Car and Driver: Talk, Talk: Ford Wants Cars to Talk to Smart Homes and Digital Assistants

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Ford wants to expand the capabilities of its Sync system and related apps to enable Ford cars to communicate with smart-home systems and digital assistants. You may be noticing a trend, what with BMW also exploring a similar idea at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.

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In this idealized, hyperconnected future, a driver could use the Sync system’s voice controls to open a garage door (thus obviating the need to reach up and push a button on your remote or integrated HomeLink controller) or turn on the outside light at his house. Similarly amazing, a future Ford owner could ask her digital assistant (Amazon’s “Alexa,” in Ford’s example) to remote-start her car—without having to touch the button on the key fob—or inquire as to remaining range in the tank. Just to be clear, these feats are not possible now—but Ford is working to make them reality. We can hardly wait.

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In other Ford CES news, the company announced that it is adding 20 more Fusion Hybrids to its autonomous-car test fleet, bringing its total vehicle count to 30. The autonomous Fords will ply public roads in Michigan, California, and Arizona—as well as Ford’s proving grounds and the University of Michigan’s M City dedicated test facility for autonomous vehicles.

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• Ford Adding Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, More to Sync 3 Infotainment-
• First Touch: We Sample Ford’s Sync 3 Interface and It Doesn’t Suck-
• Ford Fusion Full Coverage: News, Reviews, Test, Specs, and More-

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