10:52 15-10-2025

Lincoln Navigator undergoes extreme-heat testing in the Middle East

Ford sells its vehicles across much of the globe, and the climates it has to account for are wildly different. Some markets face searing heat, others deep cold, so the company tests its cars to make sure they can withstand both ends of the spectrum.

It has now emerged that the American brand is putting the new Lincoln Navigator through its paces in the Middle East. The region’s hallmark extremes—soaring ambient temperatures, intense sunlight, and fine abrasive dust—can undermine material longevity, the reliability of mechanical assemblies, and the proper operation of key vehicle systems. Choosing this environment as a proving ground makes sense: it quickly reveals how well engineering decisions hold up in the real world.

The test program is comprehensive and covers a broad set of checks:

• Prolonged, continuous exposure to scorching solar radiation assesses the resilience of the body paint, exterior and interior plastics, rubber seals, and other UV-sensitive components.
• Ride and handling are evaluated on a mix of surfaces—sandy tracks, rocky terrain, dusty dirt roads, and paved highways—to confirm stable behavior in the region’s real-world conditions.
• Special focus is placed on the efficiency of the engine and transmission when operating in elevated ambient temperatures, where the powertrain faces significant thermal loads.
• Climate-control testing aims to maintain a comfortable cabin environment even in extreme heat, keeping passengers cool and composed regardless of conditions outside.

Ziyad Dallala, Ford’s chief engineer for the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the importance of Lincoln’s approach (Lincoln is a Ford Motor brand), which centers on deeply tailoring each model to a region’s climate and infrastructure. He noted that this helps deliver the highest levels of comfort and safety even in the most demanding operating conditions.