Ford today announced that its first vehicle to offer support for Apple’s iPhone-connected, in-dash CarPlay system will be the 2017 Escape going on sale in May.
The vehicle will include the latest version of Ford’s SYNC platform, version 3, which brings new connected software and hardware features to its vehicles including the introduction of Apple CarPlay and Google’s competitive Android Auto platform.
The new Escape, which goes on sale in May, will be the first Ford vehicle available with all-new SYNC® Connect technology, making the ownership experience easier through vehicle features such as remote start and door locking via the new FordPass® platform. Escape will also be first to offer SYNC 3 featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
And thanks to multiple new attention-to-detail stations at Louisville Assembly Plant, Ford is putting more emphasis than ever on delivering the highest-quality Escape to its customers.
With CarPlay, iPhone users can have access to iOS features like phone calls, music, maps, messages, podcasts, audiobooks and more through a vehicle’s in-dash display. The features are available through a number of Apple’s own and third-party apps that support the platform, but it requires a connected iPhone.
Earlier this year Ford announced that it would finally launch support for CarPlay this year in its new vehicles, as well as updates to some of its older models.
Back in January Apple started an official list of CarPlay partners by year and model on its website.
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I’m hoping there might be something about wireless carplay on Monday …..
I have carplay in my car. It’s very buggy with third party apps. I hope they fix this.
Ford, better to be late than never. In my humble opinion now that phone connectivity(carplay,androidauto) is available; one must not buy new car/suv/etc without such feature built-in and software upgradeable. Typically, most people don’t replace car often, less than 10 years. So, why to live with for the next many years without such feature when available. Put pressure on auto makers to get off their laurels.