Haichuan Pinche leads the way to explore the unknown scenery Lincoln Navigator Long Axis Edition Northwest Travel Notes

In May this year, when the epidemic was about to end, I made an appointment with my friends in the northwest. However, due to the recurrence of the epidemic, the trip was postponed to September. But was it to Qinghai? Or Gansu? After much deliberation, I was finally convinced by my friend Lao Zhang who lives far away in Zhangye. He told me that it would be boring for you to go to places where everyone goes. Why not come to Zhangye and take you to some famous places that have not yet been discovered? , it can be regarded as a longing for the unknown journey.

When going to the northwest, you must naturally choose a suitable self-driving model. An SUV with four-wheel drive is a basic requirement. Of course, if it is a full-size SUV from a luxury brand, it would be the perfect choice. When I learned that Lincoln happened to have a long-wheel version of the Navigator available for test drive, I booked it without hesitation. Although it might cost me more miles, but in the face of such a car that can be purchased in China, The largest original luxury SUV, I really can't resist its temptation.

In fact, I have always liked driving full-size SUVs like the Lincoln Navigator for long distances, because they are spacious enough and have great space, and I don’t feel suffocated even if I stay in the car for more than ten hours. ; In addition, most of them are very comfortable and quiet. Comfort is the most important when driving long distances; the most important thing is that the engine power is strong enough. Even when cruising at a high speed, the engine speed will not be too high, making it fast and quiet. Of course, their suitcases are also huge and can hold all the luggage you need for a long trip, as well as everything you need to buy on the road.

After coming out of Hongqiao Airport, before leaving Shanghai, I encountered a traffic accident. The traffic in front of me could not be seen to the end. This was just right, giving me the opportunity to appreciate the long-axis version of the Navigator. Equipped with Ruiwei audio, to be honest, the audio installed in every Lincoln model is very good, not to mention the top-level Navigator long axis version, with 20 speakers and 1100 watts of surround sound. It’s hard to forget those who have experienced it, but what about the sound quality? At least my perversely demanding ears have no complaints.

Time always flies when accompanied by wonderful music. When the traffic in front of us gradually disperses, we move towards our destination again. All the way from Shanghai to the west, we headed towards Zhangye. Of course, the distance of more than 2,000 kilometers cannot be reached in one day. We planned to go to the ancient capital Xi'an to rest. This road is basically mainly highways, which is very suitable for cruising with full-size SUVs such as the Navigator long-axis version. The power of this car is definitely worthy of praise. This Lincoln Navigator long-axis version uses the same 3.5-liter turbocharged gasoline V6 engine as the basic version, with a maximum horsepower of 387 horsepower and a peak torque of 680 Nm. The body of the long-axis version is heavier, but due to the extensive use of aluminum alloy materials, even with a 5.6-meter-long body, the weight of the Navigator long-axis version is controlled within a very reasonable range, so the acceleration performance is beyond expectations It was unexpected for me. I originally thought that a 3.5-inch machine with such a huge body would not have very good performance, but the actual performance is indeed refreshing.

Of course, another thing that must be mentioned is that Lincoln has done an excellent job of isolating and suppressing engine noise. I still remember the test drive of the old Navigator: most of the sound of the engine, including the noise of the electronic fan, would be transmitted into the cabin. But for the car in front of me, I could hardly hear anything while sitting in the cabin. The sound coming from the engine compartment is completely in line with the "private and quiet cabin" that Lincoln currently emphasizes. I have to give a thumbs up to Lincoln's engineers in charge of NVH.

At night when I was shooting outside the Bell Tower in Xi’an, I took a good look at the long-axis version of the Navigator. The new style star-shaped 3D water tank grille is the unified logo of the new generation Lincoln family. The 22-inch large wheels and hidden B, C and D pillar design, combined with the blue body, can be called the sexiest car under the night sky. size SUV. But no matter how hard the designers spend, they can't hide the oversized body of the long-axis version of the Navigator. Its body length has exceeded 5.6 meters, and its width and height are both infinitely close to 2 meters. Against the backdrop of the bell tower, the Pilot The long-axle version looks big but not bulky, and it looks more graceful and luxurious. I think that even if Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty were to reincarnate, he would probably not be able to help but choose this car as his "imperial chariot".

After spending a few days with it on the road, I have to admire how spacious this car is. The body length of 5657 mm is 302 mm longer than the standard version of the Navigator, and the wheelbase of 3342 mm is also 230 mm longer than the standard version of the Navigator. Therefore, its cabin space is currently the best on the market. Buying the biggest one is not an exaggeration. The two independent seats in the second row are invincible. This is not only about its almost luxurious space position, but also the entertainment system, air conditioning system, seat heating and ventilation, and sunroof shading can be controlled through the control panel on the center armrest box. Many functions such as curtain opening and closing are simply comparable to the first-class rear seats of a Mercedes-Benz Maybach.

