Ford will offer the infotainment and connectivity system to its European models starting from 2012, the company announced today. The all-new Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to feature the SYNC technology, with other models to follow. Ford said it wants to have 2 million SYNC-equipped cars on European roads by 2015.
The voice-control technology will be available in 19 languages: U.S., U.K. and Australian English, European and Canadian French, European and U.S. Spanish, European and Brazilian Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian and Turkish. Beyond Europe, languages such as Arabic, Korean and Japanese are also compatible with SYNC.
The system can recognize 10,000 commands in each of the 19 languages, giving drivers the power to control most of the vehicle's functions using their voice. “SYNC’s unique connection between the driver’s devices and the vehicle means that the user’s voice can control both the car and the device. It is being developed specifically for European customers with the ability to understand multiple languages and accents," said Jason Johnson, SYNC Product Development engineer.
SYNC is able to connect to mobile phones via Bluetooth, playback media acquired via USB-ports and even act as a mobile WiFi hotspot for the car's passengers. “It is a smarter, safer and simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives,” said Ford's CEO Allan Mulally, who will announce SYNC's expansion to Europe at the 2011 CeBIT technology show in Hannover, Germany.
By Dan Mihalascu
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