Ford will beef up the Focus and Fiesta with its latest infotainment and communications system, Sync 3, when the refreshed LZ Focus arrives in July.
WITH PRODUCTION of the Ford Falcon coming to an end this year, Ford is hoping to woo small car buyers by beefing up its refreshed LZ Focus range when it arrives in July. The new Focus will get Ford’s latest-generation Sync 3 communications and infotainment system,a s standard across its range (Trend, Sport and Titanium) and a raft of options.
What is Sync 3? It’s the catch-all for Ford’s communications and entertainment system that allows conversational voice recognition, touch screen and an easy to understand interface. Launched in 2012, most Ford’s here run Sync 2. The latest-generation system offers a static Home button in the top-left corner, with buttons for Audio, Climate, Phone, Navigation, Apps and Settings visible at all times.
Sync 3 offers an eight-inch touchscreen that offers pinch and swipe capability as well as unique day and night time views. Ford reckons, based on user feedback Sync 3 has been simplified over Sync 2 with screens more cleanly designed with buttons that are visible at a glance.
Ford will also debut two new cost-options packs for the Focus in July. These include:
Technology Pack
- Lane Keeping Aid
- Lane Departure Warning
- Driver Impairment Monitor
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Active City Stop
Trend vehicles optioned with the Technology Pack will also receive a Leather Steering wheel at no additional cost. Key explanations:
Lane Keeping Aid and Lane Departure Warning: If the Lane Keeping System detects the vehicle is drifting without the indicator on, it will alert the driver by vibrating the steering wheel. If the vehicle continues drifting, the vehicle applies pressure on the steering wheel to guide it back into its lane. The system is designed to operate at speeds over 65km/h on multi-lane roads with clearly visible lane markings.
Auto High Beam Control: A front-mounted camera actively identifies and classifies light sources like traffic and streetlights, and automatically activates the high beams as needed.
Active City Stop: Helps drivers avoid or mitigate accidents at speeds up to 50km/h by applying the brakes automatically and reducing engine torque if it detects a braking, slower-moving or stationary vehicle in front of it and determines that a collision is likely, and if the driver has not taken any action.
Really targeting the important stuff I see. How about better brakes or seats. I love the so-called technology pack, it should be called the imbecile pack, let the car take responsibility for the useless driver’s actions.