DETROIT--Ford Motor Co. must do with Lincoln what it has done with the Ford brand--infuse it with new energy and sparkling product--if it is to offset the loss of Mercury sales when that 71-year-old brand dies.
Though Lincoln has a freshened lineup and stronger styling than in the past, it is still an also-ran among luxury brands in the United States. Ford clearly will need more volume from Lincoln to appease Mercury dealers--especially those who currently have Lincoln-Mercury stores.
"We have to make a very compelling case to our dealers very quickly," says Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, in an interview.
Ford's decision last week to kill Mercury allows the automaker to focus its resources on the Ford and Lincoln brands. But, initially, at least, closing Mercury means Ford Motor has to give up the 92,299 sales Mercury reported last year. And the challenge to take Lincoln upscale requires consistency and discipline in product and marketing.
Mercury sales represent about 50 percent of most Lincoln-Mercury stores' volume. Ford leaders know filling that gap will be a challenge.
Ford likely will retain two-thirds of its Mercury customers through the Ford brand, predicts Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, Calif. That's because of the heavy cross-shopping Mercury customers already do with Ford products. Likewise, Anwyl says, Ford could be poised for great success with Lincoln if it treats it as it has the Ford brand.
"Where Lincoln is today is where Ford was a few years ago," he says. "The staff that is working on Mercury will now shift to Lincoln. To me, that gets to the heart of the matter."
Ford Motor CEO Alan Mulally has gotten "a distracted organization to focus with intensity on Ford as a brand," Anwyl says. "Now he's saying, 'Let's see if we can do the same for Lincoln.'"
Ford has work to do. According to Edmunds.com data, the percentage of U.S. consumers who would consider buying a Lincoln fell over the past year, from 1.3 percent in May 2009 to 0.9 percent last month. Through May, Lexus sold 90,098 vehicles in the United States, and Cadillac sold 52,997. But Lincoln sold just 37,444. Ford says Lincoln's retail share of the U.S. luxury market has grown from 4.5 percent in 2005 to 6.3 percent through the first quarter. It also says favorable opinion of the brand and purchase consideration are at their highest level in five years; it did not provide numbers.
Product improvement
Money invested in a single brand--both for product and marketing--is more likely to yield "game changers" than spreading that same money across two brands, says Lincoln Merrihew, managing director of automotive at Compete Inc., a consumer research firm in Boston.
"Game changers have the best chance of driving sales for the company and the dealers," he says.
Merrihew advocates that Ford do a "Lincoln-only product" that grabs attention and serves as a halo, as the Lexus LFA sports coupe did.
"It doesn't have to be a money maker," Merrihew says. "Just be something very distinctive."
Ford's Fields says future Lincolns will stand out with advanced technology such as active noise cancellation, unique power trains, adaptive suspensions, and glass retractable roofs that Ford products do not get. Ford will spread the EcoBoost engine, a turbocharged direct-inject engine, across the entire Lincoln lineup, including the Navigator SUV.
Ford plans on expanding the Lincoln lineup with seven all-new or "significantly refreshed" vehicles in the next four years. Those include a product on the same size platform as the Ford Focus compact car. That might mean a small crossover based on the European Kuga for Lincoln. Ford declined to specify the vehicle. Lincoln could also get a U.S. version of the Mondeo sedan currently sold overseas.
Sticking to the plan
Lincoln's product lineup needs improvement, says Jim Hall, principal of 2953 Analytics Inc. in suburban Detroit.
"If they want to be a serious competitor with Lexus and Cadillac, they cannot do it successfully with mildly reworked Fords," he says.
Ford management should form a 10- to 15-year product strategy and marketing plan for Lincoln and stick to it, Hall says.
"They are surrounded by insurmountable challenges: get the product better; improve the marketing; be consistent," he says. "They can't be changing Lincoln's tag line each year."
