FORD POWER-UP SOFTWARE UPDATES TO DELIVER A MORE SEAMLESS AMAZON ALEXA EXPERIENCE, BLUECRUISE AND MORE THIS YEAR

• Ford Power-Up software updates deliver regular vehicle enhancements to Ford owners, turning connected vehicle learnings into continuous quality improvements, new features and capabilities: Ford to produce 33 million vehicles with Power-Up capability by 2028
• Ford Power-Up enhancements already have been sent to more than 100,000 2021 F-150 and Mustang Mach-E customers since late March; new Sketch for touchscreen drawing and simple gaming coming to Mustang Mach-E soon
  
• Ford Power-Up enhancements include what’s planned to be the industry’s broadest roll-out yet of the new, more seamless Amazon Alexa Built-in hands-free experience, offering complimentary access to key features for up to three years; companies plan to work together to deliver enhanced features and new commercial services over the next six years.
  
• Ford Power-Up software updates will deliver available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving technology for properly equipped F-150 and Mustang Mach-E vehicles

DEARBORN, Mich., May 13, 2021 – Settling in for a drive in an enhanced, upgraded vehicle will now become a regular experience for Ford owners as the company routinely delivers new features and improvements through its wireless software update technology called Ford Power-Up.  

The first Ford Power-Up software updates for F-150 and Mustang Mach-E customers in North America began in March, accelerating a transformation well underway with more than 6 million vehicles on the road today featuring advanced, embedded modem connectivity. New vehicles equipped with Ford Power-Up capability identify customer preferences and vehicle issues, which Ford engineers then translate into quality and capability improvements delivered through Ford Power-Up enhancements.

“Software updates are common across billions of connected devices but not yet for vehicles. Ford Power-Up software updates will change that by quickly bringing it to millions of people,” says Alex Purdy, director, business operations, enterprise connectivity, Ford Motor Company. “We’ve invested in more seamless technology so updates can happen while you’re sleeping – making your next ride a better experience.”

A new fully networked, second-generation electrical architecture and advanced tech stack create the foundation to deliver unique Ford Power-Up software updates. These quick and easy wireless upgrades help enhance features, quality, experiences, capability and convenience. Capable of updating the vast majority of vehicle computer modules – more than 110 on higher end models – these upgrades can help improve the ownership experience and may help reduce the need for repair trips.

Many Ford Power-Up software updates will be virtually invisible to customers, enabled by a tech platform that installs much of the new software in the background. Many updates require little to no action by the customer, enabled by SYNC® 4 Technology that keeps current software running until the new version is ready to go.

For updates that require reboots, Ford invites customers to schedule them at convenient times, such as overnight. Some updates can be made in under two minutes1, while others may take longer. Unlike updates for devices such as laptops which often seem to come at inconvenient times, vehicle owners may not even notice that the installation occurred until the vehicle is started.

Amazon and Ford plan to expand relationship to create new features

Ford is prepping what’s planned to be the industry’s broadest rollout of the embedded Alexa hands-free experience to date, with complimentary connectivity to Alexa for up to three years2. This year alone, the same type of Alexa voice command functionality many people have in their homes will be wired to 700,000 Ford vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, followed by millions more over the next few years.

As part of a new strategic engagement between Amazon and Ford, the companies plan to work together to deliver enhanced features and new commercial services over the next six years. This includes exploring the development of the first custom Alexa skills for Ford commercial vehicles, using the power of Alexa artificial intelligence to help business owners and fleet managers stay in touch with their teams and increase productivity.

“We’re excited to work with Amazon to bring powerful new AI-enabled experiences to Ford customers,” says Purdy. “We believe in the power of teaming up with other innovators. Bringing Ford’s vehicle know-how together with Amazon’s technology expertise will deliver in-vehicle capabilities that help our retail customers travel more enjoyably and with ease, while helping our commercial customers operate more profitably.”

Alexa will initially be delivered through Ford Power-Up software updates beginning this fall for Bronco®, Edge, F-150, Mustang Mach-E and Super Duty® customers with SYNC 4 Technology in the U.S. and Canada, with other regions to follow.

“Democratizing technology and putting it within reach of millions of customers has been a part of Ford’s DNA dating back to the Model T, and our new collaboration is a continuation of that legacy,” says Ned Curic, vice president, Alexa Automotive. “We can’t wait for Ford customers to experience the best of what Alexa and voice AI can do while on the road – including new features and capabilities that will be delivered seamlessly through future over-the-air software updates. We love the vote of confidence from Ford to deepen our work together and continue making the driving experience more connected, entertaining, and productive.”

