New York Motor Show: Lincoln Navigator Concept unveiled

Rare is the vehicle with a name reflective of its intent, but the Lincoln Navigator Concept is a fitting title for one big, fast, nautical SUV.

Ford’s US luxury arm uses a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine with “more than” 300kW of power to push a gullwing-door, six-seat full-size SUV that takes a wide berth around any suggestions of sportiness.

Lincoln says the Navigator Concept, “reinforces our commitment to give every Lincoln client what we call quiet luxury – vehicles and experiences that are elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene."

“Now, we're showing fans of large SUVs how we can exceed their expectations, without being the loudest statement on the road.”

If the Navigator Concept has been to the Nurburgring then its navigation system clearly got things a bit wrong, because the sea inspired this large SUV.

“Lincoln's design team drew inspiration from luxury sailboats and yachts when designing the new concept,” the brand states.

“This influenced everything from the clean, modern lines and Storm Blue paint on the exterior that mimics the grays and blues of sea and sky, to the teak finishes, custom gear and wardrobe management system found inside.”

The automatically lowered ‘steps’ are probably the weirdest feature we’ve seen on a concept car for some time, although you do step up into the Navigator Concept, rather than down like you were walking onto a yacht.

The only other problems with the Navigator Concept are that it looks rather ghastly, and a Range Rover Vogue has been doing the ‘quiet, fast’ luxury thing for decades and succeeding. But maybe for blingy US tastes this Lincoln will be the more affordable, patriotic option.

No performance figures and kerb weights are given, and that really says it all.