Welcome to the Six-figure Club, Lincoln!

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Traditionally, Lincolns served as the poster car for traditional, well-to-do Americans, just not ridiculously wealthy ones. Think successful club owner, business executive, law office partner, Vegas hashish importer, or rare antiques dealer. Regardless of model, the brand’s vehicles never ventured into the rarified pricing air occupied by European exotics — not even the Continental Mk. II, which stickered for the equivalent of $90k back in 1956.

That changes for 2019, as the Lincoln with the biggest margins — the full-size Navigator — joins its Cadillac rival in topping the six-figure mark.

Don’t worry, there’ll still be a plain-Jane base model offered for $74,500, according to order guides seen by CarsDirect. That price, which includes a destination charge, represents a $650 increase over 2018, though climbing the trim ladder to Select and Reserve grows much pricier for the coming model year.

At $78,850 after destination, the 2019 Navigator Select adds another $1,000 to its sticker. You’ll more than triple that pricing boost to move into a Reserve, which sees its entry price hit $86,500 for 2019; some $3,500 greater than in 2018. It’s a lot less jarring when you consider that extra $3,500 includes a now-standard technology package — formerly a $2,640 option — which adds a host of driver assist features.

Automakers love to boast of standard safety, but aren’t in the habit of handing it over for free.

It’s in the highest strata of Navigatordom where Lincoln breaches the $100,000 barrier. We’re talking about the Black Label L model. The long-wheelbase version of Lincoln’s top trim level joins the standard-length model in piling on the price, bringing its after-destination sticker to $100,890, or just $700 below that of a Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum. Previously, the Black Label L went for $98,700.

Carrying an entry price of $97,690, the Black Label line doesn’t enter 2019 completely unchanged. Lincoln’s 30-way power seats become standard kit on these ultra-lux models, suggesting to would-be customers that profits are only part of the intention here. Of course, Lincoln will siphon almost a grand of extra gravy from each vehicle once the 2019 Black Labels go on sale.

Given the brand’s recent sales woes, Lincoln could be forgiven for seeing nothing but dollar signs in its largest model. Over the first seven months of 2018, Lincoln sales in the U.S. fell 10.8 percent, with July’s year-over-year tally falling 11 percent. In comparison, Navigator sales rose 62.7 percent in July and 79.9 percent on a year-to-date basis.

[Image: Lincoln Motor Company]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Michael500 Michael500 on Aug 21, 2018

    I like the bold look of this thing, but it's also a big fat looking slug of a truck too. Only an idiot or a Kardasian would pay this much. You can get a Range Rover for the same money- no one will look at you funny getting that valet parked at the club like this chrome festooned F150 with a shell. Lincoln has lost it's way, they should just kill the brand since they can't manage it. The sales numbers from the last decade agree with my opinion.

  • STS_Endeavour STS_Endeavour on Aug 21, 2018

    Lincoln did really well with this Navigator. Stunning interior. I kinda wish they carried over the gull wings from the concept. At least as an option.

  • Redapple2 jeffbut they dont want to ... their pick up is 4th behind ford/ram, Toyota. GM has the Best engineers in the world. More truck profit than the other 3. Silverado + Sierra+ Tahoe + Yukon sales = 2x ford total @ $15,000 profit per. Tons o $ to invest in the BEST truck. No. They make crap. Garbage. Evil gm Vampire
  • Rishabh Ive actually seen the one unit you mentioned, driving around in gurugram once. And thats why i got curious to know more about how many they sold. Seems like i saw the only one!
  • Amy I owned this exact car from 16 until 19 (1990 to 1993) I miss this car immensely and am on the search to own it again, although it looks like my search may be in vane. It was affectionatly dubbed, " The Dragon Wagon," and hauled many a teenager around the city of Charlotte, NC. For me, it was dependable and trustworthy. I was able to do much of the maintenance myself until I was struck by lightning and a month later the battery exploded. My parents did have the entire electrical system redone and he was back to new. I hope to find one in the near future and make it my every day driver. I'm a dreamer.
  • Jeff Overall I prefer the 59 GM cars to the 58s because of less chrome but I have a new appreciation of the 58 Cadillac Eldorados after reading this series. I use to not like the 58 Eldorados but I now don't mind them. Overall I prefer the 55-57s GMs over most of the 58-60s GMs. For the most part I like the 61 GMs. Chryslers I like the 57 and 58s. Fords I liked the 55 thru 57s but the 58s and 59s not as much with the exception of Mercury which I for the most part like all those. As the 60s progressed the tail fins started to go away and the amount of chrome was reduced. More understated.
  • Theflyersfan Nissan could have the best auto lineup of any carmaker (they don't), but until they improve one major issue, the best cars out there won't matter. That is the dealership experience. Year after year in multiple customer service surveys from groups like JD Power and CR, Nissan frequency scrapes the bottom. Personally, I really like the never seen new Z, but after having several truly awful Nissan dealer experiences, my shadow will never darken a Nissan showroom. I'm painting with broad strokes here, but maybe it is so ingrained in their culture to try to take advantage of people who might not be savvy enough in the buying experience that they by default treat everyone like idiots and saps. All of this has to be frustrating to Nissan HQ as they are improving their lineup but their dealers drag them down.
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