Source – Digital Trends
In a bid to transform vehicles into integral components of users’ digital lives, Ford has unveiled detailed insights into its revolutionary “Digital Experience” Ford infotainment system. Following the successful debut of the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus last spring, which featured an impressive 48-inch panoramic screen, Ford aims to seamlessly integrate the customer’s electronic devices, turning the car into an extension of their digital ecosystem. Citing statistics that the average U.S. household possesses 16 connected devices and that the average American spends over an hour daily driving, Ford underscores the need for a cohesive and connected driving experience.
Familiar Apps and Entertainment on the Go
The heart of Ford’s strategy lies in incorporating well-known apps into the native system, offering a sense of familiarity. While still supporting phone mirroring through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Ford and Lincoln system allows owners to directly download popular apps like Spotify and Waze from the Google Play store. Google Maps comes preloaded as the primary navigation method.
Owners can even stream videos from apps like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video on the lower touchscreen when parked, broadening the range of entertainment options. The system also supports game downloads, exemplified by the racing game Asphalt Nitro 2. Upcoming additions include Google Chrome and video conferencing apps, enhancing the in-car digital experience with the Ford infotainment system.
Innovative Panoramic Screen and Enhanced Performance
The centerpiece of the Digital Experience is the 48-inch panoramic screen on the Nautilus, recognized as the highest-resolution display ever offered on a Lincoln. Positioned just below eye level, the widescreen display is organized into three planes, prioritizing critical information directly in front of the driver. The “glanceable” section offers customizable widgets, providing a responsive and intuitive user interface. Designed around voice activation, the system prioritizes safety by minimizing the need for manual touch inputs.
The system claims to be the fastest ever offered by Ford, boasting five times faster main processing, almost 14 times faster graphics processing, four times the memory, and eight times the storage compared to the previous Sync 4 system. It also features 5G wireless connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and over-the-air software updates.
In a move toward quicker updates, the Company is developing more software in-house and consolidating the gauge cluster and Ford infotainment system into a single module. The 2024 Nautilus is the first to showcase this groundbreaking Digital Experience, with Ford hinting at its application in future high-end Ford vehicles. The imminent debut of the first Ford vehicle with this new system promises to provide a glimpse into the evolving landscape of in-car infotainment without the panoramic screen.
