在本届的洛杉矶国际车展上，林肯正式发布了林肯Nautilus。不过，尽管采用了全新的命名，但是林肯Nautilus并不是一款全新的车型，从本质上来看，林肯Nautilus实质上却是小改款的林肯MKX。只不过在林肯全新的家族化命名架构下，被赋予了N字母开头的全新车名。从造型上来看，此次小改款的林肯Nautilus在前脸方面采用了林肯全新的家族化设计，大灯与进气格栅之间的相对关系从改款前的半幅融合式变成了更加传统的分离式设计。左右两侧的大灯不再与两段式进气格栅的对应一侧构成整体，而是以独立的形象存在。大灯内部以阵列式的LED光源构成，所以科技感的营造依旧很到位。进气格栅也采用了更加传统的设计，矩形的架构下通过金属色的内部结构来提升豪华感。前保险杠下方则采用了一体式的中央进气格栅。整车的前脸细节升级与刚刚亮相的林肯领航员所类似。在车身侧面，全新的林肯Nautilus也换装了全新的轮圈，而车辆尾部也保留了一体式的尾灯设计，轮廓没有变化但是内部结构有了一定的优化。车辆内部的变化同样不大，基本上保持了与MKX的一致，只不过在一些细节方面进行了调整。仪表已经升级为全新的数字化仪表，同时信息娱乐系统标配了福特的SYNC3信息娱乐系统。在舒适性配置方面也优化了诸如22向电动调节座椅等在内的豪华配置。在动力方面，全新的林肯Nautilus简化了MKX的动力序列，放弃了老款车型上搭载的3.7升V6自然吸气引擎，实现了全面的涡轮增压化。主打动力为一台2.0升直列四缸涡轮增压动力，最大输出功率245马力，高配车型则搭载2.7升V6EcoBoost双涡轮增压引擎，最大输出功率335马力，最大扭矩517牛米。与两台发动机匹配的变速箱均为八速自动变速箱，初期亮相的车型标配四驱系统，未来有望推出一款前驱版的车型以提供更好的燃油经济性。在主动安全配置方面，全新的林肯Nautilus标配了自适应巡航系统、自动紧急制动系统等配置，另外发动机自动启停系统也列为了标配。在市场方面，全新的林肯Nautilus将在明年春季正式上市销售。
2019 Lincoln Nautilus Picks Up Where MKX Left Off
Despite its brand-new name, the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus isn't a brand-new vehicle. What you're looking at is really just a mid-cycle refresh of the popular MKX crossover. And since Lincoln says its customers prefer actual words to alphanumeric names, the MK-series nomenclature is slowly being phased out. Goodbye, MKX; hello, Nautilus.
Much like the refreshed 2019 MKC, the Nautilus ditches Lincoln's previous split-wing grille design for something less swoopy. If you like what you see on the Continental sedan and Navigator SUV, then you'll appreciate the smooth lines and defined lighting elements of the Nautilus. In person, it looks really nice, though it sort of makes the Nautilus look a bit more anonymous than before. Elsewhere, Lincoln says it'll offer six new wheel designs for the updated crossover, and around back, the full-width LED taillight strip remains.
Powertrain options are simplified for 2019, with the Nautilus ditching the MKX's naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 in favor of an all-turbo lineup. On the base end, there's the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower, and buyers seeking more oomph can option a biturbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, with a healthy 335 hp and 380 pound-feet of torque. Eight-speed automatic transmissions mate to both engines. All-wheel drive is on the docket, too, with a decoupling feature that lets the Nautilus run in a front-wheel-drive setting during cruising for better fuel efficiency.
A few new driver assistance technologies find their way into the Nautilus for 2019, including a lane-centering function and adaptive cruise control with the ability to fully stop the vehicle (and start it back up again). Stop-start is also standard with both engines.
Inside, the Nautilus' cabin is basically the same as the outgoing MKX, with a few new features here and there, like a redesigned digital instrument cluster. Ford's Sync 3 technology powers the infotainment system, and luxury add-ons like 22-way power seats and Revel audio should make the Nautilus a lovely place to spend time. Lincoln execs say the new crossover has more second-row legroom and headroom than any of its two-row competitors, and after sitting in the rear seats during the Nautilus' unveiling in Los Angeles, I can tell you my five-foot, eight-inch body had more than ample wiggle room. For folks who really want to turn up the premium wick, three new Black Label interior designs will be offered on the MKX, which you can see in the gallery above (hint: it's the red-purple-ish interior).