Ford South Africa is launching the SYNC3 infotainment and embedded navigation system for the first time on its local model line-up.
Released initially as part of specification upgrades for the Ford Ranger and Everest this month, this will be followed by the Ford Focus.
“We have had great customer interest in adding navigation to our innovative SYNC technology, and are proud to now launch SYNC 3 with navigation,” says Tracey Delate, General Manager, Marketing – Sub-Saharan Africa Region. “Adding SYNC 3 with navigation allows us to introduce further practical features customers use every day, seamlessly integrated into the vehicle to provide both convenience and driving safety.”
“We will introduce SYNC 3 with navigation to a total of seven models over the next 14 months, which is a great benefit for our customers.”
Next-Level Connectivity
The latest-generation SYNC 3 infotainment system was launched late last year, delivering the next level of connectivity with an easy-to-use design, high-speed performance and enhanced voice recognition.
With the addition of SYNC 3 with navigation, the system boasts full feature embedded navigation, along with all the benefits of SYNC 3’s faster performance, brighter capacitive eight-inch colour touch screen that offers clearer icons and convenient multi-touch gestures (such as swipe, slide, scroll and pinch-to-zoom), plus voice recognition that uses simple, real-world voice commands.
SYNC 3 with navigation provides a full 3-D experience with elevated map view, enhanced full colour graphics and point of interest (POI) building images. Similar to searching on Google, destinations can be entered via the simple one-box search by typing the address, POI category, intersection, city, postal code or GPS coordinates. The search function is predictive, with results appearing as the information is typed. Voice commands can also be used to select a POI.
The system allows addresses or points of interest to be saved as favourites, which can be accessed through the Favourites icon on the touch screen, or the “Destination Favourites” voice command.
When driving, the navigation map displays a raft of information, including the next manoeuvre; current speed limit; current GPS speed; and a choice of estimated time of arrival; time to reach destination; or distance to destination. Enhanced junction view zooms in as the vehicle approaches a crossing, providing detailed lane visuals and guidance. Similarly, it zooms out when the next manoeuvre is more than 3km away. Highway services information is included, such as rest stops and garages, with the nearest filling stations automatically appearing on the map when the fuel is low.
Mapping for over 20 countries, plus Tracks4Africa
All SYNC 3 with navigation systems sold in South Africa have access to more than 20 country maps including: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. More than 3.6-million kilometres of road and 869 000 POIs are listed.
Another fantastic innovation is the inclusion of Tracks4Africa, allowing owners to take advantage of the unique mapping created from the collective travel experience of the Tracks4Africa travelling community. This includes gravel roads with hazard notifications, off-road tracks, four-wheel drive routes and rocky roads, as well as deep sand routes. Additionally, more than 129 000 POIs are included, encompassing diverse types of accommodation, services (fuel stops, tyre repair shops), leisure and recreational venues, as well as emergency points of interest (police, hospitals, embassies and clinics).
In order to ensure that customers have the best possible experience, all models equipped with SYNC 3 with navigation in South Africa receive free annual map updates for a period of five years. Additionally, text and voice guidance are available in a multitude of languages, comprising Afrikaans, Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Zulu.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Aside from the addition of navigation, SYNC 3 also offers the benefits of smartphone integration provided through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which transforms the phone’s connectivity with the car. Through Apple CarPlay, SYNC 3 can be used to access Siri, make calls, return missed calls and listen to voice mail, as well as send, read and reply to text messages. Songs, playlists and compatible apps like Apple Maps, can also be accessed.
Similar functionality is provided with Android Auto, with the Google platform used to interact with the phone, and access apps such as Google Maps. Licenses for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still being finalised for official release in the collective Middle East and Africa region, and therefore will be introduced as they become available in market.
To keep the system up to date, periodic over-the-air software updates for SYNC 3 can be downloaded via Wi-Fi, once it is set up on a trusted wireless network.