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AUTO REVIEW: 2019 Lincoln Nautilus review

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “…About those seats. If Lincoln gets out the car business, it should dive head first into the luxury furniture market. These seats were fabulous. The rear seats reclined and the manual controls to do so were so easy to reach it was scary. Why aren’t all automobiles built like this? The comfort level was something special.”

Published

6 years ago

April 13, 2019

Oakland Post

By Winfred Cross, NNPA Newswire Contributor

Lincoln has been busy lately. It reintroduced its flagship Continental sedan a few years back to critical acclaim. The reimagined Navigator ranks with the best of the biggest SUVs available. Now there is this thing called the Nautilus that looks to take on upscale midsize crossovers and trucks.

The Nautilus replaces the MKX which was based on the Ford Edge. The basic chassis has been used with a spanking new body. Gone are most of the sharp edges of the MKX, replaced by a smoother, more buttoned-down appearance. It reminds me of a Brooks Brother’s suit. It’s not quite bespoke tailoring, but close enough. The Nautilus does not scream at you but instead exudes an upscale, luxurious look. It has the corporate face shared by the Continental and Navigator, but for me seems to make the best use of the face.

Open the doors and that tailored look continues. The interior is a masterful blend of leather, wood and metal surfaces. The look depends on what trim you choose. I would suggest either Reserve or Black Label. That’s where the interiors shine. My test vehicle was the Chalet trim level from the Black Label offerings. The silver wood inserts with the Alpine and Espresso colored leathers was really something to behold. The Venetian leather seats bore the Lincoln star pattern logo, while the steering wheel was a two-toned leather wrapped wonder. The combination looked good enough to taste.

About those seats. If Lincoln gets out the car business, it should dive head first into the luxury furniture market. These seats were fabulous. The rear seats reclined and the manual controls to do so were so easy to reach it was scary. Why aren’t all automobiles built like this? The comfort level was something special.

The front seats, as well as the rear, were perforated so they were cooled and heated. My test car had a welcome option – lumbar massage. Yep, both front seats can be adjusted in 22 different ways and can offer massages. It’s a $1,500 option but if you test it before you buy, you will buy.

May I also point out the brilliant audio system by Revel? It is one of the best original equipment sound systems I’ve ever heard. Its highs were breathtaking and the bass, while not the deepest, delivered solid, round notes.

The Nautilus comes with an eight-inch touch screen which handles most of the vehicle’s functions. I think it could be bigger, considering some of the mammoth sizes being found in lesser vehicles. Still, it’s easy to use and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which I think make most other interfaces obsolete with their ease of use.

The Nautilus is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that makes 250 horsepower and 280 pounds-feet of torque. That’s’ enough to move the Nautilus around town and on the highway with ease. It’s a quiet engine if not a bit bland. It replaces the MKZ’s 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V6.

My vehicle came with the upgraded 2.7-liter V6 which has twin turbos. This is really an upgrade. It’s used in the Ford F-150 and makes 335 horses and 380 pounds-feet of torque. It is in no way truck-like when used in this vehicle. The power delivery is extremely smooth and is fairly muted when pressed hard. It has a gurgle that sounds more befitting in a luxury vehicle. Combined with a buttery eight-speed transmission, the engine powers the vehicle around town with authority and dare I say with a bit of finesse.

You will not mistake the Nautilus for a sports ute, even with the optional all-wheel-drive and setting the vehicle dynamics to sport. It drives well, really well. It’s not afraid of curved roads or twists and bends. Yet, it’s still more comfortable at whisking you down the road in comfort and silence. There is a bit of wind noise but not enough to really complain.

Do I have complaints? Not many. I’m not a fan of the color blue so my car’s paint job wasn’t appealing. I’m still not crazy about the push-button gear selector, but I don’t hate it. For the money, I think the V6 should be standard.

If this hasn’t convinced you Lincoln is a major player in luxury, how it treats its Black Label customer should. These customers will never have to see the inside of a service bay for four years. Lincoln brings said customer a loner car, picks up the customer car and returns the serviced vehicle the owner. Lincoln customers get some of this perk but must live within 20 miles of the dealership. Black Label customers get a 50-mile radius.

The Nautilus’s base price in Black Label trim is $59,390. This includes a plethora of standard equipment such as the 2.7-liter twin turbo V6, Venetian leather seats, Alcantara headliner, ambient lighting, adaptive headlamps, blindspot detection, 4G modem with Wifi capability, Revel Optima audio, rearview camera, auto climate control, SYNC 3 and all-wheel-drive.

Lincoln added almost $7,000 worth of optional equipment which makes the Nautilus one decked out stud. This includes a driver’s assistance package, technology package and the Ultra Comfort front seats. Curiously, the turbo V6 is listed as an additional cost, though listed as standard for the Black Label. This brought the as-tested price to $67,630.

The Nautilus isn’t perfect, but it is a very worthy entry into the luxury fray. Lincoln wants its revamped line to get noticed and the Nautilus is certainly going to help. You may not have the same cache as the now more established brands, but if you need to be that guy (or gal) who wants something different, you have to look at the Nautilus.

Winfred Cross is a freelance writer living in Charlotte, NC. He studied English and journalism at NCCU and UNC-CH.

Pros:

Tailored, buttoned-down styling
Superior front seats
Optional twin-turbo V6

Cons:

Blue is not the car’s best colors
Push button gear selection is odd

Oakland Post

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

3 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

4 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

4 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: