Against the odds, Lincoln managed to increase sales by 2% in 2025. That was a solid result for the luxury brand, especially since it’s down to just three models—the Navigator, Aviator, and Nautilus—after the Corsair was discontinued. Without the Corsair, Lincoln has no vehicle below the $50,000 mark, creating a glaring gap in the manufacturer’s range. But Lincoln has devised a strategy to retain buyers at this lower price point, and current Corsair customers looking to upgrade will benefit from it most.
Aggressive Nautilus Finance Deals
As a reminder, the Lincoln Corsair had a base price of $39,985, making it the company’s cheapest model. Now that it’s gone, the next best thing is the Nautilus, which starts at $53,995 for the Premiere trim. According to Automotive News, Lincoln will increase the Premiere’s mix to 60% of all Nautilus trims, helping to fill the gap left by the Corsair.
But Lincoln will go further than this. It plans to make big private deals available to Corsair customers that are worth thousands of dollars. These deals aim to keep Corsair customers in the Lincoln family by making it more financially appealing to move up to the Nautilus.
Lincoln
This strategy has been put forward by Joaquin Nuño-Whelan, Lincoln’s president, to grow sales and continue the brand’s current run.
“The biggest thing we have is momentum,” said Nuño-Whelan. “We had a great December and January, so we just have to keep that going. There’s a lot of positivity there.”
The details of the Nautilus deals are unknown, but current Corsair customers could suddenly find that upgrading to the larger vehicle becomes a lot easier than expected.
Dealers Want More Models, Though
Lincoln
The Nautilus deals can only account for the loss of the Corsair for so long, though. Dealers are aware of this, which is why they still want more models to sell, especially a sedan. The MKZ and elegant Continental were the last Lincoln sedans to be sold in the United States, with both being retired after the 2020 model year. That could change at some point, though, as Ford’s CEO recently acknowledged that sedans could make a comeback. That could extend to the Lincoln brand, too.
While many of Lincoln’s rivals have abandoned sedans, that hasn’t been the case for all of them. Cadillac is planning to release a new, gas-powered CT5. Infiniti is also working on an enthusiast-pleasing sedan with a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, and a turbocharged V6 engine.
“The small, entry-level luxury space is something that is very important,” said Nuño-Whelan last month to Auto News, hinting at a possible Corsair replacement. If it’s a sedan, this model could fill the gap left by the MKZ.
Related: Genesis Passed Infiniti In Sales, Is Lincoln Next?
Final Thoughts
Lincoln had a solid 2025, but it was mostly because of a stand-out year for the full-size Navigator, which saw an increase in sales of just under 43%—sales for every other Lincoln SUV were down. A new Navigator generation debuted for the 2025 model year, and its power, refinement, and endless list of amenities have won over buyers.
Lincoln’s task now is to capture that same magic at lower price points. Longer term, it will have to do more than offer attractive deals on the Nautilus; the brand needs a cheaper crossover or sedan at around the $40k mark. Lexus, Acura, and Cadillac all have competitors in this space, catering to consumers in search of affordable luxury.
