Ford will offer the Mustang Mach-E, the first car with the new generation Sync infotainment system, at the beginning of next year. Sync 4 uses a 15.5-inch touch display and can also be operated by voice. Ford wants to provide regular updates that should be installed in a few minutes.
For the upcoming market launch of the fully electric Mustang Mach-E in Europe, Ford has further details on the new Sync infotainment system 4 as well as country-specific functions. There was a first preview of Sync 4 almost a year ago. The Mustang Mach-E is expected to be delivered early next year. Ford is planning with the first quarter, it said when asked.
Touch display with physical rotary control
Sync 4 uses a 15.5-inch touch screen with full HD resolution in portrait format for display in the Mustang Mach-E, which is placed vertically in the center console of the vehicle. As a physical control element, a rotary control for the volume remains in the lower area of the display, and the lower section of the screen always allows quick access to air conditioning and seat heating.
The infotainment system is from It has been completely redeveloped, explains Ford. This also includes support for fast updates that can be transmitted wirelessly (over the air) to the vehicle, although there is still the option of installing updates using a USB stick or from the Ford branch to be carried out.
Fast OTA updates with two partitions
OTA updates can be downloaded on the go via the car's LTE cellular connection or via WiFi. The updates are installed in the background after the download so that the vast majority of OTA updates are activated in less than two minutes. When asked by ComputerBase, Ford explained that Sync 4 works with two partitions so that one can be updated while the driver can continue to use the system via the other partition. This is a decisive time advantage compared to systems like the BMW OS 7.0 with remote software upgrades, which should take an average of around 20 minutes. Ford also uses the system of two partitions to revert to the old status in the event of errors. Ford uses the OTA updates to improve the quality and performance of the Sync 4 and the control units in the entire vehicle, which should reduce the service effort.
FordPass-App for the first contact before collection
Sync 4 is accompanied by the FordPass app for Android and iOS, which can be used to establish initial contact with the vehicle before it is delivered. A profile can be created in advance and favorite locations such as home and work, certain charging stations or even supermarkets can be stored. The Mustang Mach-E can be controlled remotely via smartphone, for example for air conditioning or to prepare routes. Even before departure, routes with stops for sightseeing, restaurants and charging stations can be created in the app. Mustang Mach E drivers have access to the charging network of NewMotion and Ionity and can pay for the charging process directly via the FordPass app. For navigation, Ford uses maps from Garmin, but with real-time traffic information from TomTom, which should be updated every 30 seconds. The map material is offline in the vehicle so that the navigation does not require a mobile phone connection.
FordPass-App for Android and iOS (Image: Ford) Android Auto and CarPlay wireless and non-exclusive
If you don't want to use Ford's services exclusively, you can use Android Auto from Google or CarPlay from Apple wirelessly in the Mustang Mach-E. What is interesting here is the approach that the solutions from Apple and Google do not exclusively occupy the entire screen, but are deliberately only executed in the upper half of the screen. This means that the driver still has full access to the rest of the vehicle's functions. The large screen nevertheless enables Android Auto or CarPlay to be displayed sufficiently large. Both solutions are offered by Ford at no additional cost – and permanently.
Update for highly automated driving planned
In the USA, Ford wants to offer a software update for the Sync 4 in the third quarter of 2021, which enables highly automated driving according to Level 3, so that you can permanently take your hands off the steering wheel on highways. However, the new hardware package “Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package” is required for use. In Germany, Mercedes-Benz wants to be the first car manufacturer to offer a Level 3 system for the new S-Class in the second half of 2021. But new hardware is also required for this.
ComputerBase received information about this article from Ford under NDA. The only requirement was the earliest possible publication time.
Update May 14, 2021 09:00 am
With Mach-E (standard), Bronco and F-150 (optional equipment), three vehicles with Ford Sync 4 are now available in stores and Fort is already using the over-the-air update function on a broad basis. Since March, the manufacturer wants to have supplied over 100,000 vehicles of the Mach-E and F-150 series with the “Power-Up” update, which not only fixes errors and prepares for the promised extended autonomous driving system Bluecruise, which can be activated for a one-off Fee will be possible. In addition, the update also prepares Ford Sync 4 for the integration of Alexa Hand Free.
Alexa from the 4th year only for a subscription fee
The function is to be activated in the autumn for Ford Sync 4 in the Mach-E, Bronco, F-150, Edge and Super Duty series on the US and Canadian markets and can then be used free of charge for three years. After that, customers have to take out a subscription, the cost of which Ford has not yet commented on. In the USA and Canada, for example, BMW also offers Apple CarPlay after the first year for an annual fee of 80 US dollars, which is cheaper for many users than buying the special equipment at a one-off cost – and then possibly not using it at all.
Earning money with software
In the future, automobile manufacturers want to use software to make new business models possible and for this purpose rely on over-the-air updates. The hope: Because new functions can be reloaded without an unpleasant visit to the workshop, customers will also make use of them for a fee.
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BMW spoke specifically about “DLCs for cars” in May 2021. With MB.OS, Mercedes-Benz wants to lay the foundation in 2024 so that sales can not only be achieved once with the sale of the vehicle, but also with software afterwards. In the new S-Class and in the EQS, the rear-wheel steering can already be expanded from the factory to a steering angle of up to 4.5 to 10.0 degrees for a fee using an OTA update. The Porsche Taycan has advanced assistance systems and adaptive power steering either for a one-time fee or as a subscription.