Hall adds: "That'll be difficult for the traditional Ford organization to do, and it'll take Mulally and [global marketing chief] Jim Farley to hold their feet to the fire and say don't change the plan."
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Mustang To Make Nascar Nationwide Series Debut Next Week
Next week, on Friday July 2nd, the Ford Mustang will begin a new era when it makes its official racing debut during the Nascar Nationwide Series race on the high banks of the legendary Daytona International Speedway. Since its public unveiling last October in Concord, NC there has been great anticipation from Mustang clubs and enthusiasts about the new car and its four race schedule for this year and full Nationwide rollout in 2011. In anticipation of the debut Ford Racing chatted with two of the individuals responsible for helping get the new Mustang into Nascar.
Pat Dimarco - Ford Racing Nascar Program Manager
Q: What was the thought process behind bringing the Mustang to Nationwide versus some of the other cars like the Fusion or Taurus?
A: "NASCAR came to us and wanted to differentiate the Nationwide Series from the Cup Series. Initially, we did look at the Fusion to keep the branding the same across both series, but when they really wanted to differentiate it, the natural choice was Mustang from a company standpoint. Plain and simple, the Mustang's heritage is racing. It just made a good fit to differentiate the Nationwide Series from the Cup Series."
Q: What's the major difference between the Mustang Nationwide car versus the Fusion Cup car? What differences will the fans see in the grandstands?
A: "The Nationwide Mustang has a lot of brand identity built into it. Working with NASCAR and our aero team, they really put a lot of emphasis on putting more of identity into the nose and the tail. It does not have the typical Cup [Car of Tomorrow] splitter. It has a splitter, but the nose looks more like a production nose of a Mustang."
Q: Do you think the Mustang Nationwide car is a good replication of the production car?
A: "I think it's a better replication than where the Fusion is in Cup currently. My wife is on the Mustang team at Ford and she likes it, and the Mustang Brand Team likes it. I'm sure there will be people out there who will not like it, but I think it is definitely different and it brings the Mustang brand into NASCAR."
Q: After months of development, can you talk about the anticipation of seeing it on the track?
A: "It's going to be a great race at Daytona with the next generation Nationwide car, especially with Mustang on the race track for the first time. There is a lot of hype within the company, and the Brand Team is excited to see it on the race track, as are we here at Ford Racing."
Bernie Marcus - Ford Racing Nascar Aerodynamics Engineer
Q: When you received the task of developing a Mustang Nationwide Series car, what was your philosophy behind it?
A: "First of all, it was a lot more difficult to do the Mustang and turn it into a NASCAR-type vehicle because the nose of the Mustang is a lot more bulky and squarer than that of a Fusion or the Taurus, and those were the sort of cars that we have done in the past. The key to make the Mustang work is that NASCAR opened up the rules in the hood height area and that enabled us to get the character lines of the Mustang into the nose without compromising performance."
Q: With the heritage the Mustang has within Ford and throughout the racing world, was there additional pressure on you to get it right?
A: "Yes, obviously the Mustang is a huge icon in the U.S.A. as far as a car goes. To turn it into a representative NASCAR vehicle within the constraints of the rules, and then obviously to get the performance out of it, there was quite a bit of pressure added on. I think we did the best job we could under the constraints. We got the performance right and we also got the looks right."
Q: Do you feel like an expecting father with this car because its been like your baby?
A: "A little bit. The July Daytona race is a big race. It's probably the second biggest race besides the Daytona 500. It's a big event to roll the car out for the first time. I think it's a good event to do it at. We can't wait."
Source: Ford Racing
Pat Dimarco - Ford Racing Nascar Program Manager
Q: What was the thought process behind bringing the Mustang to Nationwide versus some of the other cars like the Fusion or Taurus?
A: "NASCAR came to us and wanted to differentiate the Nationwide Series from the Cup Series. Initially, we did look at the Fusion to keep the branding the same across both series, but when they really wanted to differentiate it, the natural choice was Mustang from a company standpoint. Plain and simple, the Mustang's heritage is racing. It just made a good fit to differentiate the Nationwide Series from the Cup Series."
