Mexican Media Brands
Ford Tweaks Troubled Touch-Screen System Again
Ford Motor Co. plans to upgrade the software of its touch-screen infotainment system for the second time this year.
#electronics
Share
Ford Motor Co. plans to upgrade the software of its touch-screen infotainment system for the second time this year. It also is extending warranty coverage on the two-year-old technology.
Consumers like the concept of MyFord Touch, which enables them to control a plethora of navigation, music and HVAC operations with a touch screen or voice commands.
But owners have complained since the technology's introduction in 2010 that the touch screen is slow, complicated and error-prone. Problems with the system have caused Ford's quality scores to plummet. And a software update in March was dismissed as ineffective by Consumer Reports magazine.
Earlier upgrades simplified screen graphics, enlarged the font size for text and sped up response time. Mark Fields, president of Ford Americas, tells reporters at the Los Angeles auto show that the latest update will improve the system's voice recognition and navigation features and make it easier to connect wireless devices via Bluetooth.
Ford plans to begin rolling out the software fixes next month to more than 1 million owners.
The company also is extending warranties on the technology. In Ford brand vehicles, coverage is now five years and unlimited mileage instead of three years and 36,000 miles. Lincoln brand vehicles are now covered for six years and unlimited mileage from five years and 50,000 miles.
RELATED CONTENT
-
2017 Buick LaCrosse Premium AWD
The Buick design team deserves the strongest of accolades for their work at transforming the appearance of the brand from one of, well something akin to “the last ride” to one of contemporary stylishness befitting of a the cohort of automotive customers who didn’t cast their first presidential ballot in 1968 or earlier.
-
TRW Multi-Axis Acceleration Sensors Developed
Admittedly, this appears to be nothing more than a plastic molded part with an inserted bolt-shaped metal component.
-
Internal Combustion Engines’ Continued Domination (?)
According to a new research study by Deutsche Bank, “PCOT III: Revisiting the Outlook for Powertrain Technology” (that’s “Pricing the Car of Tomorrow”), to twist a phrase from Mark Twain, it seems that the reports of the internal combustion engine’s eminent death are greatly exaggerated.