To Ford Sync 3 διαθέσιμο από το καλοκαίρι

12:11 3/6/2015 - Πηγή: AutoBlog

Όπως ανακοίνωσε η Ford, το νέο σύστημα ενημέρωσης και ψυχαγωγίας Sync 3 θα ξεκινήσει να τοποθετείται από το ερχόμενο καλοκαίρι. Αρχικά θα είναι διαθέσιμο στις Η.Π.Α και θα εξοπλίζει τα MY2016 Escape και Fiesta.

Η Αμερικανική εταιρία, υπόσχεται για το καινούριο σύστημα ότι περιμένει

κανείς. Ταχύτεροι χρόνοι απόκρισης, καλύτερη αναγνώριση φωνής και λειτουργία φωνητικών εντολών, πιο εύχρηστο UI κλπ. Το Sync 3 χρησιμοποιεί το λειτουργικό σύστημα QNX της Blackberry και όχι την αντίστοιχη τεχνολογία της Microsoft που αποτελούσε τη βάση του συστήματος από την παρουσίαση του το 2007. Η οθόνη του συστήματος μετρά 8 ίντσες σε διαγώνιο, αλλά προβάλει μεγαλύτερο κείμενο και φωτεινότερα χρώματα ενώ οι ζώνες αφής είναι ευρύτερες. Επίσης, το σύστημα αναβαθμίζεται μόνο του χρησιμοποιώντας το ασύρματο δίκτυο του σπιτιού του ιδιοκτήτη ενώ η Ford, μπορεί να διορθώσει κάποιο ενδεχόμενο πρόβλημα στέλνοντας με e-mail ένα update ή ζητώντας από τον ιδιοκτήτη να επισκεφθεί μία αντιπροσωπεία της.

Στις σχετικές ειδήσεις, η Ford ανακοίνωσε πως μερικά εργοστάσιά της θα κλείσουν για λιγότερο διάστημα μέσα στο καλοκαίρι, έτσι ώστε να συμβαδίσει με την υψηλή ζήτηση ορισμένων μοντέλων. Φέτος η Ford θέλει να κατασκευάσει 40.000 περισσότερα pickups και crossovers, όπως τα F-Series, Edge, Escape, και Explorer και έτσι, αντί για το κανονικό διάλειμμα δύο εβδομάδων, οι εργαζόμενοι στα εργοστάσια της Ford σε Chicago, Dearborn Truck, Kansas City, Kentucky Truck, Louisville, και Oakville θα έχουν μόλις μια εβδομάδα ρεπό, αρχής γενομένης από τις 29 Ιουνίου.

Επιπλέον 10 εργοστάσια παραγωγής εξαρτημάτων θα έχουν μικρότερο διάστημα διακοπών, με τα υπόλοιπα εργοστάσια της Ford να κλείνουν από τις 29 Ιουνίου έως και τις 10 Ιουλίου για εργασίες συντήρησης και αναβάθμισης. Αντίστοιχη κίνηση ανακοίνωσε πρόσφατα και η FCA, αποφασίζοντας να μην κλείσει τέσσερα εργοστάσιά της το καλοκαίρι, για να συμβαδίσει με τη ζήτηση των Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee και Dodge Durango.

Δελτίο Τύπου

ALL-NEW FORD SYNC 3 CONNECTIVITY SYSTEM LAUNCHING ON 2016 FORD ESCAPE AND FIESTA THIS SUMMER

– SYNC® 3 – Ford’s all-new communications and entertainment system – features faster performance, conversational voice recognition, intuitive smartphone-like touch screen and easier-to-understand graphical interface

– Other new features include seamless integration of AppLink™ for a simple way to control smartphone apps, Siri Eyes-Free capability for Apple iPhone, software updates via Wi-Fi, and enhanced 911 Assist® for subscription-free emergency calling in the event of a significant accident

– SYNC 3 to launch in North America on 2016 Ford Escape and Fiesta – on sale this summer – providing a safer way for Ford customers to connect their smartphones while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel

DEARBORN, Mich., June 2, 2015 – Ford announced today its all-new SYNC® 3 technology debuts this summer in North America on the 2016 Ford Escape and Fiesta. The new communications and entertainment system is faster and easier to use with enhanced response to driver commands.

With the debut of SYNC 3 for Escape and Fiesta, Ford is launching its newest in-car connectivity technology as an option in one of its highest-volume vehicles, Escape, and in its most affordable car, Fiesta.

“SYNC always has been about providing a safer way for our customers to connect their smartphones in order to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford Motor Company vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Customers continue to tell us they want this technology, and they want it to be fast and easy to use – like a smartphone. SYNC 3 delivers on that request.”

SYNC 3 features all-new hardware and software, building on the capability of the industry-leading technology that launched in 2007. Ford SYNC is now in more than 12 million vehicles on the road globally. Click here to see SYNC 3 in action.

