With its high stance and turtle shape, the Merc effectively looks like an atom bomb \u2014\u00a0with about the same explosive power. It can hit 60 mph in 3.3\u00a0seconds, more than a half-second faster than a BMW M3. Near Cleveland on my way back home from the Glen,\u00a0an M3\u00a0sidled\u00a0up to me spoiling for a fight. I stomped the pedal. See ya.<\/div>\n
The Lincoln, too, is based on another vehicle: its cousin, the Ford Edge.<\/p>\n
Rather than take on formidable German performance brands like Mercedes and their endless waves of alphanumeric infantry \u2014 GLC, AMG GLC 45, AMG GLC 63, AMG GLC 63 S Coupe\u00a0and so on \u2014 Lincoln has focused on a more-affordable\u00a0pampered experience. From its signature\u00a0Jaguar-like grille to its sleek flanks to its elegant wrap-around tail lights, this is a transcontinental train.<\/p>\n
No performance mutants here. No GTs. Heck, Lincoln doesn\u2019t even have an alphanumeric equivalent to Ford\u2019s GT or ST performance badges. Nautilus fits the brand\u2019s lineup of travel names: Navigator, Aviator, Continental\u00a0and the forthcoming Corsair.<\/p>\n
The names are serene, not sporty. It’s like a\u00a0Mozart concerto versus Merc\u2019s rumbling AC\/DC.<\/p>\n
Turn on the Mercedes and you\u2019ll scatter wildlife like a shotgun blast. BRAAAP. The center console looks like a Porsche with a sleeve of buttons wearing graphics that illustrate exhaust tips or shock absorbers to encourage you to explore the vehicle\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n
At Watkins Glen, I toggled the exhaust button for maximum sonic experience \u2014 then selected Race mode. Yes, Race mode (in addition to Sport and Sport-Plus). I disappeared from the Ferrari, clicking off lightning-quick shifts with steering-wheel mounted paddles that control the 9-speed\u00a0dual-clutch tranny. BAP BAP BAP.<\/p>\n
In the New York Finger Lakes region around the Glen, the AMG Coupe didn\u2019t carve rural roads so much as obliterate them. Traffic kneeled to its power. Cornfields burned in its wake. The V-8\u2019s low end torque is ferocious, propelling the all-wheel drive, 4,500-pound bomb forward with claw-like\u00a020-inch tires.<\/p>\n
My Nautilus tester also featured\u00a020-inch rims, but they are sculpted dishes meant to be admired as the Lincoln saunters through the tight streets of Santa Barbara. Or Detroit. Or Chicago.<\/p>\n
The top-of-the-line Black Label trim offers a signature\u00a0pinwheel-style wheel. Plying the roads and streets of north LA I was never tempted to blow anyone\u2019s doors off. The Nautilus is a magic carpet. Push-button shifter. Front, 22-way, massaging thrones.<\/p>\n
It features a more livable interior than the German beast with best-in-segment rear seat room, deep console cubby space and a crafted, button-controlled\u00a0console that may not match Merc\u2019s black, high-gloss finish \u2014 but better integrates its touchscreen in the long dash.<\/p>\n
Extensive sound-proofing makes it difficult to tell the difference between the 245-horse, 2.0-liter turbo-4 and 335-horsepower, 2.7-liter turbo-6 under the hood.<\/p>\n
The turbo-4 will do just fine, its quiet torque effortlessly pushing the train along. That will keep your cost to about $45,000\u00a0for an all-new Nautilus, nearly half the price of the Mercedes OMG. And if you don\u2019t feel like driving, Lincoln offers\u00a0a chauffeur service. For your own car. So you and your mate can cuddle in the back seat on the way to dinner listening to Mozart on the 19-speaker Revel stereo system.<\/p>\n
It’s a different audio experience than a V-8, no doubt.<\/p>\n
The Lincoln may not have the cachet\u00a0of a Mercedes-AMG. Or a Ferrari Portofino. But it will effortlessly get you where you want to go in the same time … unless you plan on buying a lot of lunch laps at Watkins Glen.<\/p>\n
2019\u00a0Lincoln Nautilus<\/strong><\/p>\nVehicle type: Front-engine, front- and all-wheel drive, five-passenger SUV<\/p>\n
Price: $41,335 base includes $995 destination fee ($58,865 AWD turbo-4 and $64,400 AWD Reserve V-6 as tested)<\/p>\n
Powerplant: 2.0-liter turbo inline 4-cylinder, 2.7-liter turbo V-6<\/p>\n
Power: 250\u00a0horsepower, 280\u00a0pound-feet torque (turbo-4); 335\u00a0horsepower, 380\u00a0pound-feet torque (V-6)<\/p>\n
Transmission: 8-speed automatic<\/p>\n
Performance: 0-60 mph, 5.9 seconds (Car and Driver); tow capacity: 3,500 pounds (with tow package on V-6)<\/p>\n
Weight: 4,305 pounds (AWD as tested)<\/p>\n
EPA fuel economy: 20 city\/25 highway\/22\u00a0combined (AWD turbo-4);\u00a019 city\/26\u00a0highway\/21\u00a0combined (AWD V-6)<\/p>\n
Report card<\/p>\n
Highs: Improved British styling; comfortable interior<\/p>\n
Lows: Can get pricey with options; head-up display, please?<\/p>\n
Overall: 3\u00a0stars<\/p>\n
2018\u00a0Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe<\/strong><\/p>\nVehicle type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive, five-passenger SUV<\/p>\n
Price: $81,745 base includes $995 destination fee\u00a0($96,895 as tested)<\/p>\n
Powerplant: 4.0-liter twin-turbo 8-cylinder<\/p>\n
Power: 503 horsepower, 516\u00a0pound-feet torque<\/p>\n
Transmission: 9-speed automatic<\/p>\n
Performance: 0-60 mph, 3.3\u00a0seconds (Car and Driver); top speed: 174\u00a0mph<\/p>\n
Weight: 4,511 pounds (mfr. est.)<\/p>\n
Fuel economy: EPA fuel economy: 15 city\/22 highway\/18 combined<\/p>\n
Report card<\/p>\n
Highs: Atomic speed; intimidating grille<\/p>\n
Lows: Atomic price; bulbous shape<\/p>\n
Overall: 3\u00a0stars<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The difference between the new Lincoln Nautilus and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe SUVs is as vast as the American cities where I tested them: Santa Barbara, California and Watkins Glen, New York,\u00a0home of Watkins Glen International Raceway. If you just got back from an extended stay on Mars, the sport ute has taken over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22920"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22920\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Merc](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2018\/10\/02\/PDTN\/a6bae6d9-6cbb-41c1-92b7-173686f014f5-merc_glen-fr3-4.JPG?width=534&height=401&fit=bounds&auto=webp\")
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