2021 Lincoln Nautilus: Redesign, Refresh, Colors, and Interior Update. Nautilus is a relatively fresh name in the automotive industry. It gained instant popularity thanks to its luxury and practicality. The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus is almost ready to arrive and it is its third year of the production. Nautilus replaced the MKX model and is now ready for its first refreshments.
The new generation won’t arrive in the next couple of years for sure, so expect minor updates year after year. Most of the vehicle will largely remain. The 2021 Nautilus will only get a minor exterior facelift and various interior updates. In terms of performance, a hybrid powertrain is just a rumor for now and nothing is official.
Engine Specifications
The all-new 2021 Lincoln Nautilus comes with two engine options. The first option is a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 250 hp. A more powerful 2.7-liter V6 is optional and it provides 335 horsepower. Both units are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Their fuel economy is more than decent. The standard engine has been rated at 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
On the other hand, the optional powertrain provides similar figures. Both units can tow over 3,000 pounds. The latest rumor is a hybrid powertrain. Lincoln started with electrification and its Aviator model is perhaps the latest example. As for the 2021 Nautilus, this is still nothing more than pure speculation.
2021 Nautilus Exterior Facelift
The upcoming 2021 Lincoln Nautilus really looks impressive. This model came as a replacement for the MKX model and it arrived as a true refreshment. Its design is very upscale and it looks brand-new. For that reason, the new Nautilus won’t change that much. Still, this mid-size SUV is ready for its first updates. The updates are minor but are more than welcome.
It seems like the Nautilus SUV will borrow a couple of cues from the Ford Edge model. Small modifications on the front fascia include slightly larger headlights and additional chrome accents. That, nothing will change. We are hoping to see new exterior colors or new optional equipment.
Interior Updates
The same is with interior design. New 2021 Lincoln Nautilus will continue to offer an impressive cabin and changes are really small. The mid-size SUV will only gain new driver-assistance aids and the updated infotainment system. Whatsoever, compared to MKX, Nautilus didn’t offer that much change. We understand it is hard to make a luxury cabin even more luxurious.
Nautilus is a premium SUV with plenty of equipment and various interior color schemes. The cabin is spacious and it provides more than enough room for all passengers. The cargo area has been rated at 70 cubic feet of space. Without folded rear seats, Nautilus offers 37 cubic feet.
The Lincoln Nautilus is the brand’s offering in the highly competitive mid-size class where are models like the Acura RDX and MDX, Buick Enclave, Volvo XC60 and Lexus RX 350. The Ford’s luxury division applied the midcycle update and renamed the MDX model for the 2019 model year and the result is the Nautilus crossover. The model provides a smooth ride and long list of standard safety equipment. The power comes from turbocharged engines and the cabin is spacious and well-equipped. Thanks to the brand’s newest styling language, the Nautilus is also appealing to the eye.
Lincoln made just a few changes in the model’s equipment availability for the 2020 version and the handsome Nautilus will continue to live on the upgrades of the recent mid-cycle refresh until the redesigned version arrives. The current second-generation debuted for the 2016 model year under the MKX nameplate. The next 2021 Lincoln Nautilus will return with no significant changes in design and performance. There will again be mixing in the equipment availability and additional color and wheel options.
2021 Lincoln Nautilus Design
The Lincoln Nautilus looks modern form the outside thanks to the resent refresh but under the skin, it is just a Lincoln MKX based on the same Ford’s CD4 platform used for the Ford Edge.
The Nautilus adopts the brand’s newest design language used on the recently redesigned Continental and Navigator models. The rectangular, mesh grille is a prominent part of models identify which replaced the split wing design used before the last mid-update and nameplate change. The front section of the model includes also modern-looking headlights very similar to those on the Continental sedan. Adding also to the model’s appearance are sharply defined hood and side panels lines as well as the full-width taillights.
As for the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, the model will keep all styling elements the same but new color and wheel options should appear as well as the new appearance package. The base version will come with the 18-inch wheels while they will grow in size to 20- and 21 inches in the upper grades or with added packages.
Interior, Equipment
The next Lincoln Nautilus will remain the same inside the cabin while there will be some changes in the equipment organization and availability.
The model provides completive head and legroom as well as the cargo capacity. There are up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo and up to 37.2 cubes behind the rear seats. The Nautilus comes with high-quality materials and supportive front seats with heating, ventilation, massage and high-level adjustment options.
The base equipment will also be dual-zone automatic climate control, digital instrument cluster, Sync 3 interface, an 8-inch center display, Wi-Fi, 10 speakers, etc. The package of active safety systems including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and automatic high beams will be available by default.
Available upgrades in the upper grades will be leather upholstery, heated rear seats, surround-view cameras, larger wheels, unique trim accents, heated steering wheel, 19-speaker sound system, automated parking system, etc.
2021 Lincoln Nautilus Performance
At the performance level, the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus will return with two turbocharged engines and 8-speed automatic transmission. There will also be the front- and all-wheel drive options.
The base powering unit will be a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine capable of producing 250 hp and torque of 280 pound-feet. A more powerful option will again be a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V-6 available with the adaptive suspension and all-wheel drive. This engine makes 335 hp and torque of 380 pound-feet.
The Nautilus can tow up to 3, 500 pounds with Class II hitch. At the fuel efficiency level, the base turbocharged engine combined with the two-wheel drive will return 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The all-wheel drive and this engine will manage 20/25 mpg city/highway. A V-6 powered Nautilus will reach 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway with the front-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive twin-turbo Nautilus will return 19/26 mpg city/highway.
Lincoln said recently that the hybrid powertrain isn’t planned for the mid-size Nautilus.
2021 Lincoln Nautilus Price and Release Date
We can expect new 2021 Lincoln Nautilus at some point later in 2020. Most likely, this mid-size SUV will go on sale in the last quarter of the year. The price will once again start at $40,000. Nautilus will continue to rival models such as Infiniti QX60 and Cadillac XT5.