The support of Alexa on SYNC 4 represents the latest collaboration between Ford and Amazon. Ford first brought Alexa into its vehicles in 2017, starting with connected vehicle skills and then adding in-vehicle capabilities through the SYNC AppLink smartphone app, which is still available but no longer required for the new, more seamless capability. More information about how customers can set up an Alexa account will be shared closer to launch.

Inside their vehicle, Ford customers can ask Alexa to control smart home devices, place calls, locate parking and more. Alexa capabilities delivered through SYNC 4 Technology provide the convenience of hands-free, voice-initiated interactions – minimizing the need for drivers to view or touch screens and helping them keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Customers can interact with their vehicles naturally and say things like, “Alexa, find the closest gas station” or “Alexa, play my road trip playlist” or “Alexa, call Mom.”

Ford customers will be able to access the benefits of Amazon’s world-class voice AI and intelligent features both inside and outside their vehicle. Combined with the FordPass skill for Alexa3 – which customers can continue to use to control vehicle functions such as start/stop engine, lock and unlock doors4, check vehicle range or tire pressure all from the comfort of their home – Ford is bringing smart homes and connected vehicles closer together.

Powering up new features, quality

Over the last two months, 2021 F-150 and Mustang Mach-E customers have begun receiving Ford Power-Up enhancements. Mustang Mach-E customers in North America and Europe soon will receive Sketch -- also referred to as Notes in vehicle menus – for touchscreen drawing and simple gaming.

Ford Power-Up software updates will quickly expand to nearly all vehicle computer modules, enabling an update of Ford Co-Pilot360™ Technology that adds BlueCruise5 hands-free highway driving to Intelligent Cruise Control. This will be delivered to properly equipped F-150 and Mustang Mach-E vehicles with additional software purchase later this year.

The company’s move to modernize its quality processes is already delivering results. Ford engineers used connected vehicle data to quickly identify issues with F-150 zone lighting. Ford also plans to address an issue with F-150 and Mustang Mach-E Android Auto connectivity by June.

Customers also will continue to receive new enhancements over the coming weeks, including:

• Remote Vehicle Setup and Trip Logs let new Mustang Mach-E customers use the FordPass™ app to set up profile preferences, including radio presets, in the cloud to be sent to vehicles, while trip logs track battery usage and other driving details on each trip.
• F-150 SYNC 4 and Mustang Mach-E SYNC 4A upgrades, including:
• Navigation enhancements automatically make helpful destination suggestions, plus new cloud connectivity combines conversational voice command recognition with internet-based search.
• Apple CarPlayÒ compatibility enhancement to display turn-by-turn navigation in the vehicle’s instrument cluster6.
• Digital owner’s manual enhancements to continue making the innovative, paperless product guides even more valuable.

FORD MUSTANG MACH-E FIRST EDITION CUSTOMERS RECEIVE EXTRA 3D-PRINTED SURPRISE WITH THEIR ELECTRIC PONIES

DEARBORN, Mich., April 23, 2021 – Mustang Mach-E First Edition customers in the U.S. are getting a little extra surprise from their ponies, thanks to the team at the Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Each Mustang Mach-E First Edition customer will receive a special collectible wireframe pony sculpture in the color corresponding to their vehicle’s paint job, created with the help of 3D printing.

The sculpture is based on the large-scale wireframe model of the pony featured at the global reveal of Mustang Mach-E in November 2019.
The wireframe pony sculptures are 3D-printed in white plastic in-house at the Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center in Redford. They are then sent to a dye facility where they are dyed one of three colors – Rapid Red Metallic, Grabber Blue Metallic or Carbonized Gray – to correspond with available color choices for First Edition. Included is a baseplate with the vehicle’s VIN.

The collectible wireframe pony marks the first time Ford has issued a 3D-printed component as part of a gift directly to the customer – and it’s allowing additive manufacturing to establish a new-use case within the enterprise.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve 3D-printed a vehicle part, but this one is different,” said Harold Sears, technical leader for additive manufacturing. “It highlights a special connection with the customer and is really exciting because it showcases the potential to personalize. When you think additive manufacturing, you think of making parts, assembly fixtures or jigs to help build a vehicle, but this is another place where additive manufacturing can shine.”

2021 Ford Truck Technology Takes The Guesswork Out Of Towing!

 Vehicles have tow ratings for a reason, but often it's difficult to know when you've exceeded the limit for your particular vehicle.

