width-dashboard screen, the Lincoln BlueCruise 1.2 hands-free highway driver-assist system, and some mighty traditional powertrain choices. Well, sort of, in the sense that they are classic for the times that we live in, given the downsized turbo or hybrid decisions.

Actually, now that we mentioned them let us get the engines out of the way. As such, Lincoln's all-new 2024 Nautilus will be produced not in America but in China (Hangzhou, Zhejiang by Changan Ford) with a choice of a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine aiming for 250 ponies and 275 lb.-ft. (373 Nm) of torque when mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The only other option is a 2.0-liter hybridized mill packing a 100-kW electric motor for a combined system output of 310 horsepower. Adaptive suspension is also on the menu, alongside four exterior hues - Red Carpet, Diamond Red, Chroma Caviar and Blue Panther, plus three cockpit themes - Black Onyx and Medium Light Space Gray, Smoked Truffle, or Black Onyx and Allura Blue.

There is also a Jet Appearance Package, plus "the ultimate in Lincoln luxury," aka the new, exclusive Lincoln Black Label theme Redwood alongside "the popular Chalet." Dressed with 22-inch wheels, H2 Pixel Headlamps ,and animated tail lamps, and with OTA software updates for the cinema-like cockpit and more, the 2024 Nautilus is expected to reach nationwide American dealerships early next year. Ordering has already opened, and pricing is also in - a $50,415 starting MSRP for Premiere, $54,750 for Reserve, and at least $74,465 for the Black Label trim.