Ford and Lincoln have unveiled an all-new ‘Digital Experience,’ essentially a 3-in-1 infotainment solution. The primary component is based on Android and features Google-built in. This means the infotainment system comes with Google Maps and Google Assistant integration.
However, for those who prefer to mirror their phone, the setup also supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a choice of three voice assistants: Google Assistant (the default), Apple’s Siri, or Amazon’s Alexa.
The native Ford experience that’s Android based provides access to the Google Play store, where customers can download streaming music apps as well as games such as a Ford-exclusive version of Asphalt Nitro 2. The latter can be played with a Bluetooth-enabled controller for a “more immersive experience.”
That’s just the tip of the iceberg as owners can download streaming video apps such as YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. Users can also surf the web using Google Chrome or the Vivaldi Browser.
Besides Google integration, the new infotainment system has more than five times the processing power as current Ford and Lincoln systems. It also has nearly four times the memory, eight times the storage, and 14 times the graphics processing power. That sounds like a huge improvement and Ford said “it’s designed to enable more new apps and services in the future” thanks to over-the-air updates.
The system promises to be customizable as users will apparently have the ability to place apps and widgets in their desired spot. The company also said “weather and fuel economy can be seen with a quick glance via widgets on the right side of the display.”
To keep things in place, drivers will be asked to select a profile when entering the vehicle. This will then load their “apps, contacts, and favorite destinations, plus customized seating, steering wheel and mirror positions.”
More: 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Combines 48-Inch Display With Available Hybrid Power
The system is launching in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, which features an 11.1-inch central display as well as a 48-inch panoramic display. The model is currently available and pricing starts at $50,415.
Ford’s system will likely debut in the facelifted Explorer or Expedition. That remains to be seen, but the company may have teased their interior in the images below.
