Tennis icon Serena Williams has had a long-standing brand partnership with Lincoln and has been a major fan of the brand before that. Her first competition winnings from a major tournament went towards the purchase of a Navigator. So a custom version of the luxury marque’s flagship showing up on her driveway isn’t exactly a shock.
Nor is the prevailing theme; there are a ton of nods to the sport of tennis throughout the vehicle. There are also references to roses, and the occasional astrology element, though the stargazing element is admittedly a bit of a curveball.
The exterior of Williams’ Lincoln has a new color, and custom artwork
All of the custom work was performed by Galpin Lincoln in Los Angeles, though Williams worked closely with Lincoln’s global design director Christine Park Cheng to nail the personal touches.
On the outside, Lincoln’s “sunrise copper” color has been reworked into a warmer tone that the company has dubbed “Perfect Rose.” It’s finished with a “constellation-inspired shimmer” which makes it look a little like the night sky when the sunlight catches it. That whole stargazing theme is present in other vehicle elements, which we’ll get to shortly.
That “rose” theme is also present on the rear badge and B-Pillar. Each features a hand-painted bespoke rose with an embedded heart, reflecting the athlete’s love for the flower.
The nameplate features custom lettering, in a color called “Satin Rose” which also makes an appearance in the jewels embedded in the grille. The vehicle’s 24” wheels also have a custom finish, in a color called “Satin Obsidian” which really pops against the overwhelmingly pink SUV.
Serena Williams’ new Lincoln Navigator has a very personal interior
The interior is “inspired by a clay tennis court at dusk,” with the whole concept dubbed “Clay Court & Afterglow. There’s a very subtle tennis ball motif on the seats, which are covered in double-stitch diamond quilting. The perforation pattern is also unique, with Lincoln dubbing it “embrace.” The headrests also feature a bit of custom stitching, with an embroidered Lincoln star taking pride of place.
On the center console, the astrological elements from the exterior sort of carry through. There’s a prominent big-and-little dipper motif. Why these constellations in particular? Lincoln wasn’t exactly clear. Though the Big Dipper is often used for navigation, and it is a navigator. So it may be nudging Serena north, who knows?
More pink appears on the glove box, with the bright shade being Williams’ personal favorite. She’s quoted as saying “I don’t just love it — I’m obsessed with it!” in reference to the glovebox design. The vehicle’s carpets are made of genuine sheepskin, which really ups both the comfort factor and overall luxuriousness of the vehicle.
Then there are the literal signature elements. A “crafted with love” metal plaque has been attached to the interior, reinforcing the fact that this vehicle is a one-off. And also suggesting Lincoln appreciates Williams as much as she does the brand. The door sills are etched with the words ‘Keep Going,’ which is Williams’ signature phrase. Her family members’ birth years also appear on the sill.
While Williams’ vehicle is a one-off, anyone can customize a Lincoln if they’re prepared to pay a bit of a premium. It’s a luxury brand, and true luxury is all about bespoke elements. Custom jobs can be done through closely affiliated shops like Galpin Lincoln or third-party organizations like Hennessey if you want to do something a little wilder.
