Lincoln Navigator
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First generation
First generation
Model year(s)
19982002
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Engine(s)
5.4 L Triton SOHC V8
5.4 L InTech DOHC V8
Transmission(s)
4-speed automatic
Wheelbase
119.0 in (3,020 mm)
Length
204.8 in (5,200 mm)
Width
1998-99: 79.8 in (2027 mm)
2000-02: 79.9 in (2,030 mm)
Height
2000-02 2WD: 75.2 in (1910 mm)
1998-99 2WD: 72.7 in (1847 mm)
2000-02 4WD: 76.7 in (1948 mm)
1998-99 4WD: 76.7 in (1948 mm)
Fuel capacity
30 US gallons (113.6 L; 25.0 imp gal)
The 1998 Navigator was introduced in August 1997 as Lincoln’s first sport utility vehicle (SUV) with seating for up to eight people. The Navigator was based directly on the Ford Expedition, which was introduced the year before, but was positioned to be a new luxury choice in the then-growing full-size SUV market segment, with more features and an upscale design. Though the Navigator’s exterior bears resemblance to its Expedition cousin at a glance, it differs in a number of ways, including different front and rear fascias with unique headlights and taillights, a chrome “waterfall” style grille, a unique hood, different style wheels, unique wheel arches, a different roof rack, and different door handles. Inside, the Navigator’s humble truck roots could be more easily spotted as it had the same dashboard layout as the Expedition and F-150. However, the Navigator’s interior featured upscale additions including standard leather seating surfaces, fine wood inserts, extensive carpeting, and greater sound deadening.
In terms of other features, Navigators were equipped with things such as dual front-side airbags, four wheel anti-lock disc brakes, a four-speaker premium audio system with AM/FM-cassette radio, automatic climate control, a wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel with redundant audio and climate controls, “captain’s chair” front bucket seating, power driver and passenger seats, first- and second-row floor consoles, an overhead console (with map lighting and electronic information displays), power windows, power door locks, power heated mirrors, remote keyless entry, illuminated running boards, automatic headlights, foglights, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Upscale options included a power moonroof, a universal garage door opener, an electrochromic rearview mirror (which filters out headlight glare from other vehicles behind the Navigator), a seven speaker, 290-Watt audio system with a six-disc front console-mounted CD-changer, rear seat audio controls, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Underneath its luxury appointments, the Navigator was mechanically similar to the Expedition. Both were full-size, rear-wheel drive body-on-frame SUVs with a short-long arm (SLA) independent front suspension and live axle rear suspension. The Navigator differed slightly compared to the Expedition featuring a load-leveling air suspension with tuning for enhanced ride comfort. Two-wheel drive was standard in the Navigator with Ford’s Control Trac four-wheel drive system with high and low gearing available. The Navigator initially shared the same 5.4 L SOHC V8 as the Expedition, which made 230 hp (170 kW) at 4250 rpm and 325 lbft (441 Nm) of torque at 3000 rpm. Likewise, the Navigator shared the same 4R100 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive as the Expedition. The rear axle ratio of the Navigator, whether it was two-wheel or four-wheel drive, was 3.73:1. With a base curb weight of well over 5,000 lb (2,300 kg), the Navigator wasn’t particularly fast off the line. A four-wheel drive model tested by Motor Trend magazine that weighed in at 5,557 lb (2,521 kg) could accelerate from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 10.3 seconds and complete a quarter mile (~400 m) in 17.7 seconds at 78.7 mph (126.7 km/h). However, the same Navigator came with a useful towing capacity of 7,700 pounds (3,500 kg).
In its first calendar year of sales (1998), Navigator contributed to an unprecedented event of recent decades - the overtaking by the Lincoln brand of perennial rival Cadillac in annual sales volume. Initially, published figures indicated that Cadillac had outsold Lincoln by a scant 222 vehicles sold, thanks to an enormous surge in Escalade’s monthly sales in December, from hundreds in previous months to almost 5,000. A subsequent audit resulted in a retraction/apology in May 1999, attributing the “error” to “overzealous” low-level employees.
