Ever since Lincoln was acquired by Ford in 1922, it has acted as the brand’s luxury marque to take on the likes of Cadillac and Chrysler. That meant V8s were a staple of the range, with models such as the Continental and 2011 Town Car providing plushness and smooth V8 power for decades. As the world has moved towards more efficient power plants over the last decade or so, Lincoln has gone with the changing wind.

Its current models mainly utilize Ford’s gutsy turbocharged EcoBoost V6, with the V8 having disappeared from option lists long ago. CarBuzz embarked on a quest to find the last Lincoln offered with a V8 engine.

The vehicles featured in this piece are the last Lincoln-built vehicles to have a V8 engine. All technical data is sourced from trusted providers such as the vehicle manufacturer.

Lincoln Has Moved On From The V8 In Recent Years

The writing was on the wall for Lincoln’s V8 range as the 2000s approached their conclusion, with parent company Ford moving its luxury consumer range away from the thirstier power plants. While the V8 has remained in Ford’s truck and muscle/performance car ranges, it felt they were simply unnecessary in vehicles where the interior is the main draw. By this point, Lincoln had also moved away from standalone developed models to essentially just reskinning and rebadging models from Ford’s range, which also involved utilizing the engines from said nameplates.

The MKX, MKZ, and MKS models, all introduced between 2006 and 2008, all came with naturally aspirated V6s, while the V8-powered LS sedan went out of production at the same time. The long-standing Town Car sedan, which came with a 4.6-liter small-block Ford V8 under the hood, swiftly followed in 2011, becoming the last Lincoln sedan to ever feature the engine configuration.

The Navigator SUV Was The Last Lincoln Fitted With A V8

This left just one model standing for the US market; the gargantuan Navigator SUV. Essentially a jazzed-up version of the Ford Expedition, the Navigator first hit the market in 1998 with a choice of either a single-overhead-cam or dual-overhead-cam 5.4-liter Triton V8. Having become popular with rappers, and some Need for Speed Underground 2 players, during the 2000s, the Navigator nameplate remains in production to this day.

Sadly for V8 aficionados, the V8 was axed from its line-up as part of a third-generation refresh in 2015. This ensured it would be the final Lincoln to ever come with a V8.

The Final Lincoln Utilized A 5.4-Liter Triton V8

The last V8 to ever feature in a Lincoln was an updated version of the 5.4-liter Triton V8 used in the first-generation Navigator, which got a two-valve variant. A three-valve version was brought to market in 2002, which boosted power and torque over the previous version. Ford’s engineers achieved this by introducing redesigned cylinder heads with two intake valves, while a variable camshaft timing system was also brought along to the party. The compression ratio was also increased from 9.0:1 to 9.8:1.

These changes not only boosted the engine’s grunt but also made it more fuel-efficient. Given the Navigator could give Jupiter a run for its money in terms of size, this was a handy selling point. The unit was also crafted entirely from aluminum, which helped keep the overall weight of the Navigator to a minimum. The engine was utilized in the Navigator from 2005 until Lincoln retired from the V8 market in 2014.

The 2014 Navigator had 310 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque on tap, power that didn’t equalize excellent fuel economy even despite the more efficient powerplant. While the lighter rear-wheel-drive variant managed a combined 16 mpg figure, the all-wheel-drive Navigator could be expected to hit just 15 mpg. Given it weighs around 6,000 pounds depending on the configuration, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The Navigator Was Built To Be A Lover And Not A Fighter

The luxury SUV was never designed to be a fun back road blaster, so it was only available with a six-speed automatic transmission. It did get independent front and rear suspension and stabilizer bars, though these were tuned to give the Navigator a smooth and compliant ride rather than allow it to attack apexes like a Mustang. The spacious and luxurious cabin could even carry up to eight people, so it could double up as a conference room when needed.

The Last V8 Lincoln Represents Good Value In 2024

Despite the V8’s successor, the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that would later power the GT, producing 70 hp more, there’s nothing quite like hearing a throaty V8 engine note penetrating the cabin when pulling away from the lights. Fortunately, thanks to the sands of time and the accompanying depreciation, V8-powered Navigators from its final model year can be had for an absolute steal on the used market.

Kelley Blue Book reports that one in good condition can be had for around $12,000, a huge reduction from the Navigator’s $60,000+ list price when it was new a decade ago. Considering the level of luxury, space, and smoothness of the V8 afforded by the Navigator, it seems like a pretty tempting deal. For those looking to save even more money, a 2007 model, the first third-gen Navigator model year, can be picked up for around $5,000.

While it will certainly cost significantly more in fuel than more modern SUVs with lighter and more efficient power plants, the money you’ll save buying used will leave you with a nice amount left over to go towards it. With V8s fast on their way out, getting a semi-modern consumer vehicle equipped with a V8 is getting ever tougher, so now is the time to strike.

The Navigator Wasn’t The Only Lincoln With A V8 To Die Out In 2014

While the Navigator was the only V8-powered Lincoln sold in the US by 2014, the Mark LT pickup truck in other markets had V8 power, too. Having been axed from the US market in 2008, the F-150-based truck was brought back in 2010 for the Mexican market only. It came with the option of a versatile 5.0-liter Coyote V8 or the same 5.4-liter Triton unit used in the Navigator, both of which came bundled with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 5.4-liter engine was only available in 2010 MY Mark LTs, with the 5.0-liter Coyote taking over as the only engine option from 2011 until the model was discontinued.

The previous generation Mark LT had sold well in Mexico, so the decision was made to design a second-generation variant specifically for the nation. While performing pretty well once more, Ford decided against building a third-generation version of the thirteenth-gen F-150, which hit the market in 2015. As a result, the Mark LT production came to an end at around the same time as the Navigator V8 in 2014.

Sources:
Lincoln
,
Kelley Blue Book