Of course, the space advantage of this long-wheelbase full-size SUV is actually the third row and the luggage space behind the third row.

To talk about how much space there is in the third row, I can only say that its various space indicators are well beyond the second row of a medium-sized SUV; as for luggage space, there is no need to fold down the third row of seats. It can properly accommodate all the luggage of three people. The minimum luggage space of 722 liters is larger than the maximum luggage space of many mid-size cars. This is the charm of the full-size long-axis SUV. On the road, no matter how much you bring with you when you set off. Luggage, no matter how many things you buy along the way, it can bring it back to you.

After arriving in Zhangye, our first stop was the ancient Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. In Gansu this generation, the ancient Great Wall is not scarce and can be seen in many places, but it will take some time to find a section that is in better preservation condition. The ancient Great Wall here is not as majestic, strong and tall as those near Beijing. Most of them are built with rammed earth, which is also far from the image of the Great Wall in our impression. However, the dry climate in the northwest allows them to survive for hundreds of years. It collapsed, and it looks extremely real because it has not been repaired in modern times.

While the photographer was taking pictures, I took a closer look inside the cabin of the Navigator long-axis version. There is no doubt about the consistent American luxury style, because at this level, Lincoln does not need to learn from anyone, because it is the most luxurious brand. But even so, I can still see that the new Navigator hopes to once again establish its height in the full-size luxury SUV class, and also strives to win the favor of more Chinese consumers.

The entire interior in the cab expresses its avant-garde luxury concept in the best way: stylish but not impetuous, luxurious but not kitsch, all materials used are great, three different The top-quality Napa leather, silky piano paint panels and soft Alcantara leather roof fabric are boldly combined. The 10-inch touch display on the center console meets the needs of the times, and there are fewer buttons and knobs than the previous generation. It's a lot, but by visual inspection it should be about half less. The standard seat can be electrically adjusted in 30 ways. No matter what your body shape is, you will quickly find a driving position that suits you. Once you find the right position, this comfortable and inclusive feeling will make me never want to leave this seat. , not to mention the amazing heating, ventilation and massage functions, which can provide infinite care for my old belt that is suffering from lumbar disc herniation during long-distance driving.

Not far from where we photographed the ancient Great Wall, there was an almost deserted ancient village that aroused our interest. Lao Zhang, who led the way, told me that this was a good place he discovered a few years ago - Xiakou Town. Although it looks dilapidated now, in history, this was a very important ancient Silk Road station. It was the only place that led to the Western Regions from the Central Plains in ancient times. It strangled the throat of Ganliang and locked up the land of Jinchuan. Its military location was very dangerous. . It is a pity that most people have moved away now, and the last remaining families in the ancient village have also moved to a new village not far away. The prosperity of the past in Xiakou has long since disappeared, but the gate tower at the entrance of the village Above, you can still feel the prosperity and hustle and bustle of thousands of years ago.

Entering a comfortable carriage from a decaying ancient village, there is a feeling of traveling through the past and present in an instant. The ancients relied on camels to walk the Silk Road. Now, we have the Lincoln Navigator long-axis version. A body as large as the Navigator long-wheelbase version is suitable for the vast and sparsely populated northwest region. In comparison, in the crowded cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, driving the Navigator long-wheelbase version seems a bit stretched. . However, no matter where it is, it is the center of attention.

In the next two days in Zhangye, we drove non-stop to several places, including the Kangle Grassland, an alpine meadow that looked very much like Nalati, and the Danxia and Yadan landforms. The unique Alien Valley, in general, has many surprises. Especially on the winding road into Kangle Grassland, I discovered another side of the Navigator long-axis version.

A few kilometers into the Kangle Prairie Valley, I began to regret it, because the road was all mountainous, winding, narrow, and full of sharp and slow bends. The Navigator long-axis version is a large vehicle with a length of nearly 6 meters. It is worrying to walk on it. If I was driving a traditional American full-size SUV at this time, then I believe that within ten turns, I would inevitably give up. But what I am driving now is the new-generation Navigator long-axis version, sitting on the top of the American full-size SUV field. The first all-aluminum lightweight body, coupled with the 6-mode driving selection system, allows me to deal with the next nearly 100 turns with more confidence.

The previous generation of Navigator had a steel body with a girder. The net weight of the whole vehicle alone was 3 tons. Although this generation retains the girder structure, the body mounted on it has been changed. Being made of aluminum, this alone saves hundreds of kilograms of weight. In addition, the two generations of models are also slightly different in the connection method of the beam. The old model uses a traditional soft link method, while the new model uses a rigid link, similar to the semi-bearing type of Land Rover Discovery 3 and Discovery 4 in the early years. The structure not only continues the high rigidity of the non-load-bearing body, but also takes into account the good handling performance of the load-bearing body. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Secondly, in order to make this model more popular with Chinese customers, engineers were allowed to use stiffer suspension and springs, as well as steering pumps and valves that can bring sharper steering feel. The result is a more positive and significant impact on steering.