Q: What's the major difference between the Mustang Nationwide car versus the Fusion Cup car? What differences will the fans see in the grandstands?
A: "The Nationwide Mustang has a lot of brand identity built into it. Working with NASCAR and our aero team, they really put a lot of emphasis on putting more of identity into the nose and the tail. It does not have the typical Cup [Car of Tomorrow] splitter. It has a splitter, but the nose looks more like a production nose of a Mustang."
Q: Do you think the Mustang Nationwide car is a good replication of the production car?
A: "I think it's a better replication than where the Fusion is in Cup currently. My wife is on the Mustang team at Ford and she likes it, and the Mustang Brand Team likes it. I'm sure there will be people out there who will not like it, but I think it is definitely different and it brings the Mustang brand into NASCAR."
Q: After months of development, can you talk about the anticipation of seeing it on the track?
A: "It's going to be a great race at Daytona with the next generation Nationwide car, especially with Mustang on the race track for the first time. There is a lot of hype within the company, and the Brand Team is excited to see it on the race track, as are we here at Ford Racing."
Bernie Marcus - Ford Racing Nascar Aerodynamics Engineer
Q: When you received the task of developing a Mustang Nationwide Series car, what was your philosophy behind it?
A: "First of all, it was a lot more difficult to do the Mustang and turn it into a NASCAR-type vehicle because the nose of the Mustang is a lot more bulky and squarer than that of a Fusion or the Taurus, and those were the sort of cars that we have done in the past. The key to make the Mustang work is that NASCAR opened up the rules in the hood height area and that enabled us to get the character lines of the Mustang into the nose without compromising performance."
Q: With the heritage the Mustang has within Ford and throughout the racing world, was there additional pressure on you to get it right?
A: "Yes, obviously the Mustang is a huge icon in the U.S.A. as far as a car goes. To turn it into a representative NASCAR vehicle within the constraints of the rules, and then obviously to get the performance out of it, there was quite a bit of pressure added on. I think we did the best job we could under the constraints. We got the performance right and we also got the looks right."
Q: Do you feel like an expecting father with this car because its been like your baby?
A: "A little bit. The July Daytona race is a big race. It's probably the second biggest race besides the Daytona 500. It's a big event to roll the car out for the first time. I think it's a good event to do it at. We can't wait."
Source: Ford Racing
A quarter of Ford's cars could feature alternative power by 2020
Ford, one of the first companies on the market with a hybrid vehicle is all geared up to initiate the alternative power revolution. The company aims to push 25 percent of new car sales for a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle in just ten years. In just less than a year’s time, the company will be launching its first all-electric model.
Nancy Gioia, Ford’s global chief of vehicle electrification believes that due to rapidly changing technology, falling battery prices and other uncertainties it is difficult to predict the exact figures, but it is expected that the final figures could lie anywhere between 10 and 25 percent by 2020.
In the next three years, Ford will introduce at least five new vehicles with lithium ion batteries and plans to spend about $1 billion on manufacturing, research and other areas to produce electrified vehicles through 2013.
Nancy Gioia, Ford’s global chief of vehicle electrification believes that due to rapidly changing technology, falling battery prices and other uncertainties it is difficult to predict the exact figures, but it is expected that the final figures could lie anywhere between 10 and 25 percent by 2020.
In the next three years, Ford will introduce at least five new vehicles with lithium ion batteries and plans to spend about $1 billion on manufacturing, research and other areas to produce electrified vehicles through 2013.
Ford to use soy-based plastic in nearly all of its vehicles
DEARBORN, MICH. (June 23, 3:25 p.m. ET) -- Ford Motor Co. will use a soybean urethane foam blend in the seats for the next generation of its Explorer sport utility vehicle, which hits the roads later this year, and claims it will use soy in “nearly 100 percent” of its vehicle fleet by the end of 2010.
