Popular Science, giving out awards to car brands? It doesn’t seem there’s any correlation, at first blush. But when you think about, with automotive technology, led by cars that can drive themselves, barrelling into a bold future, it makes more sense. Lincoln Nautilus,is the recipient, named the Grand Auto Winner in the 2024 Popular Science Best of What’s New awards Automotive category.
I had the SUV for a late fall drive, not the first time I’ve behind the wheel of a Lincoln Nautilus. I found the interior and exterior design to be sophisticated for the price point – $81,845 MSRP, for the media vehicle we were in. The new in-vehicle digital experience was understandably what caught our eye, for the three-plus hour drive. The focus there is on customization and convenience. That’s the first impression when you jump in – led by a screen that stretches horizontally across the dash, together with an 11.1-inch Centre Stack Touchscreen.
The system is designed to help the driver stay connected and provides easy access to music, podcasts, videos, and gaming apps from the Google Play store when the vehicle is in park.
Reimagined Digital Experience
Driving information, connected navigation and personalized content is at eye level for the driver. Lincoln BlueCruise 1.2 tech enables one to operate the Lincoln Nautilus hands-free. We’re not there yet, but others are. The updated version includes Lane Change Assist and In-Lane Repositioning – part of a highway network called Hands-Free Blue Zones that make up more than 200,000 kms of North American roads.
Each year the editors of Popular Science review thousands of new products and innovations and choose the top 50 winners across 10 categories. To win, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category and the Lincoln Nautilus has done just that with new, effortless connectivity. “Simply put, the Nautilus is a mobile communication center with luxury seats.” says the Popular Science Team.
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I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
