The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus is bigger, flashier, and features a new hybrid powertrain option. Take a look inside this two-row midsize SUV and you’ll notice that it also offers an all-new technology interface not seen in any other Lincoln product.
From the new exterior, the Nautilus makes its entrance with a large grill; depending on the finish you select, four different patterns are available. Regardless of trim, a new daytime running light runs horizontally through the grille and connects to the headlights. Lincoln played it safe with the sculpting on the sides, but the door handles have recently been integrated and sit flush with the door trim. Electric buttons inside the shooters activate them. The rear mimics the front with a wide taillight. Concealed exhaust outlets give the rear a clean, uninterrupted look. Both models pictured have 22-inch wheels, but 20- and 21-inch wheels will also be available.
A new line of engines sees a change in direction towards the greener side of things. The Nautilus’ base engine is still a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but Lincoln says it’s a new design, the same one you’d find in the updated Lincoln Corsair. It makes 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard across the line, even for the base model. As for the upgrade engine, Lincoln dropped the twin-turbo V6 in favor of a hybrid option. The hybrid combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor and CVT. Lincoln says total system output is 310 horsepower, and while that’s down from the outgoing V6’s 335 horsepower, we’re not exactly heartbroken by a slight drop in power for this SUV that hardly has any pretensions sports Lincoln tells us that the hybrid system is similar to that of the Ford Maverick and Ford Escape, but it has a more powerful electric motor (134 horsepower) and an improved transmission.
The utility of the Nautilus is much higher than before. Lincoln says the new Nautilus rides on a vehicle platform not currently shared with any other Ford or Lincoln model sold here, and the idea was to end up with a much larger vehicle. With another two inches of length and two inches of width added over the outgoing model, Lincoln expanded rear seat and cargo space substantially.
Lincoln did the interior a lot more technological, too. You’ll immediately notice the full-width screen at the top of the dash, which actually consists of two 23.6-inch screens squashed together. The portion of the screen in front of the driver is dedicated to a traditional instrument cluster layout with the car’s navigation tucked just to the right. The screen that extends to the passenger side is fully customizable, allowing you to put a number of things up there, including media playback, a clock, the weather and more. We asked Lincoln if it planned to allow people to stream movies or TV shows via streaming services on these screens, but we were told it’s too early to confirm anything like that. However, it did say that any kind of content you watch or interact with (like games, etc.) would be blocked if you moved around. It’s worth noting that there will be no HUD due to where this screen is placed. The steering wheel having a lower than normal flat top is also done as a nod to the screen, as a larger wheel would severely cut into the driver’s view of the screen. We sat in the driver’s seat, and even with the trim wheel, it blocked a good portion of the available viewing space.
You can customize the top panel using the normal-looking infotainment system in the traditional place. That 11.1-inch screen is also where Apple CarPlay/Android Auto will show up if you prefer to run those apps. Lincoln is now calling the new infotainment system “Digital In-Vehicle Experience” and it’s based on Android Automotive software.
As for the rest of the interior, Lincoln is taking a page out of Mercedes’ playbook with something it’s calling Lincoln Rejuvenate. Similar to Mercedes’ “Energizing Comfort” programs, the “Lincoln Rejuvenate” programs will combine a bunch of the car’s luxury features in an effort to relax. Press the button and the car will inject a fragrance into the cabin, start a seat massage program, play specially designed music, project relaxing graphics on the full-width screen and put on a kind of light show with the ambient lighting. Different fragrances are new to Lincoln, and there will be three to choose from, including Mystic Forest, Ozonic Azure and Violet Cashmere.
Of course, the Lincoln Black Label program will continue for the Nautilus, but a new theme joins this SUV called Redwood. It’s meant to remind you of the redwood forests in California, but Lincoln was quick to make sure it doesn’t use real redwood trees for the car’s interior wood trim, opting instead for American walnut that has a brown appearance that complements the reddish color. seats, dashboard and door trim. A Chalet Black Label theme is also available, consisting primarily of two-tone cream and black colors, along with a long list of other non-Black Label color combinations.
Similar to the Corsair, the new Nautilus will offer BlueCruise 1.2, which facilitates automatic lane changes along with its hands-free driving capabilities. As you’d expect, an extensive suite of driver assistance systems will also come standard on the Nautilus, but BlueCruise 1.2 will be standard on some trims and optional on others.
We don’t have a price yet for the new Nautilus, but Lincoln says it will go on sale here in early 2024. Even without a price, though, Lincoln says customers can order one today via the site company website. Production is moving from the current Nautilus plant in Ontario, Canada to the Changan Hangzhou plant in China, which also produces the Chinese market Ford Edge L and Ford Mondeo, (with the badge in other markets such as the Taurus), both interrupted here. .
