2019 Lincoln Nautilus First Drive

Ditching dry alphanumeric names is a crucial move for a brand looking to extend the new Navigator's momentum down to a segment Lexus owns with the RX, but Lincoln will need more than just a new name to elevate the game of a two-row crossover formerly known as the MKX. We drove the new Nautilus to determine where the updated model fits in a very competitive segment.

The Ford Edge based luxury crossover starts with a four-cylinder base engine that wasn't initially part of Lincoln's plans for this 2019-model-year refresh. The 2.0-liter turbo-four replaces the MKX's 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V-6 and is good for 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Don't be dissuaded by the fact that the 2019 Nautilus' base engine has two fewer cylinders than what you're used to—the engine moves the Nautilus with enough authority around town that it doesn't feel like a slug. And thanks to the new engine, fuel economy and driving range see meaningful improvements compared to that old 3.7-liter V-6. It's just a shame that sticking with the Nautilus' 2.0-liter base engine doesn't translate to a jump in fuel economy compared to the V-6 option; EPA-anticipated fuel economy for the Lincoln's base engine is 20-21/25-26 mpg city/highway, compared to the much more powerful V-6's 19-20/26-27 mpg. For comparison, the 295-hp 2019 Lexus RX 350 is EPA-rated at 19-20/26-27 mpg.

Where the 2019 Nautilus earns back some points is with its decently spacious rear seat and rear-seat backrest recline controls conveniently placed at the passenger's thigh—this isn't as universal a feature as you'd think. Neither is the Lincoln's helpful addition of rear-seat headrests that can fold down, increasing rear visibility, or the one-touch buttons in the cargo area that fold down the rear seats.

Lincoln Continental 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition Gets Suicide Doors

Lincoln is celebrating the Continental's 80th anniversary with a nice dose of nostalgia, adding coach doors—otherwise known as "suicide doors"—to a limited run of 80 examples. The aptly named Lincoln Continental 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition integrates a design cue first introduced on the model in 1961 and pays homage to that vintage classic

When it first arrived in 1939, the Lincoln Continental was a custom-made, handcrafted luxury car commissioned by Edsel Ford and built by Eugene T. Gregorie. But the model's status as an automotive icon arguably wasn't achieved until 1961, when the fourth-generation Continental launched with rear-hinged rear doors and a chrome-accented upper shoulder line that would become a Lincoln trademark. A modified fourth-gen Continental also had the distinct honor of serving as a presidential limousine from the early 1960s until 1977. That vehicle made history for a more sorrowful reason in 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in the back seat.

Buyers interested in the Continental 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition will need to order the car via a dealership certified to sell Black Label-grade Lincoln models. Like all Black Label models, the special edition Continental gets you perks like annual vehicle detailing, complimentary car washes, access to exclusive restaurants, and pickup and delivery of the vehicle for maintenance at a designated location throughout the duration of the warranty. Pricing has not yet been announced, but considering the low production run, expect to pay north of the standard Black Label's $71,040 starting price.