The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker was the first major carmaker to begin using soy urethane blends beginning with the Mustang in 2007. It now uses blends with at least 5 percent soybean oil in seats, seat backs, headliners and other interior parts, estimating that the blend helps it cut its annual petroleum use by 3 million pounds.
Lear Corp., based in Southfield, Mich., is making the seats. It has worked with Ford to improve soy foam and develop commercial applications since 2004.
Ford has also used natural fibers in structural plastics, including a wheat straw in storage bins that made its first appearance in 2009, and has discussed its experiments into using corn-based polylactic acid resin and other bio-based materials.
“Soy foam is just the tip of the iceberg in the development of vehicle materials from natural resources,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford polymer technical leader, in a June 23 press release. “We have to entertain the thought of bio-replacement in baby steps, looking at every aspect of a car that could be green. One day I hope to see the automotive world go totally compostable, removing the use of petroleum-based parts 100 percent.”
The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker was the first major carmaker to begin using soy urethane blends beginning with the Mustang in 2007. It now uses blends with at least 5 percent soybean oil in seats, seat backs, headliners and other interior parts, estimating that the blend helps it cut its annual petroleum use by 3 million pounds.
Lear Corp., based in Southfield, Mich., is making the seats. It has worked with Ford to improve soy foam and develop commercial applications since 2004.
Ford has also used natural fibers in structural plastics, including a wheat straw in storage bins that made its first appearance in 2009, and has discussed its experiments into using corn-based polylactic acid resin and other bio-based materials.
“Soy foam is just the tip of the iceberg in the development of vehicle materials from natural resources,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford polymer technical leader, in a June 23 press release. “We have to entertain the thought of bio-replacement in baby steps, looking at every aspect of a car that could be green. One day I hope to see the automotive world go totally compostable, removing the use of petroleum-based parts 100 percent.”
Mustang Gets 48.5 MPG Goin’ the Distance
A Ford Mustang with a V-6 under the hood and a NASCAR driver at the wheel averaged 48.5 mpg as it completed more than 1,000 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Ford’s been making a big deal out of the V-6 Mustang, because it’s the first car to deliver more than 300 horsepower and more than 30 mpg. Eager to show off its fuel economy — 19 city, 31 highway and 23 combined — Ford sent a bone stock pony car, NASCAR driver David Ragan and four engineers to Bristol, Tennessee, on Wednesday. The goal was to run 1,000 laps (533 miles) on a single tank.
They did that and more.
By the time the tank ran dry, the team had finished 1,457 laps (776.5 miles) of the half-mile circuit in 17 hours and 40 minutes. That came to 48.5 mpg. Ragan passed the 1,000 lap mark at 7:26 p.m. Eastern, 12 hours and 26 minutes into the run.
“We still had a quarter of a tank of gas left,” Ragan, who typically spends his time lapping tracks in the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, said. “The last driving stint before I passed 1,000 laps I was averaging 43.7 miles a gallon and that is unbelievable.”
Mustang engineer Seong Park was at the wheel when the car finally rolled to a stop on the back straight at 12:41 a.m. Eastern.
The drivers, who did one hour stints, didn’t reach very far into the hypermiling bag of tricks. They minimized the use of air conditioning (yes, they used the AC). Have you been to Tennessee in the summer? — maintained a steady pace, kept the RPMs low and avoided sudden starts and stops. Sounds like they got the car up to speed and kept it there.
“This is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Tom Barnes, lead engineer for the challenge. “It was great when we went past the 1,000-lap mark with David, but nobody could ever imagine that we still had five hours ahead of us. This is a fantastic feeling.”
Ford’s been making a big deal out of the V-6 Mustang, because it’s the first car to deliver more than 300 horsepower and more than 30 mpg. Eager to show off its fuel economy — 19 city, 31 highway and 23 combined — Ford sent a bone stock pony car, NASCAR driver David Ragan and four engineers to Bristol, Tennessee, on Wednesday. The goal was to run 1,000 laps (533 miles) on a single tank.
