Lincoln And Ford Unveil New Connected Car Services

(CTN News) – A new integrated native experience has been introduced by Ford and its luxury brand Lincoln in order to provide customers with access to apps and services inside their vehicles.

In a press release issued Monday (Jan. 22), the company stated that drivers will also be able to do so with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The company stated in the release that “from the moment a customer enters a Ford or Lincoln vehicle with a Digital Experience, their vehicle becomes a personalized experience, with apps and content easily displayed front and center, which helps make driving more enjoyable, regardless of where they park.”

According to the release, the Lincoln Digital Experience will debut on the Lincoln Nautilus in 2024.

Ford has not yet announced the first Ford Digital Experience.

There are buttons on the steering wheel, as well as a touchscreen control panel that can be accessed by the driver, according to the release. Nautilus features a 48-inch display that displays information, apps, and services.

Apps and services can be placed wherever the driver wants them on the screen, and widgets can display information such as media, weather, and fuel economy.

In a press release, Ford stated, “this helps drivers keep their eyes on the road ahead, while providing the customized information they desire.”

Customers can also create profiles for each driver so that their preferences are displayed when they enter the vehicle, according to a press release. Among the customizable preferences are apps, contacts, favorite destinations, as well as the seating, steering wheel, and mirror positions.

Integrated Google Maps, Google Assistant or Alexa Built-In voice assistants are also included in the rollout; entertainment apps can also be downloaded to ensure that content is always available in the vehicle, regardless of whether a smartphone is connected, according to the release.

This new version features five times faster processing, four times more memory, and eight times more storage than earlier and Lincoln infotainment systems.

In a statement, Ford said that the Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience represents a step forward in approach to designing and developing in-vehicle entertainment systems. According to the company, more of the software is being developed in-house so that updates and improvements can be delivered more quickly.

In August, Ford reported more than 550,000 paid software and service subscribers, with Ford Pro commercial customers representing more than 80%.

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