With the advent of the digital panel display on the dashboard and also increased capabilities that allow connectivity to the internet from a car, more and more features, functions and apps have been crammed onto displays. This has resulted in them growing in size, with some displays occupying almost the whole dashboard.
Interior designers in different companies have taken different approaches to meeting the demands for more screen space. Larger displays has been one approach while some add extra displays on the passenger side.
With its new models like the latest Ranger and Mustang Mach-E, Ford has set the display in a portrait orientation which provides more vertical space. Of course, with digital displays, it is possible to have different screens so that also expands the range of apps and content that can be shown.
Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience
Now, Ford and Lincoln (Ford’s luxury brand) have come out with the Digital Experience which has a 48-inch immersive panoramic display. That sounds like an incredible size and understandably, you would wonder where it goes. BMW too has a huge screen for rear passengers overhead but Ford’s screen is actually a narrow strip below the windscreen glass.
It runs from left to right and is actually divided into three areas. Ahead of the driver is the Critical area where vehicle operating information is shown (eg speed, gear position, rpm or battery charge level). Next to it is the Support area which has displays showing route guidance and audio selection. Over at the other side is the Glance area which would have apps and content more for the passenger. Probably the driver could ‘glance’ over though it would be visually some distance away.
The panel can be customized and displays located where the driver prefers them, though the one for speed might have to stay in front for safety reasons. The ability to place apps and services in the desired spot on the screen is intended to be as simple as possible. Profiles can be set for different drivers’ preferences so the settings are ready when they get behind the wheel.
Second panel
The panoramic display is supplemented by another ‘traditional’ display in the usual place in the middle of the dashboard. This is an 11.1-inch panel in tablet orientation and it is a touchscreen. It is closer to the driver so activating systems or making adjustments can be done easily. Ford doesn’t go entirely touch as there are also physical buttons and switches (depending on the model).
Android Auto and CarPlay
Ford has been using its in-house SYNC system for years and it’s now in its fourth generation. It has not said that it is going to stop having SYNC but it is using an OS running on Google’s Android. It will also have Apple CarPlay connectivity which no one would complain about having.
Designed to prioritize the use of voice, Google Assistant serves as the default voice assistant and Alexa Built-In is also available as an alternative for in-vehicle controls such as to set in-vehicle temperature, search information, find and set a destination and request a specific broadcast or satellite radio station.
Platform built for the future
The Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience is said to be the fastest infotainment system the two brands have ever offered. The system is capable of more than 5 times faster main processing, nearly 14 times faster graphics processing and features 4 times the memory and 8 times the storage compared to today’s Ford and Lincoln in-vehicle infotainment system.
5G wireless technology also brings super-fast connectivity, allowing occupants to occupants to smoothly stream on their own devices inside the vehicle. Vehicle owners will experience new apps and services faster than before because apps and system-level updates are now independent of each other. System-level updates are pushed through vehicle software updates like what happens today, while other applications can come through Google Play.
Visit www.sdacford.com.my to know more about the Ranger.