They did that and more.
By the time the tank ran dry, the team had finished 1,457 laps (776.5 miles) of the half-mile circuit in 17 hours and 40 minutes. That came to 48.5 mpg. Ragan passed the 1,000 lap mark at 7:26 p.m. Eastern, 12 hours and 26 minutes into the run.
“We still had a quarter of a tank of gas left,” Ragan, who typically spends his time lapping tracks in the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, said. “The last driving stint before I passed 1,000 laps I was averaging 43.7 miles a gallon and that is unbelievable.”
Mustang engineer Seong Park was at the wheel when the car finally rolled to a stop on the back straight at 12:41 a.m. Eastern.
The drivers, who did one hour stints, didn’t reach very far into the hypermiling bag of tricks. They minimized the use of air conditioning (yes, they used the AC). Have you been to Tennessee in the summer? — maintained a steady pace, kept the RPMs low and avoided sudden starts and stops. Sounds like they got the car up to speed and kept it there.
“This is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Tom Barnes, lead engineer for the challenge. “It was great when we went past the 1,000-lap mark with David, but nobody could ever imagine that we still had five hours ahead of us. This is a fantastic feeling.”
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
2011 Mustang V-6 Ready for 1,000-Lap Challenge
With just two days left before the big event, the 2011 Mustang V-6 preparations have entered the final stages. For those who missed our last report, Ford’s most economical muscle car will be driven for more than 500 miles on a single tank of fuel... or at least that is what a team of four Ford Mustang engineers, along with NASCAR star David Ragan will attempt to do.
According to the American manufacturer, the new 3.7-liter V-6 engine is capable of developing 305 hp and deliver a fuel economy of 31 mpg (7.59 l/100km). Specifically, the challenge will take place this June 23 and will account for 1,000 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“We all know how much fun it is to drive Mustang, but in today’s market customers also care about fuel economy,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “By going at least 1,000 laps on one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, we expect to show that when it comes to Mustang, you can have both performance and fuel economy.”
While the 2011 Mustang V-6 is flexing its muscles during final preparations, fans can enter a sweepstakes that gives them the chance to take home a 2011 Mustang V-6 coupe. All they have to do is register their guess for the total number of complete laps that Mustang will complete during the Challenge. Entries can be submitted here until 10:00 on June 23.
What is really interesting is that the Mustang used at the Challenge will have no special modifications for the event and is the same Mustang V-6 that is available to consumers on the showroom floor.
“This car we will be driving at Bristol is exactly the same Mustang that consumers can purchase at their local Ford dealership,” said Tom Barnes, vehicle engineering manager, Mustang. “We’re not doing any tricks or making any modifications. The base car delivers 31 mpg and this is what you can buy. It has standard tire pressure, standard ride height, standard octane fuel. We’re just going to be driving it.”
According to the American manufacturer, the new 3.7-liter V-6 engine is capable of developing 305 hp and deliver a fuel economy of 31 mpg (7.59 l/100km). Specifically, the challenge will take place this June 23 and will account for 1,000 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“We all know how much fun it is to drive Mustang, but in today’s market customers also care about fuel economy,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “By going at least 1,000 laps on one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks, we expect to show that when it comes to Mustang, you can have both performance and fuel economy.”
While the 2011 Mustang V-6 is flexing its muscles during final preparations, fans can enter a sweepstakes that gives them the chance to take home a 2011 Mustang V-6 coupe. All they have to do is register their guess for the total number of complete laps that Mustang will complete during the Challenge. Entries can be submitted here until 10:00 on June 23.
What is really interesting is that the Mustang used at the Challenge will have no special modifications for the event and is the same Mustang V-6 that is available to consumers on the showroom floor.
