The vehicle that set the standard for beauty and elegance in the full-size luxury sport utility vehicle segment is raising it. Lincoln Navigator arrives for the 2015 model year with a freshly designed exterior, significantly updated interior, and all of the spaciousness that made it a segment leader when it was introduced in the summer of 1997. Here to explain what sets this full-size luxury vehicle apart from the rest is Carey White, Lincoln Navigator Consumer Marketing Manager.

“It really came down to two things, power and other elements that contribute to the overall performance and it’s the beauty, it’s the interior and exterior design of the vehicle because we addressed those areas for 2015, to not only continue to work with our loyal customer base, but also to attract a new customer to the Lincoln showroom and not only the Lincoln showroom but the Navigator nameplate.”

According to White, research with Lincoln Navigator customers said they wanted more power under the hood, which is why this 2015 Lincoln Navigator will have a 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine, electric power-assisted steering, Lincoln Drive Control and keyless entry with push-button start.

“Those are features that will again contribute to the power story, for these customers, as they want more horsepower under the hood. Not that they’re going to go 0-60 or go racing the vehicle or anything, but they want performance, they want confidence, and so we up’d the game there.”

White says Lincoln Navigator is accomplishing customer wants in a different way, because they have the EcoBoost engine no one else has, not to mention the new interior of the Navigator, which has long been synonymous with large-scale luxury. White says, for 2015, every detail has been addressed in this vehicle, projecting some significant Best in Class elements for Navigator, including towing and interior room.

“Completely refined dashboard, that has European stitching on the steering wheel, has all new instrument cluster, we have the MyLincoln Touch system, which we’re very excited about, that is controlled with hand knobs, actual knobs, and that really fits in well with the interior design of the vehicle.”

Designed to seat up to eight people, Navigator offers buyers second-row options that include two captain’s chairs with or without a center console, or a second-row fold-flat bench. The third-row, fold-flat bench extends functionality.

“Then you get into the seating surfaces, beautiful ultra-luxurious leather in all three rows, the second row has an optional bench seat which gives the vehicle full capability to be able to haul up to eight people.”

Not only is there a power and beauty story with the 2015 Lincoln Navigator, but White says they have a great technology story, including strong customer personalization touches including something new, Lincoln illumination welcome mats, which White explained.

“How the Lincoln welcome mat works is, as a customer approaches their vehicle with their key-fob, they go up and hit any of the buttons on the keyless entry keypad, a beautiful welcome mat will illuminate right underneath both front doors.”

The 2015 Lincoln Navigator will be manufactured at the Kentucky Truck Plant in late summer and make its showroom debut in early fall of this year.