Family heirloom: son reveals Lincoln Navigator by Gugu Liberato

João Augusto Liberato, son of presenter Gugu Liberato, revealed a true family relic on wheels. The young communicator showed off a 2000 Lincoln Navigator that belonged to his father on social media. The luxury SUV draws attention due to its condition and should remain that way.

"Lincoln Navigator 2000, my father's favorite car. 4 more years and the black plate comes", wrote João Augusto in the shared post. In the images, the presenter in training poses next to the car and in the back seat of the Full-Size model.

Launched globally in 1997 as the 1998 line, the Lincoln Navigator was the first large SUV from Ford's luxury brand. The model was derived from the Ford Expedition, but received structural changes and a more sophisticated finish to compete in the market with competitors such as the Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon Denali.

In the 2000 model year, precisely the example associated with Gugu Liberato, the Navigator received important updates. Among the changes were new interior materials, seats covered in Nudo leather, optional navigation system, rear parking sensors and side airbags. The SUV was also one of the first in its category to offer climate-controlled front seats with heating and cooling functions.

João Augusto Liberato shows the 2000 Lincoln Navigator that belonged to his father - Reproduction/Instagram
Built on a body-type chassis on spars, the first generation Navigator used the UN173 platform and shared several mechanical components with the Ford F-Series line at the time. The SUV was 5.20 meters long, 2.03 meters wide and had a wheelbase of 3.02 meters, dimensions that reinforced the proposal focused on comfort and transport capacity.

The model was equipped with independent front suspension and a rigid rear axle. Some versions had self-leveling pneumatic suspension, a system that automatically adjusted the vehicle's height to prioritize stability and comfort.

João Augusto Liberato shows a 2000 Lincoln Navigator that belonged to his father - Reproduction/Instagram
The 2000 Lincoln Navigator was sold with a 5.4 V8 engine. In the initial versions, the SUV used the Triton SOHC engine, while later variants started to adopt the 300 hp V8 InTech DOHC, considered an important advance for the time. The transmission was a four-speed automatic. Another technical highlight was the electronically controlled ControlTrac all-wheel drive system. Depending on the configuration, the Navigator could operate in automatic rear- or all-wheel drive.

Focused on the North American market, the model also offered a high towing capacity, exceeding 3.9 tons in certain versions. Currently in its fifth generation, the Navigator has never been officially sold in Brazil. In fact, the Lincoln brand itself never operated in the country, even though Ford had been operating in Brazil since 1919. However, models like the one that belonged to Gugu reached the market through direct import.

João Augusto Liberato shows a 2000 Lincoln Navigator that belonged to his father - Reproduction/Instagram

First generation Lincoln Navigator: full size model in the luxury segment - Disclosure
Driving pleasure is the main reason for buying luxury cars

Source: CNN