Powershift posted:

It's probably best we don't discuss the new navigator this close to supper time, people may be eating.



Official debut is tomorrow.

Powershift posted:

It's probably best we don't discuss the new navigator this close to supper time, people may be eating.



Official debut is tomorrow.

blk posted:

Throatwarbler posted:

Ford press release says the 3.5l TT engine will be in it. I'm surprised the 6.2l isn't going in too. Interior will be new as well.

Throatwarbler posted:

Ford press release says the 3.5l TT engine will be in it. I'm surprised the 6.2l isn't going in too. Interior will be new as well.

Q_res posted:

6.2 is gone from the F150 too, it's probably dead in the next few years.

Also long-term look for Lincoln to go to an all Ecoboost engine lineup. At least, that's the rumored plan.

quote:

Seven years is a long time. It represents a year of a dog's life and is long enough to cover high school and most of college for the average human. For the auto industry, though, seven years is an absolute eternity. Most vehicles receive clean-sheet redesigns within the span of seven years, usually getting a facelift of some sort after year three or four. Not Lincoln.

Nope, believe it or not, Lincoln has sold the same vehicle since 2007, adding little more than small mechanical tweaks or new paint options. Yes, we're talking about the Navigator, a full-size sport utility vehicle that hasn't felt fresh and competitive for a while. That's now changed, as Lincoln has finally given its SUV a facelift for model year 2015.

It hasn't changed dramatically, though. This is still a big, luxury-oriented SUV. It's a body-on-frame vehicle, designed to tow and relax in equal measure. After seeing it in person at a closed backgrounder ahead of its Chicago Auto Show debut, we're left wondering if maybe Lincoln still has any business playing in the realm of the Mercedes-Benz GL, Cadillac Escalade and Range Rover. You can make up your own mind on that front. But while you're doing that, have a look below at just what Lincoln has done to freshen the 2015 Navigator.
2015 Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L

Gone is the 5.4-liter Triton V8 of the old model. In its place sits the familiar 3.5-liter, EcoBoost V6.

The big news for the Navigator comes under the hood. Gone is the 5.4-liter Triton V8 of the old model. In its place sits the familiar 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Lincoln is touting at least 370 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, making this the most powerful version of the twin-turbo EcoBoost six-cylinder we've seen. For comparison, the current Ford F-150 EcoBoost is quoted at 365 hp and 420 lb-ft, while the new Escalade's 6.2-liter V8 promises 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

"Drivers will feel the power when they step on the gas," said Elaine Bannon, the chief engineer on the 2015 Navigator. "The new EcoBoost engine sets the standard in this vehicle segment with its balance of performance and efficiency."

Lincoln projects that the new engine will deliver best-in-class towing of 9,000 pounds, besting the more powerful Escalade's 8,200-lb tow rating. The new engine will also be exclusively mated to a six-speed automatic that will feature a manual mode, and both rear and four-wheel drive will be available. While no specifics are available yet, Lincoln is projecting a big bump in fuel economy over the outgoing powertrain.

To iron out the ride of the body-on-frame SUV, Lincoln has fitted its Drive Control system, which uses continuously controlled dampers to monitor road conditions and adjust the ride accordingly. Like in the MKZ, the Navigator will feature Sport (ha!), Comfort and Normal modes for its adaptive dampers.

2015 Lincoln Navigator
2015 Lincoln Navigator2015 Lincoln Navigator

The old Navigator's dated, bling-bling front fascia has been completely replaced.

As the Navigator had been rolling about with technology from 2007, one of the priorities for the new model was to update the quality and caliber of the vehicle's systems. MyLincoln Touch with Sync is now standard and controlled through an eight-inch, touchscreen display in the dash. The instrument cluster, meanwhile, is now home to twin 4.2-inch displays that flank a central speedometer, much like the rest of the Lincoln range. Push-button start is standard, as is passive entry. A rear-view camera comes standard, although blind-spot monitoring will be an optional extra.

The old Navigator's dated, bling-bling front fascia has been completely replaced with something that looks vaguely like Lincoln's so-called "split-wing grille." The new design strikes us as a heavy handed and uninspired, lacking the sort of style we so enjoyed on the MKZ. As for the rear end, we'll simply mention that there's more than a little of cross-town rival Dodge Durango to be found in that light cluster.

Functional changes for the Navigator's exterior include HID headlamps with LED running lights, as well as full LED taillights. Twenty-inch wheels now come standard, up from 18s on the 2014 model, while a set of striking 22-inch wheels is available as part of the "Reserve" package. The two Navigators we saw both featured the 22s, and we'll admit, they were one of the highlights of this refresh.

2015 Lincoln Navigator
2015 Lincoln Navigator2015 Lincoln Navigator2015 Lincoln Navigator

The blend of high-quality materials with cheap plastic taints what could have been a solid interior update.

"From a design standpoint, the new Navigator is more of what Lincoln customers want in a full-size luxury SUV," said Jim Grake, Lincoln exterior designer. "Our customers will appreciate that, in addition to the substantial design changes, the new vehicle preserves the qualities that made Navigator great."

Below the eight-inch touchscreen is Ziricote wood, which Lincoln claims is the first time the wood, which is traditionally found as an accent on yachts, has been used in a vehicle. But surrounding the touchscreen is cheap, hard, off-black plastic, above which is leather. It's a similar story on the doors, where padded leather makes up the arm rest and wood acts as an accent, while the rest of the door is plastic. The steering wheel, meanwhile, features Wollsdorf leather and wood accents, but is sourced from the current Ford F-150. The blend of high-quality materials with cheap plastic taints what could have been a solid interior update.

We can slam the Navigator for its interior materials all day long, but what isn't in dispute is the absolute wealth of room it provides. These are still huge vehicles, with the short-wheelbase offering up 54.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row. Fold the second and third rows down, and the volume increases to 103.3 cu. ft. The Navigator L, meanwhile, has 86.3 cu. ft. of space behind the second row. Fold both rows down, and LWB models offer 128.2 cu. ft. of space. That's very nearly as much as a long-wheelbase Transit Connect, and it handily bests the 120.5 cu. ft. of the new Escalade ESV.

2015 Lincoln Navigator

"We have this iconic vehicle with untapped potential," said Bannon. "Now it's got more of what our customers want. It's got the new Lincoln design DNA on the exterior, a redesigned instrument panel, a leather Reserve Package, 22-inch wheels. Once we were able to include all of those elements, I knew we had a winner."

The 2015 Navigator is expected to begin production at the end of the summer, with sales slated to begin in early fall. We'll have more on the Navigator when it makes its official debut at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show early next month.

Devyl posted:

I'm no fan of luxo-barge SUVs that will never see anything worse than a rain puddle. But if I had the money to burn, I'd go puddle-splashing in the new Escalade.

Throatwarbler posted:

Seven years is a long time. It represents a year of a dog's life and is long enough to cover high school and most of college for the average human.

Devyl posted:

Throatwarbler posted:

Overall it's pretty good. I think it looks better than the Escalade, and having both more interior room with IRS and a better tow rating is good work.

Cream_Filling posted:

That rear end is a criminal. No way its better than an Escalade.

Xguard86 posted:

that lincoln looks like it should have been released last generation.

tijag posted:

What is the quality of VW cars manufactured in Mexico? When the GTI goes on sale later this year, what is the expectation that it will be a 'good car', or is there some dropoff compared to the quality of the Euro manufactured car?

Cocoa Crispies posted:

When I looked a few years ago (at TrueDelta and Consumer Reports), a VW hecho en Mexico was on par or better than one from Germany.

tijag posted:

What is the quality of VW cars manufactured in Mexico? When the GTI goes on sale later this year, what is the expectation that it will be a 'good car', or is there some dropoff compared to the quality of the Euro manufactured car?

