Lincoln Mkx 2010 3.5 V6 Awd Edition Loaded With Goodies Nav Roof Low Reserve Set on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Autoblog Podcast #327

New York Auto Show, Jim Farley interview, 2014 Chevrolet Silverado fuel economy, Ford fuel economy app challenge
Episode #327 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about this year's New York Auto Show, Chevrolet's latest assault in the pickup truck fuel economy battle, and Ford's reward for developing a better fuel economy app. Dan also has an interview with Ford's Jim Farley about the future of Lincoln. We wrap with your questions and emails, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #327:

Lincoln previews new Navigator with illuminated grille, new interior

While it's not the best-selling Lincoln, the Navigator stands proud as the company's flagship and one of its most important models in terms of image. The current-generation SUV made its debut for 2018, and it will soon receive what sounds like a round of far-reaching updates. Full details about the new-look Navigator aren't available yet, but a short preview video published by Lincoln gives us several hints. We already know that the front end gets a redesigned grille that's seemingly wider, and the teaser confirms that the central slat and the Lincoln emblem will be illuminated. Earlier spy shots suggest that the big SUV's overall proportions won't significantly change, however. Another detail revealed by the video is that the updated Navigator receives a redesigned interior. In the current model, the ignition button is located on the right side of the steering column (near where you'd expect to find the ignition barrel in an older car) and the buttons used to shift the transmission into gear are below the air vents on the center stack. In the updated SUV, the ignition button and the piano key-like shift buttons are on the center console. The steering wheel gets a cleaner-looking design, and it looks like the dashboard is new as well. There's no word on what's under the hood. For 2024, the Navigator comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that's twin-turbocharged to 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It spins the four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel-drive is no longer offered. An unverified report claims a hybrid system will join the portfolio; the 10-speed automatic was developed with electrification in mind, after all. Lincoln will unveil the Navigator on August 15, and the model should land on dealer lots for the 2025 model year. The Ford Expedition that the Navigator is closely related to is expected to receive a major round of visual and tech updates for the 2025 model year as well.

J Mays retiring from Ford design, succeeded by Moray Callum

Ford's highly influential head of design, J Mays, has announced that he'll be retiring from his position after 33 years in the industry, 16 of which were at the Dearborn, MI-based company. Upon departure, he'll be succeeded as group vice president of design by Moray Callum. If that last name sounds familiar, yes, he's the brother of Jaguar's Ian Callum.
It's difficult to explain just how big of a role Mays had on not just Ford's design over the years, but on the entire industry. Before heading to Dearborn, Mays worked for Audi, BMW and then Volkswagen, where he was involved in concept cars that paved the way for design icons like the first-generation Audi TT and the Volkswagen New Beetle. As for his Ford resume, it's extensive.
Mays joined the company in 1997 as design director for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda, as well as the Premier Automotive Group (Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin). He was heavily involved in the Ford Fusion, Focus, Fiesta, Taurus, F-150 and Mustang, while also contributing to concept cars like the Atlas, Evos, 427, Forty-Nine, Shelby GR-1, Lincoln MKZ and the MKC.