The Nautilus is Lincoln’s best-selling model, so the company hopes to maintain that momentum with a light facelift. However, judging by the first photos, the operation was not particularly successful.
Front end and exterior
Up front, the crossover gets a wider grille with a thick black surround. It looks like unsightly black eyes, but it appears to apply only to versions with the Jet Appearance Package.
Earlier: Ford announced it would stop importing Lincoln’s best-seller from China and ramp up U.S. assembly, but not now.
Below is a new bumper with two design variants. One has a restrained horizontal air intake, while the other looks somewhat overloaded with details.
The changes don’t end there: designers installed a new hood and narrower headlights. There are also revised alloy wheels ranging from 19 to 22 inches.
Rear end and new colors
The rear bumper has lost the decorative exhaust tips found on the current version. In their place are black lines that echo the front air intake. You can also notice new taillights with pronounced horizontal elements.
In addition, two new body colors have been added: Nocturnal Blue and Frosted Fig. The latter is available only for the Black Label version and is described as a “plum-purple” shade.
Interior and equipment
Interior changes are quite restrained, but the company announced a new Afterglow theme for Premiere and Reserve trims. Meanwhile, the Black Label version gains new Eminent Hour and Elysian Light options. The former features Tranquil Dusk Menorca seats and open-pore Eminent Copper Ash wood trim, while the latter combines Soft Cloud leather with Pearlescent Ash wood accents.
The rest of the interior largely carries over unchanged, but availability of the Renew package has expanded. It combines the Lincoln Rejuvenate feature with 24-way Perfect Position front seats and massage.
Specifications and sales start
Among other features is a 48-inch panoramic display with Google Maps. Buyers will also get a four-year subscription to connected services and four years of BlueCruise 1.5.
Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 hp (186 kW / 253 PS) and 280 lb-ft (379 Nm) of torque. A hybrid version with 285 hp (213 kW / 289 PS) is also available.
The updated 2027 Lincoln Nautilus can already be ordered. It is expected to arrive at dealerships early next year, with cars coming from China.
Further prospects for the model
Updating a brand’s most popular model always carries risks. In the case of the Nautilus, the company clearly wants to maintain recognition while refreshing the image. Dropping the fake exhaust tips and expanding the color palette look like successful moves. At the same time, the massive black grille surround may draw mixed reactions, especially on Jet-package versions.
There is also a separate intrigue related to production. The fact that the model will continue to be assembled in China could affect its perception in the U.S. market. There have already been statements about plans to gradually move some production to North America, but that won’t happen soon. So for now, the Nautilus will continue to reach customers from overseas, and the new design will be the main argument in the fight for buyers.