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Lincoln Navigator is the people's choice for best of Detroit Auto Show

At a big auto show, you hear a lot of from automotive journalists about the outstanding cars on display — for example, Autoblog's own editors' choices from the Detroit Auto Show. But the Detroit News does something neat instead. It asks the public to vote in its annual Readers' Choice Awards. And coming out on top was the 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The newspaper collars 100 attendees at the North American International Auto Show and asks them to vote. This year, the public's pick as Best of Show coincided with the North American Car of the Year voters, journalists who picked the Navigator as the Truck of the Year. (We at Autoblog were wowed by the Navigator, too, but our editors' choices were limited to vehicles that were revealed at the show — the Navigator has been out long enough, that we've actually driven and reviewed it.) The Navigator on display at the show has the ultra-plush Black Label interior. It's a $95,000 rig. No surprise then that hit was also the public's choice in the category of Best Road-Trip Ride. The public's other choices: Best Dream Machine — Ford GT. Best Family Fun Finder — Chrysler Pacifica. Baddest Off-Road Vehicle — Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Coolest Technology — BMW i8 Roadster. Most for Your Money — Kia Stinger. (Commenters on our recent Drivers' Notes review said the Stinger was a media darling the public won't buy, but these voters, at least, liked it.) Best Future Concept — Infiniti Q Inspiration. Most Eco-Friendly — Smart Fortwo. Most Amazing Mobility — Toyota Concept i-Walk. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2018 Lincoln Navigator: First Drive View 53 Photos Auto News Detroit Auto Show Lincoln SUV Luxury 2018 detroit auto show

Does Lincoln Zephyr trademark mean a return to real names?

Lincoln's long history includes many legendary names, and despite its short life, Zephyr retains a spot in that pantheon. Perhaps its will return once again: Ford Motor Co. applied to trademark Zephyr on May 11. Trademark filings can have ambiguous meanings, and often they're legal plays to get or keep the rights to a name. But in the last year, we've seen signs Lincoln is looking to use real names on its vehicles again. Obviously, it's keeping Navigator for its flagship sport-utility vehicle with a new model due next year. Reprising Continental for the MKS replacement was also well received. That said, Lincoln still uses the MKX and MKC "names" for its crossovers. Zephyr is a dustier moniker. It was used in the 1930s and '40s on a mid-level model spearheaded by Edsel Ford. The stylishly aerodynamic model was set between the Ford V8 De Luxe and more expensive Lincolns. It returned in 2006 as the Lincoln version of the Ford Fusion before that model was renamed MKZ. Mercury also used Zephyr on its version of the Ford Fairmont in the late 1970s and early '80s. Ford last held a trademark on the Zephyr name in 2013. The filing says Ford seeks to use Zephyr for "motor vehicles and parts and accessories therefor." That could mean a new car — or just parts. Putting the Zephyr badge back on the MKZ is the most likely bet. Meanwhile, Ford also moved to get the Thunderbird trademark on May 11 for the same vehicles and parts purpose, and it filed for the Mustang trademark for shampoo and lotions on May 4. A Lincoln spokesman said, "In the normal course of our business, we file trademarks for names," but had no further information. Related Video:

Lincoln bringing in MKZ Hybrid over rollaway risk

Federal safety standards require that every new car needs to have the brake depressed in order to shift it out of Park. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found fault in the transmission range sensor on certain examples of the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, allowing the car to be shifted out of Park without first depressing the brake. The fear is that with this condition, affected vehicles may be unintentionally pulled out of Park, resulting in a possible rollaway. That safety concern has prompted parent Ford Motor Company to issue a recall.
The issue pertains to 7,153 examples of the MKZ Hybrid built between April 26, 2012 and September 24, 2013, covering the 2013 and 2014 model years. As a result, Ford will notify owners to bring their MKZs into their local Lincoln dealer to have the Powertrain Control Module software updated in order to rectify the problem. See the full recall notice below for details.