Ford puts a great deal of focus on connectivity and it's now adding connected features to older vehicles with SmartLink.
Most new vehicles are now connected and even base level trims now have cellular modems and a host of connectivity features for extra functionality and convenience. Ford is now extending connected features to Ford and Lincoln vehicles from between 2010 and 2016, introducing the SmartLink hardware that drivers can plug into their car's OBD II port.
Ford SmartLink
The new SmartLink dongle has a built-in 4G LTE modem that allows it to serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices in the car. With SmartLink, vehicle owners can take advantage of connected features such as remote start, lock and unlock, alerts regarding vehicle health and security, location and service requirements, and more.
"Ford SmartLink will surprise and delight owners of recent model-year vehicles by adding some of today's most popular connectivity features," says Stephen Odell, Ford's executive vice president of Global Marketing, Sales and Service.
"We are thrilled to offer this level of convenience and connectivity to our existing customers, extending the value of their vehicles and giving them just one more reason to love their Ford and Lincoln vehicles," adds Raj Nair, CTO and executive vice president of Global Product Development.
Ford has conducted extensive testing on the technology to ensure that everything from performance to security is covered. SmartLink is Ford's answer to address vehicle owners' most frequent requests and necessities, whether it's about security alerts, maintenance help, or just the added convenience of having a connected vehicle.
SmartLink is not as advanced as the Ford SYNC 3, which is an in-car infotainment system more deeply integrated with third-party apps and services. Nevertheless, SmartLink still offers a number of neat perks via the companion app, including the ability to set speed limits and geofences, which could prove particularly useful for parents lending the car to their teenagers. In time, the system can also observe driving habits and offer suggestions to improve driving skills.
Ford SmartLink Availability
For the time being, SmartLink is still in pilot trials at dealers across the United States, but will become broadly available this summer. Interested customers will be able to get it at Ford and Lincoln dealerships, but pricing details are yet to surface.
SmartLink will come with a 4K LTE-enabled OBD II plug-in hardware, a companion app, and a web portal for activating remote features, receiving alerts, and scheduling service appointments with a dealer. Ford developed SmartLink in collaboration with Verizon Telematics and Delphi Automotive and conducted security and user experience tests for two years before announcing the launch.
Adding modern connectivity features to older vehicles is a great way for Ford to address customer needs and keep fans loyal years after they bought the vehicle, and it goes a long way to prove that connected cars are gaining increasingly more ground on the automotive scene.
With SmartLink, consumers no longer need to purchase a new car to enjoy connected vehicle features -they can just add them to their old vehicle as long as it's compatible.
