MyFord Touch – Touching Ford Buyers' Decisions

According to a press release from Ford in early March 2012, buyers of the Ford Explorer and Ford Edge were actually looking at the MyFord Touch technology as a top reason to buy. Going into the new model year, customer order rates have jumped another 5% for each, and 56% of Explorer and Edge buyers said that Ford’s SYNC and MyFord Touch were important factors in final choice."It is gratifying to see SYNC and MyFord Touch technology are driving purchase consideration of new Ford cars, utilities and trucks, and helping our vehicles stand out in the marketplace," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for Ford Global Product Development. "We are committed to continuous improvement of these and other technologies, and to continue delivering even more of the products and technologies people truly want."

Keeping Up with the User ExperienceFord was as smart as their tech from the start; by building it on their SYNC platform, MyFord Touch allowed for regular updates and it’s been continuously improved with each vehicle in which it’s been integrated since 2010. The first major platform upgrade will take place in the 2013 Ford Taurus and Flex. Year over year, MyFord Touch users are increasingly using the different features more on a daily basis, from Bluetooth wireless music streaming to voice commands to control the system.

"SYNC has put us in a unique position to change customer expectations for their ownership experience," Kuzak explains. "As we continue to evolve the technology for launch on new products, we will incorporate improvements and new features, listening to owner feedback on a regular basis and offering upgrades to existing customers."

The touch screen interface has been graphically simplified with bolder text for easier use. The response time is now much faster so drivers can tap controls and keep their focus on driving. Already popular voice controls now provide even better recognition so drivers can tell their cars what to do, keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. New features also include better phone compatibility, support for tablet computers and audiobooks, plus improved navigation and destination entry.

What’s even smarter? Ford will make the software upgrade available to current MyFord Touch owners (and MyLincoln Touch) by sending out over 300,000 packages containing a USB drive to upgrade the system. Packages for those with navigation systems will also include an SD card with all-new, updated map information. If that’s not phenomenal customer service, it gets better – current MyFord Touch owners can instead elect to take their vehicle into a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the upgrade(s) installed for them!