The Lincoln Navigator gets a mid-cycle refresh.
Corsair, Nautilus and Aviator get no significant changes.
Lincoln Zephyr sedan introduced in China, but not in North America.
American luxury brand Lincoln is having a relatively quiet year in North America, with only mild changes to its vehicle lineup, and still no fully electric vehicle in sight, although it has been announced that Lincoln will go all-electric by 2030.
The company has been busy in another important market, though, having recently introduced the Lincoln Zephyr sedan in China. As its first locally-manufacturer vehicle, the Zephyr caters to buyers who still prefer four-door sedans, but there are no plans to sell it in North American. Nonetheless, here’s what to expect from the Lincoln brand in 2022.
The Lincoln Corsair was introduced for the 2020 model year, replacing the MKC as the entry-level model in the portfolio. A turbocharged 2.0L inline-four with 250 horsepower equips the Standard trim level, while the turbo 2.3L engine that provides 295 horses is an upgrade in the Corsair Reserve. Both are connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and while a front-wheel drivetrain is standard in the U.S. with the 2.0L engine, AWD is optional, but mandatory in Canada. The Corsair Grand Touring was scheduled to go on sale for the 2021 model year, but its introduction was delayed until late into the calendar year, and it’s now here. Its PHEV powertrain consists of a 2.5L inline-four with an electric motor, for a combined output of 266 horsepower and a projected driving range of 25 miles or 40 kilometres. There are no notable changes for 2022.
Refreshed for the 2021 model year, the midsize, two-row Lincoln Nautilus received mild exterior styling enhancements, along with a redesigned interior, a new SYNC 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen, new cockpit colour schemes and paint colour choices. There are no significant changes this year. The Nautilus’ turbo 2.0L four with 250 hp comes standard, while the engine upgrade is a twin-turbo 2.7L V6 producing 335 hp. As with the Corsair, AWD is available in the U.S., standard in Canada. The latter also gets a single trim level—the Reserve—while Standard, Reserve and Black Label variants are offered south of the border. The Nautilus will likely be discontinued after the 2023 model year.
The Lincoln Aviator was a new addition for the 2020 model year, as the brand brought an old nameplate back to life. The three-row, midsize crossover comes standard with a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 that develops 400 horsepower, matched to either FWD or AWD. Meanwhile, the Aviator Grand Touring relies on a plug-in hybrid system developing a combined 494 hp and 630 pound-feet of torque, with an EV-only driving range of 21 miles or 34 km. For 2021, the Aviator gets some paint colour changes, while the front-row heated and ventilation seats add automatic activation. The U.S. gets Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring and Black Label trims, while Canada makes do with Reserve and Grand Touring. Like the Corsair and Nautilus, the Aviator soldiers on virtually unchanged for 2022.
The range-topping Lincoln Navigator is once again available in regular- and extended-wheelbase Navigator L configurations, offered in Standard, Reserve and Black Label trim levels in the U.S., Reserve in Canada. For 2022, the full-size SUV gets styling enhancements, second-row massaging seats, the Lincoln ActiveGlide hands-free driving system as well as a revised version of the SYNC 4 infotainment system, now integrating wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Built-in and Fire TV. Two new interior design schemes are offered, called Central Park and Invitation. The Navigator is equipped with a twin-turbo 3.5L V6 developing 440 horsepower and either 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrains—the latter being standard in Canada.