Complicating the matter is the need to take into account the additional force the trailer tongue exerts on the hitch, known as tongue weight, which many people forget. A good rule of thumb is 10-15% of the combined weight of the trailer and anything it's carrying.

New technologies Ford is making available on the F-150 this summer takes out the guesswork, helping to improve safety when towing. They include built-in scales that measure how much weight is being carried directly by the vehicle (i.e. in the cabin and bed), as well as a scale to measure tongue weight to help you properly hitch up and reduce the possibility of trailer sway.

The first of the features, Onboard Scales, measures the weight being carried in the truck and displays this via the infotainment screen, an app, and some trick taillights that have individual bars that light up like the battery indicator of a mobile phone. When there's too much weight, all bars will be lit and the top bar will flash.

The second feature, Smart Hitch, is for towing a trailer. It calculates the tongue weight and provides this information the same way as the Onboard Scales feature. It can also provide guidance on better weight distribution, whether the tongue weight is too low or too high, and whether a weight redistributing hitch (when used) is properly tensioned.

In addition to these, the 2021 F-150 is available with active suspension dampers. When a Tow/Haul mode is activated, these dampers can help control unwanted motions such as bounce, pitch and roll. This can be especially useful when driving over a rough surface, including roads marked with potholes.

The F-150 was redesigned for 2021. The latest generation is capable of towing up to 14,000 pounds and carrying up to 3,325 pounds of payload, depending on the variant.

The new F-150 also saw the introduction of a hybrid powertrain and a battery-electric powertrain is currently being developed. For V-8 fans, a new Raptor R model is also in the works. The regular Raptor continues with a V-6.

Ford Finally Has A Competitor To Tesla Autopilot And GM's Super Cruise

 

Photo: Ford

Ford has been hyping this since last year, but Wednesday it said its Level 2 semiautonomous driving system is finally coming to many 2021 Mustang Mach-Es and 2021 Ford F-150s via over-the-air software update later this year. It’s called BlueCruise.

Ford says that it tested BlueCruise on five F-150s and five Mustang Mach-Es on over 500,000 miles of roads in 37 states in the U.S. and five provinces in Canada.

Here’s how it works, according to Ford:

Using both advanced camera and radar-sensing technologies and building upon Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering and Speed Sign Recognition, BlueCruise adds a new level of convenience for drivers with vehicles equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology. The feature allows a driver to operate truly hands-free on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones. A driver-facing camera in the instrument cluster monitors eye gaze and head position to help ensure the driver’s eyes remain on the road.

Currently, more than 100,000 miles of highways across North America are dedicated Hands-Free Blue Zones in the Ford GPS mapping system. BlueCruise uses blue lighting on the digital instrument cluster to indicate when the vehicle is in a hands-free zone.

In addition to the full hands-free mode, equipped vehicles will also feature Lane Centering mode. Lane Centering works on most roads with lane lines and can help keep the vehicle centered in its lane but requires drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel. In either mode, a visual prompt on the instrument cluster notifies drivers when they need to return their attention to the road or resume control of the vehicle.

Ford says that BlueCruise is better than Tesla’s Autopilot because it offers a true hands-free mode, and it’s better than GM’s Super Cruise and Autopilot because it has better visual cues. BlueCruise will cost $600 for the software and more for the hardware, and only available on certain trims of the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E, or the ones that have Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0.

Ford says that it will also be expanding the miles of roads that are Hands-Free Blue Zones, and eventually offering an automated lane-changing feature in the future. That’s in addition to something called Predictive Speed Assist that will “adjust vehicle speed for road curves, roundabouts and more.”

Here's How Much It Cost To Get This 1966 Mustang Ready For The Road After Sitting For 23 Years

 

Photo: DT

Getting a car back on the road after it’s been sitting involves replacing a lot of small things. I’ve spent the past two weeks doing just that on my brother’s 1966 Ford Mustang, and for the most part, things have been painless and cheap. Or so I thought. I just added up all these “small things,” and holy crap: Turns out, I’ve been spending a lot of money on this old steed!

That’s the last horse reference I’ll make, I promise. Those are played out.

Let’s talk about what I’ve done to my brother’s 1966 Ford Mustang, which I’ve been letting rot in garages in Virginia and Michigan since 2012, and which has not been legally registered since 1998.

Photo: DT

Last night, my brother forced me to make a spreadsheet of expenses: What I’ve spent over the past two weeks in my accelerated effort to get the pon — I mean car — back on the road.

