Ford's New Infotainment Is A Huge Step Up On Its Current Systems

Ford's New Infotainment Is A Huge Step Up On Its Current Systems

The improved software is capable of in-car gaming, streaming content, and OTA updates, among other things.

The Blue Oval has introduced the all-new Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience, promising five times faster operation and a slew of other enhancements.

According to the company, the new software – based on an Android operating system like Volvo – is the fastest offered, capable of more than five times faster main processing and about 14 times faster graphics processing. The system also boasts four times the memory and eight times the storage compared to active Ford and Lincoln models like the Mustang Mach-E.

With infotainment systems becoming more complex and distracting, Ford has ensured the new system is simple and easy to use. Screens have widgets on the right side of the display for faster access to supportive information like media, weather, and fuel economy, among others.

The system enables personalization for each driver profile, including a personalized display and custom driving position settings. The latter covers seating, steering wheel, and mirror positions.

As an Android-based software, Ford and Lincoln models will benefit from features like Google Maps and Google Assistant. Built-in Amazon Alexa integration, which offers voice-activated functions for hands-free driving, is also part of the package, and Apple users can still connect their devices thanks to Apple CarPlay.

Apps downloaded on Google Play, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Prime Video, and YouTube, allow passengers to stream their favorite content on the go. Similar to brands like BMW, Ford has been innovating its in-car gaming tech, which could be activated when the car is parked. That is ideal when charging EVs at stations.

One of the many games passengers can play using a Bluetooth-enabled gaming controller is Asphalt Nitro in a Ford-exclusive version. When they get bored of that, a growing list of games is available on Google Play.

The system allows passengers to surf the net via the Vivaldi Browser app or Google Chrome, which is coming soon. For those who cannot use the infotainment screen, the availability of a Wi-Fi hotspot means they can browse from their phones in the back seats.

As with any modern infotainment system, it can also be updated on the fly thanks to over-the-air (OTA) updates.

For now, the all-new Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience is available only in the Lincoln Nautilus. However, the faster and smarter software will be expanded to more models in the future, which should benefit next-gen cars like Ford’s new electric truck, known only under the ‘Project T3’ code name.