The all-new Lincoln Navigator takes the luxury SUV to a higher level (F)

Lincoln has some positive history with the New York Auto Show. In 2015, Ford's luxury brand unveiled its Continental concept car, and then in 2016, it repeated the move with its Navigator concept.

The Continental is now Lincoln's flagship sedan, reviving a storied automotive nameplate. We checked it out and were impressed.

The Navigator is just as important — it was the first luxury SUV, hitting the streets in the 1990s. It's large and in charge, and in 2016 Lincoln showed it as a spectacular yacht-like concept, complete with massive gull wing doors.

What was a concept is a reality. The gullwing doors are gone. But the big Lincoln is still a sight to behold. We saw it at an event right before the 2016 New York Auto Show kicked off.

Have a closer look:

The 2016 concept car was a stunning show-stealer. Those gull wing doors are NUTS!

The Navigator concept followed the Continental concept, which was one of the stars of the 2015 New York Auto Show.

The Navigator is part of the large SUV segment. Heck, it more or less created the segment.

The production version of the new Navigator was unveiled in Midtown Manhattan.

"Quiet luxury is both a look and a feeling," Kumar Galhotra, Lincoln's president, said in a statement. "The all-new Navigator embodies both. The sleek styling, spacious interior and technology are all designed to make each trip effortless." Galhotra has overseen the "quiet luxury" rebranding of the marque.

The new Navigator creates the same impressive, road-ruling impression as its predecessor. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 that Lincoln estimates will generate 450 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque, essential for towing.

Lincoln actually consulted with anthropologists to determine what its customers wanted. One of those things was obviously a good amount of rear-seat legroom. But so was a high level of luxury. "When designing the Navigator, we put an emphasis on ultra-luxury touch points," David Woodhouse, Lincoln's design director, said. "We took everything the client would see and touch, and made sure it would look and feel a little more exuberant, a little more indulgent and incredibly beautiful."

Lincoln is taking luxury to a new level with what it calls "Black Label options." According to the company, this is "an exclusive collection of interior design themes and materials, plus a host of membership privileges."

Tech is abundant, right down to the seats. "Perfect Position Seats" for the driver and front passenger "can be adjusted up to 30 different ways," Lincoln said. Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system is in the house, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available. There's also a specially designed 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system and six USB ports, four 12-volt power outlets, and a 110-volt outlet for device charging.

No word on pricing just yet for the 2018 model, but the current Navigator starts at about $64,000. Lincoln will also offer an extended-wheelbase version of the new Navigator, increasing cargo capacity and seating area.