Coredump posted:

With all that said WTF is up with Tacoma pricing? People want 23k for a 2009! Or $27000 for a 2013. Plus Toyota hasn't updated these things in almost 10 years. The best engine you can get is a 4.0 liter v6 that puts out 236 hp. They still have 4 and 5 speed autos. How are these things still selling and commanding this much money?

fknlo posted:

It really should have. Outside of the front, it doesn't look anything different than what was out a few years ago. There's only so much you can do with a box on wheels, but the Caddy design looks newer instead of like a minor facelift on the old platform.

fknlo posted:

I think the leading cause of the misconception about Mexican made VW's being poo poo is things like the new Jetta getting cheapened out. The car being even more of a rattle trap with a cheap rear end interior had nothing to do with the place of manufacture.

quote:

(Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) top labor representative has dubbed the carmaker's U.S. operations a "disaster" and called for more models and swift decisions to revive the German group's declining fortunes in the world's second-largest auto market.

While VW has risen to become the biggest automaker in China and Europe, the group has yet to fully understood how to succeed in the United States, Bernd Osterloh, VW's works council chief, told reporters in Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

"The U.S. are a case of disaster" for VW, said Osterloh, who also sits on the carmaker's supervisory board.

The German multi-brand group last month ousted U.S. divisional chief Jonathan Browning, who oversaw the much-lauded 2011 launch of the midsize Passat, sales of which declined 6.3 percent last year after a 2011/12 surge.

Osterloh echoed criticism from the company's new head of U.S. operations, Michael Horn, who this month said that VW headquarters had paid little heed to the dynamics of the U.S. market.

VW's situation in the United States, where the company has been grappling with losses for years, won't improve until 2016 and it needs more models there, including a pick-up truck, Osterloh said.

At the Detroit auto show in January VW announced plans to make a sport utility vehicle (SUV) for North America as part of a $7 billion investment in the region.

Osterloh lamented that a year after the "CrossBlue" SUV was unveiled, it's still unclear where the model will be built. The carmaker favors its U.S. plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, over a factory in Puebla, Mexico, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

VW's labor leader said that Chattanooga would make sense from an economic viewpoint if the company could offset the higher personnel costs compared with Puebla.

Separately, Osterloh said that the carmaker would be able to cope with changes to top management at any time. Five of the nine executives, including CEO Martin Winterkorn, are older than 60.

"I believe we can react quickly if we're in need of (personnel) changes," Osterloh said.

Speculation about a potential lack of a younger generation of leaders at VW flared up last September when the carmaker denied a report claiming that 76-year-old chairman Ferdinand Piech would soon step down for health reasons and be replaced by 66-year-old Winterkorn.

Osterloh said he is counting on both Piech and Winterkorn to serve through at least until 2018, the year VW has pledged to overtake Toyota (7203.T) and General Motors (GM.N) as the world's biggest carmaker by volume.

"I would be one of the first who would find out if one of those two wants to go," said Osterloh, a member of the board's influential steering committee.

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer and Jan Schwartz; Editing by Mark Potter and David Goodman)

quote:

Speaking at a press conference in Wolfsburg, Bernd Osterloh, head of Volkswagen’s works council and the VW autoworkers union’s representative on the automaker’s supervisory board, criticized the performance of the company’s operations in North America but said that the company’s two top executives, Volkswagen Group Chairman Ferdinand Piech and CEO Martin Winterkorn, will keep their positions until at least 2016.

The union representative said that the main Volkswagen brand has had a “catastrophic” performance in the U.S. market, where it was one of the few car brands to sell fewer vehicles in 2013 than in 2012. “The U.S. are a case of disaster” for VW, said Osterloh. Increasing sales in the U.S. is a critical component of Piech and Winterkorn’s stated goal of becoming the world’s largest automaker, surpassing General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. in global sales by 2018.

Osterloh criticized VW aging model lineup in North America, saying product life cycles in the U.S. “have been miscalculated,” and that the German carmaker also underestimated price competition. He said, “We won’t have a better situation in the U.S. before 2016 or 2017,” when VW introduces an all new midsize SUV to that market, likely to be assembled in either Chattanooga, Tennessee or Puebla, Mexico. VW had announced at the Detroit auto show that it would be investing $7 billion in its North American operations. Osterloh criticized the time it was taking to decide on where to build the SUV, based on the CrossBlue concept that was introduced a year ago. He also said that VW needs a pickup truck for the U.S. market.