Walking on the mountain road, I can feel that the long-axis version of the Navigator shows a tendency to oversteer when entering corners at slow speeds. This characteristic will make the car more sensitive, and it will become understeer when the speed increases to a certain extent. , which can enhance stability and safety. This generation of navigator has a reliable feeling of being in control when dealing with fast and slow corners, unlike the previous generation that was shaky in fast corners. The driver's confidence is obvious Enhanced a lot.

In addition, its body roll is well controlled, and the new Navigator can steer with a balance that is disproportionate to its size and weight. If that's all, it would be underestimating it. In terms of braking, the long-axis version of the Navigator also performs well and will definitely not nod as frequently as other large American full-size SUVs. Excellent body control and braking performance make the Navigator as flexible as those of smaller SUVs. This is still quite different from the traditional American SUVs we have in mind. The new generation of models has improved handling performance. is obvious.

In addition to experiencing the handling performance of the long-axis version of the Navigator, after driving the car for so long, I found that as a driver, I never missed any beautiful scenery, and the space of the new Navigator And vision, this is an aspect I have to mention. The interior view of a full-size SUV is always unique. The height difference between its seats and the windows is just right, neither too high nor too shallow. Just so you can admire the car from a condescending manner as soon as you raise your head. The scenery outside the window, or in other words, it is difficult for you to have a similar feeling in SUVs of other sizes. This unique feeling has never changed since the first generation of Navigator.

The biggest surprise of this trip came from the Foreign Star Valley in Sunan County. It is only a few dozen kilometers away from the most famous Colorful Danxia Scenic Area in Gansu. However, because there are no paved roads, we can only take wild roads. Come in. In this small valley, most of the unique landforms in the northwest are integrated, such as Danxia, ??Solve and Yadan, etc. It is very much like a miniature mixed version of several national geoparks. The most rare thing is that it retains In the original primitive style, there were no artificially built roads or viewing platforms. Therefore, not only can you drive in, you can also hike in the valley to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. It is definitely worth staying carefully for a whole day, or even camping in it.

Walking on the non-paved road in Alien Valley, driving the long-axis version of the Navigator will give you a unique sense of heaviness. This sense of heaviness comes from the two thick beams at the bottom of the car. We can all classify SUVs as hard-core, but compared with off-road-focused vehicles like the Lexus LX, the Navigator actually pays more attention to highway driving performance, but it does not mean that the long-axis version of the Navigator is not capable of work in the wild. In addition to the beams that ensure the strength of the body, the Navigator also has 6 driving modes. In addition to the standard, sport and energy-saving modes, the other three modes are used to deal with off-road road conditions, such as the slippery mode. The complex mode is suitable for waterlogged roads and sandy areas, and is suitable for snow or mud, while the final low-speed climbing mode is used to deal with some difficult and steep sections. I also forgot to mention that this car also has a towing capacity of up to 3.9 tons, so hanging a large and comfortable RV for a quick trip may be the true meaning of driving the long-axis version of the Navigator. .

The days on the road always go by very fast, and before the fun is over, it’s time to return. On the way back, we met a man driving a plug-in hybrid version of the Lincoln Aviator on the outskirts of Yinchuan. From our rearview mirror, we could see that he had been following us for several kilometers. When we parked the car When we were in the service area, he stopped the car naturally and came over to talk to us, "Can I see the inside of this car?", "Of course", "It's so beautiful, I love this interior so much." I like it”, “How much does this car cost?”, “1.289 million yuan, net price”, “That’s not expensive, I thought it cost two million”, “I will try to buy my car within two years. Change it to this one"...

After a long conversation, I also gained some understanding of the current domestic Lincoln owners. This may explain a phenomenon, that is, as a Lincoln car owner, you have good brand loyalty. Maybe you like Lincoln's unique luxury, or you are used to being served by Lincoln, or there may be other reasons. , in short, once you become a consumer of this brand, it will be difficult to care about other brands. It may be difficult to explain this reason clearly in one or two sentences, but it can be seen from it that even though Lincoln has not been in China for too long, it does not affect its unique position in the minds of Chinese consumers.

In China today, those consumers who are willing to spend millions of yuan to buy a car must be thinking about the same question. What kind of car can make you feel good? If it's just to make people around you feel that you are already outstanding. There may be many such choices. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Porsche can all play the same role, but for another small group of people, they prefer the low-key feeling, but they also like different luxury lifestyles. , like to enjoy themselves better, then the Lincoln brand and the Navigator long-axis version are just right for such a group of people.

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.