“Oh, I’ve barely spent any money on this thing. The parts are dirt cheap, and I’m just doing the basics!” I assured him. “I don’t care. Fill out a spreadsheet,” he insisted. So I did.

He asked me to guess how much I’d spent on the ol’ thoroughbr — I mean car — over the past few weeks trying to get the machine back on the road. I was sure it was under $300. After all, all I’d done is the basic Big Four: The cooling system, the fuel system, the ignition system, and the brakes.

Photo: DT

These are the four main systems that anyone who’s getting a vehicle that has been sitting a while back into shape has to address. What’s great is that all of the parts for these systems are hilariously cheap. A new water pump is only $35. All four wheel cylinders cost just $40. Ignition points are $10 for a nice set. “What’s the point of even filling out this spreadsheet?” I pondered as I began searching through my eBay, Amazon, and O’Reilly receipts.

In no time I had a column of parts I’d replaced. Then I added all the prices, and nearly soiled my trousers:

Photo: DT

What the hell? I’d somehow spent over 500 buc — I mean dollars — just to get the Mustang ready for the road. (If I’m honest, it’s still not cruising the streets of southeast Michigan. I have to tinker with the brakes a bit and service the transmission.) What’s alarming is that I did all of this in the span of two weeks, and I did it completely obliviously. It was just mindless car-parts buying.

“Oh, this is cheap. No problem. I’ll buy it. Oh these accessory belts? Only $7 each? No problem. Oh these brake hoses? $13 a pop? Sure, why not.” Next thing you know, I’ve spent an entire Postal Jeep worth of money on...what? Just some basic maintenance items?

I had mindlessly, almost as if in a zombie-like state, spend $500 in two weeks (and my brother bought a new set of brake lines for over $100), and it has me realizing that, when it comes to cars, I spend without restriction, because in my head, I think “Well, I’m saving money by doing the work myself.” It’s a dangerous way to think, and will almost certainly put me in the poorhouse.

Until then, I’ll be cruising this trusty equin — I mean car — with a smile on my face.

-Originally posted on Jalopnik.com

Safety Chains And The Strength Of The F-350's Build Saves Family and Dog From Death!

 

Photo: Idaho State Police

Safety chains play an incredibly important part of correctly towing a trailer. They add a layer of redundancy to make towing safer for you and others on the road. But for the occupants of this Ford Super Duty in Idaho, their trailer’s safety chains are what kept them from plunging off of a bridge earlier this week.

On March 15 in Idaho, witnesses saw the driver of a 2004 Ford F-350 Super Duty lose control while towing a 30-foot travel trailer, reports Idaho State Police. It’s not known why the driver lost control, but it resulted in the truck going over the side of the bridge.

Photo: Magic Valley Paramedics

The F-350 was kept from plummeting into the gorge thanks to the trailer that remained on the bridge, connected to the truck only by its safety chains, from Idaho State Police:

The truck and camper swerved hitting the right shoulder barrier, then went left until the truck was sliding on the left side guardrail. The truck then tipped over the bridge, with the camper blocking both eastbound lanes. Only the safety chain attached between the truck and the camper kept the truck from falling. The Malad Gorge is approximately 80 to 100 feet below the bridge.

Photo: Magic Valley Paramedics

Thankfully, the occupants of the truck, a 67-year-old man, a 64-year-old woman and two dogs, only suffered minor injuries and were able to communicate with an Idaho State Police Trooper outside. The Super Duty was chained to a semi-truck for extra safety while help was on the way. Both wore seatbelts, which held them in the truck until rescuers could arrive. The seatbelts likely limited injuries, too.

Photo: Magic Valley Paramedics

The Magic Valley Paramedics Special Operations Rescue Team rappelled down to the truck and, with the use of harnesses, were able to extract the occupants from the Ford.

Photo: Magic Valley Paramedics

Capt. David Neth of the Idaho State Police District 4 in Jerome, said:

“This was a tremendous team effort that took a quick response and really showed the dedication and training of our community of first responders.” “This is something we train and prepare for, but when it happens and people’s lives literally hang in the balance, it takes everyone working together, and then some.”

Chad Smith, Field Supervisor for Magic Valley Paramedics SORT and Flight Paramedic for Air St. Luke’s, was also proud of his team:

“I am just so proud of our team. It shows what all agencies including Magic Valley Paramedics Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT), Air St. Luke’s and St. Luke’s Magic Valley Paramedics can do working together.”

They should be! These rescuers turned what could have been a tragic day into a happy ending and they are absolute heroes for it. The case remains under investigation to figure out exactly what went wrong. But for now, everyone is safe and sound.