“This car we will be driving at Bristol is exactly the same Mustang that consumers can purchase at their local Ford dealership,” said Tom Barnes, vehicle engineering manager, Mustang. “We’re not doing any tricks or making any modifications. The base car delivers 31 mpg and this is what you can buy. It has standard tire pressure, standard ride height, standard octane fuel. We’re just going to be driving it.”
Monday, June 21, 2010
2011 Roush 5.0 Mustangs At Dealers Now!
If you’re like us and have been wondering what Roush was going to do with the new 2011Mustang 5.0, our answers are here. The new 2011 Mustang’s 412 hp DOHC V8 powerhouse has given Roush a new standard baseline for their model lineup. Now starting with more horsepower than the legendary first generation supercharged Stage 3 Mustangs of the 2000’s, the base Roush Sport, Stage 1, and Stage 2 will offer more tire smoking performance than ever before.
In what might be heartbreak for someone who just dropped $50k on a 2010 supercharged Roush 427R, the new 2011 Roush Sport, Stage 1 and Stage 2 come stock off the lot with almost the same performance at a much lower price.
For 2011 Roush ran into a little bit of a challenge in the styling department however. Traditionally, they replace the “GT” fender emblem with their trademark square “R” badge. But now that Ford emblazons the Mustang GT with the celebrated 5.0 badge, even Roush couldn’t take that baby off. They solved the problem by redesigning their striping packages to carry the ROUSH name in the lower rocker stripe, leaving everyone’s beloved 5.0 chrome moniker safely in place.
To create some visual separation between the models, Roush has given each model a slightly different stripe design. The Roush Mustang Sport has a double side rocker stripe design and a tripple over the roof design with a wide center cut. When you step up to the Stage 1 Roush Mustang, the striping theme changes to a tripple over the top design with a narrow middle cut, like a long number 1 spanning your car. The side rocker stripes mirror the theme too in a very classy look. And finally the Roush Stage 2 Mustang stripes take on a more solid and muscular look with just one thick wide stripe on the top and the sides. All three models have side accents on the hood scoop with the model designation cut in with strong block lettering.
As a rule, Roush Performance begins with the Mustang GT Premium model ordered with 3.73:1 axle ratio. Some are ordered with NAV package and others with HID. You can also order or purchase a car through your dealer and they can have the conversion done prior to title if a certain level of factory options are on your list such as a glass roof for instance.
And where are the 2011 427R and Stage3 top dog supercharged models? With the introduction of the all new 5.0 liter DOHC engine, Roush is working feverishly to develop an all new ROUSHcharger system to take the performance of the 2011 Mustang’s engine to the next level. But with the time honored OEM level engineering and design process that Roush Performance is known for, these things don’t’ happen as fast as we might want them to. As of this writing Roush has not committed to the arrival timeframe of a supercharged 2011 model year Mustang. In fact the news on the street is that they are really working on something special and that it may very well come along as a 2012 model. But don’t despair, with 412hp, the new Roush Mustang model line is plenty wicked today. Enjoy.
In what might be heartbreak for someone who just dropped $50k on a 2010 supercharged Roush 427R, the new 2011 Roush Sport, Stage 1 and Stage 2 come stock off the lot with almost the same performance at a much lower price.
For 2011 Roush ran into a little bit of a challenge in the styling department however. Traditionally, they replace the “GT” fender emblem with their trademark square “R” badge. But now that Ford emblazons the Mustang GT with the celebrated 5.0 badge, even Roush couldn’t take that baby off. They solved the problem by redesigning their striping packages to carry the ROUSH name in the lower rocker stripe, leaving everyone’s beloved 5.0 chrome moniker safely in place.