Upgrades came to the Navigator after only one model year in the interest of refining the vehicle and keeping it competitive. The 1999 Navigator initially came with the same 5.4 L SOHC V8 used previously, though it was revised to produce 260 hp (190 kW) at 4500 rpm and 345 lbft (468 Nm) of torque at 2300 rpm. Arriving later in the same model year replacing this engine was a new 5.4 L DOHC V8 that produced 300 hp (220 kW) at 5000 rpm and 355 lbft (481 Nm) of torque at 2750 rpm. The new DOHC V8 was marketed under the name InTech, making it the second Lincoln engine, after the 4.6 L DOHC V8 of the Lincoln Mark VIII, to use this name. The rest of the Navigator’s powertrain, including the transmission and rear axle, remained largely unchanged. Thanks to the new InTech V8, zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration times were cut to the mid-eight second range and towing capacity increased to over 8,500 lb (3,900 kg). Elsewhere in the Navigator, power adjustable brake and accelerator pedals became available for 1999 and 17-inch alloy wheels were now standard. In 2000, the Navigator’s options list expanded to include a satellite navigation system, heated and cooled front seats, a reverse-sensing system, and side-impact airbags. Also in 2000, softer, Nudo leather replaced the previous leather used in the Navigator and the radio antenna of the Navigator was removed from the front passenger-side fender and integrated into the rear passenger-side quarter panel window. For 2001, a rear-seat, VHS-based video entertainment system became available. In a minor change, the back coloring of the “four-point star” logo, the symbol of Lincoln, changed from red to black on 2001 and newer Navigators. The Navigator was carried over unchanged for 2002 as a redesigned Navigator was planned for 2003. Also for 2001, the text from Navigator - Lincoln on the back changed to Lincoln - Navigator.
Second generation
Second generation
Model year(s)
20032006
Platform
Ford U platform
Engine(s)
5.4 L InTech DOHC V8
5.4 L Triton SOHC V8
Transmission(s)
6-speed automatic
Wheelbase
118.8 in (3,020 mm)
Length
2003-04: 206.0 in (5,230 mm)
2005-06: 207.5 in (5,270 mm)
Width
2003-04: 78.7 in (1999 mm)
2005-06: 80.2 in (2,040 mm)
Height
77.8 in (1,980 mm)
Fuel capacity
28 US gallons (106.0 L; 23.3 imp gal)
2003-2004 Lincoln Navigator
For 2003, a number of changes and improvements were made to the Navigator thanks to a thorough redesign. The Navigator continued to share a platform with the Ford Expedition, which was also redesigned for 2003, but continued to differ from it in terms of styling and various upscale features. The 2003 redesign featured a thoroughly revised exterior, the first since the Navigator’s launch, with only the front doors and roof panel unchanged from the previous generation. The new exterior came with things such as a larger chrome waterfall grille, brighter quad-beam headlights with larger housings, revised chrome door handles set in color-keyed bezels, and slightly wider running boards. Inside the Navigator was an all-new instrument panel and dashboard area which, significantly, was not shared with the Expedition. Inspired by the symmetrical, “dual-cockpit” layout of the 1961 Lincoln Continental, the instrument panel and dashboard area was adorned with real walnut burl wood inserts and panels and switches painted with a low-luster satin nickel color. Adding to the upscale interior design further were white LEDs, 120 in all, which provided backlighting for controls and switches. Additionally, to direct attention to the high-quality satin nickel-faced analog clock mounted in the dashboard, an articulating door is present to conceal the radio head unit and optional satellite navigation system when they are not in use.
Highlighting the Navigator’s design changes were other new features and options for 2003. Newly available features like Ford’s Safety Canopy side curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system improved occupant safety. Convenience was enhanced by the availability of power running boards (an industry first), power-folding third row seats, a power liftgate, and HID headlights (for top end models). The available rear-seat video entertainment system was updated to be DVD-based and all Navigators now came with standard 18×7.5-inch alloy wheels with 18×8-inch chrome wheels available as an option.
Like the redesigned 2003 Expedition, the Navigator benefitted from a reworked chassis, new rack-and-pinion steering, and an all-new independent rear suspension (IRS), which brought better handling and ride comfort. The Navigator continued to benefit from a load-leveling air suspension but it now lowered the vehicle by an inch when stopped in the interest of easing entry and exit. The Navigator’s powertrain remained…