Easy-to-use voice recognition brings more capability

Ford SYNC – the industry’s first system to widely and most affordably offer voice-activated technology to control smartphones – is becoming more capable by minimizing the number of steps needed to carry out commands. Selecting music, making a call or searching for a destination is easier than ever, thanks to SYNC 3’s simpler command structure.

Ford was first to bring voice control to in-vehicle apps with AppLink™, and the experience is further improved with SYNC 3.

AppLink allows customers to connect their smartphone to their vehicle and control compatible apps using voice commands or buttons on the vehicle display screen.

AppLink automatically discovers smartphone apps including Spotify, Pandora, Glympse, NPR One and iHeart Auto (iHeartRadio’s automotive app), and displays each app’s unique graphics and branding. Music and news apps are automatically displayed along with other media sources – just like AM/FM or SiriusXM.

Additionally, when connected to an Apple iPhone, SYNC 3 offers seamless integration of Siri Eyes-Free capability. Drivers can seek Siri’s help by holding down SYNC’s Push to Talk steering wheel button – much as they would on an iPhone to initiate a Siri session.

Intuitive interface

SYNC 3 is optimized for hands-free use. Plus, the all-new capacitive touch screen technology offers an experience similar to a smartphone or tablet. Quicker response to touch, as well as voice commands and smartphone-like gestures including pinch-to-zoom and swipe are central to SYNC 3 – along with crisp, modern graphics.

On-screen complexity is reduced and control options used most are prioritized. The home screen features three zones – Navigation, Audio and Phone. Tile-like icons dominate, with a quick access function tray along the bottom making for a more straightforward user experience.

Phone contacts are searchable via a simple swipe of the finger to scroll through the alphabet. With One Box Search, users can look up points of interest or enter addresses in much the same way they use an Internet search engine.

Additional features, including subscription-free 911 Assist

As with earlier generations of the technology, SYNC 3 provides subscription-free emergency service 911 Assist®.

The customer’s Bluetooth-connected phone is used to dial 911 in the event of a significant accident – alerting first responders with vehicle location. With SYNC 3, the car relays additional information – including if airbags deploy, whether the crash is front, side, rear or rollover, and the number of safety belts detected in use – to help emergency call-takers dispatch appropriate resources to the scene.

SYNC 3 now also features the ability to update software via Wi-Fi. Once a vehicle is set up with credentials for a home Wi-Fi network accessible in a customer’s driveway or garage, it can automatically download updates.

FORD REDUCES SUMMER SHUTDOWN TO MEET DEMAND FOR FORD F-SERIES TRUCKS, EDGE, ESCAPE AND EXPLORERJUN 2, 2015 | DEARBORN, MICH.

In response to increased customer demand, Ford will add capacity this summer to produce its most popular trucks and utilities

Ford will shorten its summer shutdown from the traditional two-week summer shutdown to one week for a majority of North American assembly plants, increasing production by close to 40,000 units

In April, Ford F-150 was turning at just 20 days on dealer lots, Edge sales were up 78 percent, and Escape and Explorer remained in tight supply. 2016 Explorers are now hitting dealer lots

In response to customer demand for Ford’s newest products, the company this year will produce close to 40,000 extra units by idling select plants for only one week during what has been the traditional two-week summer shutdown..

“To meet surging customer demand for our top-selling trucks and utilities, we are continuing to run our North American facilities during the traditional two-week summer shutdown in order to add close to 40,000 units,” said Bruce Hettle, Ford vice president, North America Manufacturing. “Six of our assembly plants will build for an additional week in order to ensure we’re getting more of our vehicles into dealerships.”

As part of Ford’s annual production schedule, its North American manufacturing facilities will shut down from June 29 to July 10, 2015 for building maintenance and machine retooling. Based on strong customer demand for the company’s newest products – F-150, Edge, Escape and Explorer – six Ford assembly plants, along with supporting powertrain and stamping plants, will shut down only the week of June 29. Assembly plants include Chicago, Dearborn Truck, Kansas City, Kentucky Truck, Louisville and Oakville.

The powertrain and stamping plants taking a reduced summer shutdown this year include:

Livonia Transmission

Rawsonville Transmission

Sharonville Transmission

Sterling Axle

Buffalo Stamping

Chicago Stamping

Dearborn Consolidated

Kansas City Stamping

Kentucky Stamping

Woodhaven Stamping

Demand for Ford’s trucks and utilities continues to be strong. In April, Ford’s all-new 2015 F-150 was turning in just 20 days on dealer lots, while Edge spent just 10 days on dealer lots. Escape inventories remain tight in a growing small utility vehicle segment. Explorer inventories are also tight, with the new 2016 Explorer just beginning to hit dealer lots as production ramps up.

This is the third straight year Ford has kept plants running during summer shutdown in order to meet strong demand for its products. Over the past several years, the company has invested more than $6.2 billion and added more than 15,000 jobs in its U.S. facilities to help meet customer demand for its newest products.

The increased production was included in the financial guidance Ford confirmed in its first-quarter earnings report on April 28, 2015.