We hear a lot these days about change in the auto industry. I think those conversations are most interesting when we talk about exactly what’s changing.
As the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus becomes a Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX award winner, I want to share some exciting things the Digital Product team at Ford has been working on as we roll out our new Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience.
Digital experiences are now a key part of our lives. They save us time, keep us in touch with our loved ones, bring us news, and help us find our way.
As we developed the new Digital Experience for Ford and Lincoln vehicles, we worked to make sure our customers’ experience inside the vehicle fits seamlessly with the way they live and connect to the digital world everywhere else.
The centerpiece of our just-released Lincoln Digital Experience is its beautiful displays, one of which stretches 48-inches delivering a panoramic view. It’s available for the first time on the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. And the immersive Ford Digital Experience infotainment system will roll out for the first-time ever on a Ford vehicle with the 2025 Explorer.
But as striking as they are, our vehicles’ new screens aren’t the big story for our team. The real advancement is that we’ve created a system that allows people to customize their vehicle the same way they customize their phones or tablets – with exactly the combination of apps and experiences that work best for them.
Our personalized profiles mean that each driver can program their seating, steering wheel, and mirror positions to the key they use, so the instant they get into the car, it customizes itself for them – as well as bringing up their favorite apps, contacts and destinations.
We’re proud to work with some of the leading tech partners in the world. Integrated Google Maps provide real-time traffic and road conditions. Google Assistant serves as the default voice assistant and Alexa Built-In is also available as an alternative for in-vehicle controls. Streaming music, audiobooks, and podcasts are available using entertainment apps downloaded on Google Play including Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeartRadio, as well embedded SiriusXM with 360L for a personalized listening experience. Drivers can also enjoy their favorite apps and services from Google and Amazon, through the new integrated native experience, as well as with Apple CarPlay® powered by iPhone, and Android Auto™ through other compatible devices.
When parked, the touch screen can turn into a game console featuring games from Google Play, such as Gameloft’s Asphalt Nitro 2 which is offered exclusively for Ford. Parked vehicles can also stream video, movies, and TV shows with apps like YouTube and Prime Video, and surf the web with the available Vivaldi Browser.
And it’s all due to the incredible talent we’ve got at Ford and Lincoln. Every day, I see our team bring imagination and skill and grit to work. I believe their vision and dedication has created a big step forward in how people will experience their vehicles.
It’s just the beginning of what I know we will accomplish together.