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CarPlay finally coming to Ford cars this year, including upgrades for last year’s models

Ford is expanding its SYNC® connectivity system, adding Apple CarPlay, giving iPhone users access to Maps, Messages, Phone and Music through Siri voice control or touch screen. In North America, Ford is making Apple CarPlay available on all 2017 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3, starting with the all-new Ford Escape. Owners of 2016 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 will have an opportunity to upgrade later in the year.

Ford has announced that CarPlay will be coming this spring to all 2017 models equipped with its Sync 3 infotainment system. The 2017 Escape will be the first model to get it (like most car manufacturers, Ford starts selling its 2017 models early this year). The system will also support Android Auto.

Ford was one of the first car manufacturers to sign up to CarPlay, but aside from telling us it would be integrated with its own infotainment system Sync, the company had gone rather quiet since then.

If you’re now kicking yourself that you bought a 2016 model last year, don’t worry …

Ford says that CarPlay will also be available as an upgrade to 2016 models later in the year.

In North America, Ford is making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on all 2017  vehicles equipped with SYNC 3, starting with the all-new Ford Escape. Owners of 2016 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 will have an opportunity to upgrade later in the year […]

Apple CarPlay features Siri voice control, and seamlessly integrates an iPhone with the car’s built-in display and controls.

Ford also had some good news last month for owners of older cars, announcing a software update to Sync that would add Siri Eyes Free support to more than five million vehicles dating back to 2011. While that’s not CarPlay, it does give some access to Siri while on the move.

After a slow start, CarPlay does seem to be gradually taking off. Volvo made it available on the 2016 XC90 last month via a software update, a leaked memo revealed that it will be available for many Mercedes models, and Hyundai revealed that it will be available as an update on the Sonata in the first quarter this year.

Don’t hold your breath for it on Toyota cars, however. While the company was originally named by Apple as a launch partner for CarPlay, the company backtracked on this almost a year ago and has today announced its use of a similar system to Ford without mention of any support for CarPlay.

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Comments

  1. mariobros27772 - 8 years ago

    So damn pumped.

  2. William D - 8 years ago

    Sounds like that ‘upgrade’ wont be free…

  3. Joe Mecca - 8 years ago

    I can now see the future – pull up to a McDonald’s, order an iMeal from Carplay and pay with Apple Pay.

  4. Nick (@Daistaar) - 8 years ago

    That old man is driving entirely too fast! lol

  5. Michelle Steiner - 8 years ago

    The 2016 Ford Fusion has SYNC Touch, the 2nd generation version of SYNC, so those of us who bought a 2016 Fusion won’t be able to get the upgrade.

  6. shareef777 - 8 years ago

    Parents just bought a 2016 Escape. I asked my dad to confirm that the’ll be eligible for the CarPlay upgrade and he confirmed that he would be. We’ll see if Ford stands by their customers.

  7. Don N. Harmon - 7 years ago

    Does anyone know when Apple Carplay will be available for 2016 Fords?

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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