FORD PLUGS INTO THE 2008 INTERNATIONAL
CES WITH LATEST IN IN-CAR CONNECTIVITY TECHNOLOGIES
 Ford will bring its biggest presence ever to the International CES 2008,
showcasing Ford SYNC and the latest in in-car connectivity
technologies.
- Ford Motor Company will have its largest presence ever at
the annual International CES in Las Vegas, Jan. 6-8.
- Most
Ford Motor Company vehicles ever will be at the International CES,
showcasing advancements in navigation, satellite services, audio
systems and Bluetooth-connectivity.
- Ford’s next-generation navigation system
– to be launched on 2009 Lincoln MKS and 2009
Ford Flex – represents the next step forward for
in-car connectivity, custom made for customers.
DEARBORN,
Mich., Dec 13, 2007 – Ford Motor Company will have its
largest presence
ever at the 2008 International CES, the world’s largest
tradeshow for
consumer technology.
Following the highly successful launch
of Ford SYNC at the 2007 International CES—the new technology
jointly
developed with Microsoft earned the coveted
“People’s Voice” award—Ford
will return to the annual gathering in Las Vegas on Jan. 6 to showcase
key partnerships and further advancements in consumer-oriented,
in-vehicle electronics.
“Our goal is to deliver the smart,
connected in-car experience that customers today demand,”
said Derrick
Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product
Development. “Ford
is answering the call with the best technology solutions from companies
like Microsoft and SIRIUS, connecting customers with mobile devices,
important information they need on the road and bringing the experience
to life with the latest in navigation technology and branded
audio.”
International
CES visitors will have the opportunity to see numerous Ford Motor
Company vehicles and technologies developed jointly with key suppliers,
including Dolby, Gracenote, Microsoft, SIRIUS, Sony Electronics and
THX.
The technologies and advancements showcased on Ford,
Lincoln and Mercury products at the International CES will become
available to customers going forward, and many are part of
Ford’s
next-generation navigation system, which launches on select model year
2009 vehicles.
“In-car electronics, especially as it relates
to information services and entertainment, continues to rapidly
change,” added Kuzak. “To keep up with the pace of
the consumer
electronics industry, we need to work closely with the most capable
companies in the business. These technology companies are helping
change home entertainment and the movie theater experience, as well as
leading innovations in portable electronics and desktop computing.
Ford, working with these partners, is beginning to bring these great
experiences to the automotive environment, delivering what customers
say they want.”
Ford products and partnerships to see
at INTERNATIONAL CES 2008
Dolby:
A vehicle first featured at the 2007 SEMA show will be back in Las
Vegas for CES—the Funkmaster Flex Ford Flex. This
one-of-a-kind vehicle
will showcase an audio system bundled with the latest Dolby Surround
Sound technologies, including Dolby Pro Logic II, which delivers a
captivating surround sound experience from any stereo (two-channel)
movie, music, TV, or game audio source and the company’s
Advanced
Surround Fader.
Gracenote: The global
leader in embedded technology, enriched content, and data services for
digital entertainment solutions, Gracenote is the engine behind the
“jukebox” capability of Ford’s
next-generation navigation, which
features hard-disk storage space for up to 2,400 songs. Gracenote is
delivering an industry-first interface to Ford, one that combines both
Gracenote’s cover art and voice control offerings as part of
a
groundbreaking graphical music library navigation experience.
Microsoft:
Ford and Microsoft will begin talking about the future of Ford SYNC,
the award-winning system currently available in 12 Ford, Lincoln and
Mercury vehicles. SYNC is changing the way consumers use their mobile
devices in vehicles and meeting high customer expectations. In early
research conducted by Ford, 90 percent of SYNC owners indicated they
would recommend SYNC to a friend.
SIRIUS:
Beginning next year, Ford and SIRIUS will begin to move beyond music
and entertainment. What’s next? SIRIUS Travel Link, a system
that
connects people to the data they need while in a vehicle. Ford will be
the first auto maker to offer this suite of content services, giving
customers up-to-the-minute information—exactly what they
need, right
when they need it. Subscribers get access to current gas prices, local,
real-time traffic information, coast-to-coast weather conditions with
five-day forecasts, as well as sports scores and movie listings. SIRIUS
Travel Link will be standard on Ford's next-generation navigation
system and will be offered with six-months of service on multiple Ford,
Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in 2008.
Sony Electronics:
In early 2007, building on a successful relationship in Europe, Ford
signed a long-term agreement with this consumer electronics leader to
become the exclusive supplier of Sony-branded audio systems in Ford and
Mercury vehicles in North America. The second phase of the agreement
will begin in 2008, with the launch of the 2009 Ford Flex. Ford has
chosen Sony as the exclusive in-car audio supplier for future Ford and
Mercury vehicles around the world. Eventually, Sony’s
signature
technology will be in all Ford and Mercury vehicles.
THX:
Since 2002, the Lincoln brand has successfully offered THX Certified
audio systems in its vehicles. The award-winning THX audio systems
bring home theater-quality sound to the open road. Building on this
successful partnership, THX and Lincoln will showcase the 2009 Lincoln
MKS at the International CES, the first automobile to offer a THX II
Certified 5.1 surround sound system.
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