BORG Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) Pretty soon you should see some heavily camouflaged images of the Navigator spied for the first time on the street. It's really hard to see the details but the body looks exactly like the Expedition prototype and does feature conventional door pulls (can't tell if they at least function like the Continental but the don't look anything like them). Like the Continental, the Navigator also has those inset wheel arches, no black cladding around them. You can also see the retractable running board. The taillights appear to have a Continental-like treatment and appear much larger than the Concept (actually they looking nothing like the concept), including Amber turn signals and a white space in the middle. The headlights have been simplified, the LED running lights cut across the middle of the headlamps with Continental-like LED fixtures just above it which look a little slimmer than the tallish fixtures from the concept. The lower fascia is much squarer and wider, more like the Continental with a much more prominent opening than the concept. It looks okay, the design like the Continental isn't very flashy, it does shave strong horizontal lines and broad sheetmetal so to some I'm sure it'll look a little old-fashioned and bulky but it's certainly smoother. Edited October 10, 2016 by BORG 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 That's the first time you've ever said it was hard to see details behind body cladding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 That's the first time you've ever said it was hard to see details behind body cladding. I have high res images with some good angles that reveal some useful details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Can't say I'm surprised about the door handles. It doesn't make much sense to blend them into the beltline like they did on the Continental since it naturally sits higher than the car. I too am curious if they stay conventional or go electronic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 I should mention that a version of those concept wheels are also on the prototype and they are really sharp! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 I have high res images with some good angles that reveal some useful details. . Going to ever post them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 . Going to ever post them? Not mine to post. I imagine Autoblog will pick them up today so check there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucelinc Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Even if the door handles are not at beltline level, they should be electronic with power cinch. That feature adds a very nice quality feel touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) I also got some new Expedition photos in today, including a model with more upscale LED tail-lighting. They look a little like the Explorer C-shape design but with broader LED light bands. It also has the same 'wings' design which wraps into the fender, the Navigator uses this same cutout for its wraparound taillights but makes adjustments with trim pieces to differentiate it from the Expedition's vertical shapes. The Expedition and Navigator have identical body designs in every detail, right down to the fenders so I believe the differences are only in the rear and front fascias (all the glass is also the same). The Expedition prototypes also have the same 'flanged' look to the wheel arches. The Navigator rear end is much more conventional than the concept, including a large ledge for the rear bumper pretty much identical to the Expedition prototype. So like the Continental concept, I think the back-end is going to be the most dissimilar to the production car. BTW, Expedition and Navigator have the same rear glass lift-gate with an exterior handle right below the windshield wiper. The Expedition obviously has a rounder fascia compared to the upright fascia of the Navigator, but otherwise the details are hard to see beyond the lower grille and headlights. Expedition looks like it has a version of the Explorer grille, nothing terribly noteworthy there. The Expedition headlights have projector style headlamps, hard to make out the shapes but they don't really resemble the Explorer. So essentially, the level of differentiation between Navigator and Expedition is identical to the previous vehicles, same stampings but different hoods, fascias, and interiors. But it does look like Navigator took some priority in the design. I imagine Ford COULD hide the flanged wheel arches with trim but that would be silly. Edited October 11, 2016 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbone Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Isn't this the same approach utilized by GM for its trio? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) Isn't this the same approach utilized by GM for its trio? Yep! They also look very similar to the GM Utes. Edited October 11, 2016 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbone Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Well considering the number of late model GM fullsize SUVs in my neighborhood, I wouldn't consider that a bad thing. Especially since I'm planning to buy a GMC Yukon as a stopgap measure until the new Nav/Ex comes out. Unfortunately we need more space than our Explorer provides, and I'm not willing to buy a current Expedition since it's virtually the same as the 2007 we had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTAUS Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Speaking of door handles, I really wish Ford would focus on the "Feel" aspect of it. My LS has solid handles that felt great and the door felt more solid in thunkability. My MKX plastic crap handle feels weak, the door feels hollow, and tinsy. Same with the MKZ, the plastic feeling handle feels like some Mattel toy box cover...Haven't tried the Conti's new door handles, but I'm guessing so it's just an E-Latch it should feel better, cant get that much wrong if it doesn't move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 Looks like nobody picked up those photos, ah well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 like some bakeries... ...are day-old spypix half priced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 So what, now we just don't get to see them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 So what, now we just don't get to see them? . It reminds me of reading a Yahoo news story.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) Edited October 11, 2016 by rmc523 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 fyi Chris Doane Automotive LLC @ facebook Well I'd love to show you photos of the 2018 ________________ with no camo, but the OEM bought the photos instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I don't understand. Borg, did you take the pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I don't understand. Borg, did you take the pictures? Borg's pictures had heavy camo/cladding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Borg's pictures had heavy camo/cladding. So why can't he post them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) The photos that are for sale, I can preview them but not publish them. This is how Spy Photography works. I have bought them in the past, specifically when the MKX was spied so I could share them here because nobody would pick them up. The general rule of thumb is that Lincoln doesn't generate much interest and since there has already been a concept, you really need to see a completely raw vehicle to sell them. In this case, I understand why there isn't much interest since it effectively looks like the spied Expedition from a few weeks ago and it was clear at the time that it was based on the Navigator concept...thusly the Navigator looks the same. As for Chris Doane, that might be the new Alfa Stelvio SUV which was just spied uncovered at night in Europe, but somehow I doubt it. Edited October 11, 2016 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 The photos that are for sale, I can preview them but not publish them. This is how Spy Photography works. I have bought them in the past, specifically when the MKX was spied so I could share them here. I'm no longer interested in doing such a thing in this case. In this case, I understand why there isn't much interest since it effectively looks like the spied Expedition from a few weeks ago and it was clear at the time that it was based on the Navigator concept...thusly the Navigator looks the same. As for Chris Doane, that might be the new Alfa Stelvio SUV which was just spied uncovered at night in Europe, but somehow I doubt it. On his Facebook page, he said "Well I'd love to show you photos of the 2018 ________________ with no camo, but the OEM bought the photos instead." That must be that Alfa you're talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 The photos that are for sale, I can preview them but not publish them. This is how Spy Photography works. I have bought them in the past, specifically when the MKX was spied so I could share them here because nobody would pick them up. The general rule of thumb is that Lincoln doesn't generate much interest and since there has already been a concept, you really need to see a completely raw vehicle to sell them. In this case, I understand why there isn't much interest since it effectively looks like the spied Expedition from a few weeks ago and it was clear at the time that it was based on the Navigator concept...thusly the Navigator looks the same. As for Chris Doane, that might be the new Alfa Stelvio SUV which was just spied uncovered at night in Europe, but somehow I doubt it. Ah, well I didn't understand that......you made it sound as if you had some photos you took or something but that you were waiting to see if anyone would buy them first. My apologies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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