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U231 Lincoln's baby Navigator. |
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Obtaining and THEN understanding Ford internal documents are really two totally different types of schooling. I like to refer to it as an advanced game of cat and mouse. . . .
We learned that more than ever when we started inquiring about the U231, otherwise known as the Lincoln Explorer. Lincoln refers to it as their "baby Navigator".
Ford internal document is proof positive that the U231 "Baby Navigator" program exists. The document that this information is from is dated 07 July 99. We originally started to write this article last week and thought that it was ready to post when one of us noticed that our 2001-2010 Ford Explorer documents briefly mentioned the "Lincoln Explorer". By now you should know that the speculation is true - Lincoln is working on a Lincoln version of the Ford Explorer.
But there are a lot of rumors, discussion and suspicion concerning the U231 "baby Navigator", Mountaineer and D219 product lines. BlueOvalNews hopes to HELP sort these product lines out in this article.
EVERYTHING within this article is based on internal documents and NOT speculation! If you read it here, then it's from Ford's own documents!
First, the code name for Lincoln's baby Navigator is U231. Trying to find out much more than that has been extremely difficult as Ford has kept the entire project under a tight cloak of secrecy (sounds like the Old BlueOvalNews). Even our sources inside Ford didn't know anything about the project.
BlueOvalNews had to piece together many pieces of information that we have to form what we believe to be a working program model.
First, the U231 depends on several other Lincoln Mercury models. These include the Sable and the Mountaineer. Second, the U231 is also largely dependent on the cycle life of the Ford Explorer.
Let's cover the Sable first. When the next generation 2000 Mercury Sable ends in 2003, it will no longer be a twin to the Taurus. The next generation 2004 Sable (D219) will become an S.U.V. wagon; however, it will NOT be built on a Ford chassis. BlueOvalNews has a considerable amount of material on the D219 which we will post in a separate article.
Next is the Mercury Mountaineer. The Ford Explorer's plans through 2010 CLEARLY list the Mountaineer dead, but not until after the 2003 model year? It should now be clear to you that the D219 Sable will replace the Mountaineer in 2004 as Mercury's S.U.V. offering. It's also possible that Lincoln planned to add a smaller S.U.V. to their product line up to help complete their global offering during the planning of the LS. A lot has changed; however, since the purchase of Volvo.
We believe that the U231 "baby Navigator" will get the green light for production in 2001.5, although it will appear as a 2002 model. The U231 will share similar components with the 2001 Explorer/Mountaineer. It's a similar set up as the Expedition/Navigator. We believe that the U231 will have a similar front end as the Navigators. The "baby Navigator" will be basically unchanged from 2002-2003.
The U231, like the Explorer and Mountaineer will be powered by a 4.6 Modular engine. (The 5.0 dies off in 2000). But unlike the 4.6 SOHC engine as found in the Explorer and Mountaineer, the Lincoln's 4.6 will feature a DOHC set up.
Ford, realizing that many enthusiasts would balk at the thought of being outpowered by an S.U.V. already has a solution to that problem. . . .an across the board 4.6 engine upgrade is planned to help even the score. . .although, as Andrew Golden wrote in an E-mail to us, we hope this isn't phantom horsepower.
COPYRIGHT 1999 WARNER PUBLICATIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BlueOvalNews.com |
SUMMARY: Mercury will discontinue the Mountaineer S.U.V. in 2003. It will be replaced by the D219 sport utility wagon.
Lincoln's U231 will launch in 2001.5 as a 2002 model.
The U231 will use the 4.6 DOHC engine, instead of the 4.6 SOHC engine that will be used in the Explorer and Mountaineer.
Another internal Ford document shows that the 2001 1/2 "Lincoln Explorer" will use a 4.6 DOHC engine. The document that this information is from is dated 09 June 99.
BlueOvalNews.com |
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