When asked about a potential vote at the Tennessee plant by the United Auto Workers union on a proposal to set up a German style works council, Osterloh said that was unrelated to the decision on locating the SUV’s production.

Regarding changes in VW’s top management, “I’d be one of the first people to know if the situation changes,” said Osterloh. Piech “had no plan to resign” last year, contrary to published reports at the time, Osterloh insisted. Winterkorn’s current 5 year contract expires in 2016 and Osterloh said that there is no lack of internal candidates capable of succeeding Winger

Winterkorn, 66, has a five-year contract with VW that expires in 2016. Piech, 76, is in his third term as board chairman after retiring as CEO in 2002. Piech’s wife, Ursula, was given a seat on the board in 2012. Osterloh said there are plenty of qualified internal candidates to succeed Winterkorn when that time comes.

Throatwarbler posted:

None of that stuff matters. VW's problem is that they have an uncompetitive compact SUV, no competitive midsize FWD SUV and no half ton body on frame pickup.

blk posted:

Even if VW was to make a BOF pickup (or bring us Amarok), I think it would take a lonnnnnnnnnnnng time for consumer truck buyers to warm up to the brand. Merica.

Tekne posted:

Now that Marchionne has finished the acquisition of Chrysler, I wonder if we'll see a modern Grand Wagoneer added to the mix. He's talked about the drat thing as much as the second coming of Alfa Romeo. Hopefully, it doesn't look like a grumpy old man or a giant gillette razor.

quote:

Italy's Fiat is the new owner of the bulk of Chrysler's assets, closing a deal Wednesday that saves the troubled U.S. automaker from liquidation and places a new company in the hands of Fiat's CEO.

The deal clears the way for a new, leaner Chrysler Group to emerge from bankruptcy protection minus billions in debt, 789 underperforming dealerships and burdensome labor costs that nearly sank the storied automaker.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne immediately was named CEO of the company, which said in a statement that it would soon reopen Chrysler factories that were idled during the bankruptcy process, costing the automaker $100 million per day.

The company will focus on smaller vehicles, areas in which Chrysler was weak.

"Work is already underway on developing new environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, high-quality vehicles that we intend to become Chrysler's hallmark going forward," the company said in a statement.

The Italian automaker won't put any money into the deal but will give Chrysler billions worth of small car and engine technology.

"We intend to build on Chrysler's culture of innovation and Fiat's complementary technology and expertise to expand Chrysler's product portfolio both in North America and overseas," Marchionne said in a statement.

The sale to Fiat marks a victory for the Obama administration, which shepherded Chrysler into Chapter 11 protection on April 30 with the hope that the company would emerge in a matter of months with a new partner.

Marchionne immediately made management changes, including the appointment of Vice Chairman and President Jim Press as deputy CEO and adviser to help with the management transition.

Press, formerly Toyota's top U.S. executive, joined Chrysler shortly after it was taken over in 2007 by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management.

In a statement, Marchionne said the organization will be designed to give leaders broad control and increase the speed of decision making.

Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli bid employees farewell in an e-mail obtained by the Associated Press, while Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda already has retired.

Marchionne, in an e-mail to Chrysler employees Wednesday, expressed confidence that Fiat will be able to turn Chrysler around.

He wrote that he stepped into a similar situation five years ago at Fiat, which at the time was perceived as a failing, bureaucratic automaker that made low-quality cars. Yet most of the people capable of remaking Fiat were there all the time, he wrote.

"We have remade Fiat into a profitable company that produces some of the most popular, reliable and environmentally friendly cars in the world," he wrote. "We created a far more efficient company while investing heavily in our technologies and platforms. And, importantly, we created a culture where everyone is expected to lead. We can and will accomplish the same results here."

On Tuesday, Chrysler won its battle to erase its secured debt after the Supreme Court declined to rule on objections to the sale to Fiat from Indiana pension and construction funds. The Indiana funds, which hold less than 1% of Chrysler's $6.9 billion in secured debt, said the sale unfairly favors Chrysler's unsecured stakeholders such as the union ahead of secured debtholders like themselves.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg decided Monday to delay the sale while studying the appeals. But on Tuesday, the court turned down the opponents' last-ditch bid by declining a hearing on the appeals.