Marketing: Cars Detroit Should Have Built – 2003 Lincoln Navicross

by Wallace Wyss –

I admit I missed this car. It doesn’t seem to fit into any category–a little bit sedan, a little bit coupe, and a tad crossover rolled into one. The 2003 Lincoln Navicross concept made its debut at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show.

The engine was supposed to be a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine, and it used all-wheel drive. Only the transmission sounds out-dated now, a five-speed automatic transmission. Today you’d need 7 to 9 gears.

I think the genius of the idea is bringing back the mid-60s Continental styling shtick of a flat (actually bowed out) side with a chrome edge running nose to tail firmly defining the shape.

The higher than usual ground clearance I could give up as well as the 20-inch wheels shod in all-terrain tires. What I would like to see is the four door convertible brought back on this design which already has rear hinged doors on the back thank you. And for God’s sake this time do a conventional convertible top, not one with a separate lid acting as boot that requires extra motors and adds complication. The grille seems to be a few inches too high but maybe when the car itself is lowered a couple inches, it won’t need that fix.

Odd was to sort of have half-hearted glass sunroofs over the front seats but with the center of the roof solid metal. Were these glass panes removable? Really odd was a lovely hardwood floor color-coordinated with the concept’s exterior. But why not make it feel like a comfortable den at home, all leather and wood and brass and copper? I could see it selling for say $65,000.

Usually Detroit automakers don’t sell concepts because they are not engineered to meet any particular model year’s regulations. But because it was just for show display with no drive train, they sold it for only $23,000 at a RM Sothebys auction in Monterey in 2010. This was about one 20th of what it would cost to make such a body from scratch. I will be waiting for its re-appearance as a running driving car and see if the buyer had the same idea as me, that it would make great four door convertible…and maybe inspire Lincoln more that the sedan did.

Let us know what you think in the Comments.

 
 
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is the author of 18 car histories. He is co-host of Autotalk, broadcast weekly on KUCR FM Riverside.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Summary

Article Name

Marketing: Cars Detroit Should Have Built - 2003 Lincoln Navicross

Description

I think the genius of the idea is bringing back the mid-60s Continental styling shtick of a flat (actually bowed out) side with a chrome edge running nose to tail firmly defining the shape.

Author

Wallace Wyss