To create some visual separation between the models, Roush has given each model a slightly different stripe design. The Roush Mustang Sport has a double side rocker stripe design and a tripple over the roof design with a wide center cut. When you step up to the Stage 1 Roush Mustang, the striping theme changes to a tripple over the top design with a narrow middle cut, like a long number 1 spanning your car. The side rocker stripes mirror the theme too in a very classy look. And finally the Roush Stage 2 Mustang stripes take on a more solid and muscular look with just one thick wide stripe on the top and the sides. All three models have side accents on the hood scoop with the model designation cut in with strong block lettering.
As a rule, Roush Performance begins with the Mustang GT Premium model ordered with 3.73:1 axle ratio. Some are ordered with NAV package and others with HID. You can also order or purchase a car through your dealer and they can have the conversion done prior to title if a certain level of factory options are on your list such as a glass roof for instance.
And where are the 2011 427R and Stage3 top dog supercharged models? With the introduction of the all new 5.0 liter DOHC engine, Roush is working feverishly to develop an all new ROUSHcharger system to take the performance of the 2011 Mustang’s engine to the next level. But with the time honored OEM level engineering and design process that Roush Performance is known for, these things don’t’ happen as fast as we might want them to. As of this writing Roush has not committed to the arrival timeframe of a supercharged 2011 model year Mustang. In fact the news on the street is that they are really working on something special and that it may very well come along as a 2012 model. But don’t despair, with 412hp, the new Roush Mustang model line is plenty wicked today. Enjoy.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Ford steering Google Maps into its cars
by Lance Whitney
Ford owners with Sync-equipped vehicles will be able tap into Google Maps to download directions to their cars before month's end.
The free Send to Sync feature, announced Tuesday by Ford, will let drivers send Google Maps data from their Bluetooth-enabled computers or mobile phones to their in-car Sync systems. The electronic directions are downloaded directly into Sync and converted into audible turn-by-turn steps. The route is then calculated on the spot using the latest traffic information.
Ford is touting the service as a way for drivers to keep their eyes on the road by eliminating the need to juggle maps and printouts.
"Printing paper directions from a Web site is a relic in our digital age," Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization, said in a statement. "With Send to Sync, you can map a destination at home, at work--wherever you have connectivity--and when you get to your car, it already knows where you want to go."
Launched in 2007, Ford Sync provides car owners with a variety of voice-activated, cloud-based services, including directions, traffic reports, news, weather, movie listings, and search capabilities. Drivers can also connect cell phones, MP3 players, and other Bluetooth-enabled gadgets to communicate and transfer data with their in-car systems. Sync is powered by Microsoft software.
Send to Sync will be available for existing 2010 and 2011 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles outfitted with Sync. No extra hardware, software updates, or additional fees will be required, according to the company. Ford said it is the only automaker to offer this feature without the need for a paid subscription.
Ford owners with Sync-equipped vehicles will be able tap into Google Maps to download directions to their cars before month's end.
The free Send to Sync feature, announced Tuesday by Ford, will let drivers send Google Maps data from their Bluetooth-enabled computers or mobile phones to their in-car Sync systems. The electronic directions are downloaded directly into Sync and converted into audible turn-by-turn steps. The route is then calculated on the spot using the latest traffic information.
Ford is touting the service as a way for drivers to keep their eyes on the road by eliminating the need to juggle maps and printouts.
"Printing paper directions from a Web site is a relic in our digital age," Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization, said in a statement. "With Send to Sync, you can map a destination at home, at work--wherever you have connectivity--and when you get to your car, it already knows where you want to go."
Launched in 2007, Ford Sync provides car owners with a variety of voice-activated, cloud-based services, including directions, traffic reports, news, weather, movie listings, and search capabilities. Drivers can also connect cell phones, MP3 players, and other Bluetooth-enabled gadgets to communicate and transfer data with their in-car systems. Sync is powered by Microsoft software.
Send to Sync will be available for existing 2010 and 2011 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles outfitted with Sync. No extra hardware, software updates, or additional fees will be required, according to the company. Ford said it is the only automaker to offer this feature without the need for a paid subscription.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg){kind=small}
Posts
