ford

Automakers used to innovate slowly, but this year the race is on for integrating apps into the car, and it is moving at a whirlwind pace. Last year Ford kicked off this new era of car technology by integrating Pandora through its Sync AppLink system, and this year nine other automakers jumped on the bandwagon to some degree.

We were impressed to see both Toyota and GM, in the space of a single year, demonstrate and prepare to launch app integration in 2012 model year vehicles.

App integration means bringing services such as Pandora, Google search, and Twitter into the … Read more

iHeartRadio hasn't forgotten about the 19 million smartphone users still rocking BlackBerries--the Internet radio service integrated its BlackBerry app with Ford's infotainment system to give listeners access to their favorite stations while on the go.

The new BlackBerry iHeartRadio app, available for download, seamlessly integrates features with the vehicle steering wheel controls. For hands-free control, Sync AppLink users can use voice commands, such as "Genre," "City," or "Personality," to search for a station by type of music, location of station, or host.

This is the third BlackBerry app that has been integrated … Read more

A new company developing location-based coupon systems won Ford's contest to integrate an app with Sync at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon. Developers from Roximity spent last weekend adapting their app to use Sync's voice command and display capabilities, making its service available in the car. Ford announced the winner of its contest this week.

Roximity is currently operating under the radar, with only a coming soon sign on its Web site. The company will offer coupons based on a user's location, through either a smartphone app or, as the Ford development indicates, a car.

Roximity's system … Read more

Jim Farley, Ford Motor's global marketing chief, will dive deeper into social media to promote new products.

Ford will launch three electric vehicles next year. It also will introduce several 2013 models with conventional engines, including a restyled Taurus sedan, redesigned Escape crossover, and redesigned Fusion midsize sedan. And its luxury brand, Lincoln, gets new and redesigned models, too.

Farley, 49, says he's prepared to use digital marketing, and especially social media, to promote these vehicles.

Farley discussed these and other marketing issues with Industry Editor James B. Treece and Staff Reporter Jamie LaReau.

Q: What have you … Read more

The Car Tech team has been at the 2011 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, and in our first day of coverage we've seen a mini electric car from Audi, a stylish SUV from Maserati, and a futuristic concept from Ford. Here's a rundown of the big stories of the day:

Audi Urban Concept Spyder Audi's little electric car explores extreme ideas in future urban transportation.

Mini Cooper Coupe Mini adds to its repertoire of fun, small cars with the smallest yet. This Coupe only has two seats.

BMW i8 plug-in hybrid concept BMW kicks off its new … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--Ford wants developers to create a broad array of connectivity applications that can be used in conjunction with its cars, and it launched its OpenXC platform Monday to promote that effort.

In an announcement at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference here, Ford and its partner Bug Labs unveiled OpenXC, a platform designed to allow third-party developers to create any number of open-source hardware or software products that will interact with Ford's Sync system.

The idea, said K. Venkatesh Prasad, the senior technical leader of Infotronics at Ford Research and Innovation, is to make it possible for outside developers to … Read more

Ford inspired developers for its AppLink contest at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon last weekend by demonstrating Spotify integration. The demonstration showcased how easily Spotify developers were able to use Ford's Sync API to integrate the online music service into a Ford vehicle.

Developers modified the Spotify smartphone app, using Ford's Sync API, so that a driver could use the car's stereo controls and voice command to control the service. Information about the currently playing track appears on the car's stereo display.

Ford clarified that this demonstration was not meant to indicate a production version of Sync … Read more

Ford's Evos concept car isn't on display at the IFA show in Berlin, but Ford's chief technology officer is there to discuss the vehicle, which will be "permanently connected to the cloud."

In a recorded interview (scroll down to listen), CTO Paul Mascarenas said that with Evos "being connected to the cloud, it can access data and information that allows the vehicle to understand your preferences as a driver." It could automatically play the type of music you like and even adjust the suspension, breaking, and routes based on your preferred driving style.… Read more

The original Pink Panther car and a replica of the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" car will be featured in an online auction from from a U.K. auction house beginning at noon on Sept. 4, and running through 1 p.m Oct. 14.

The Panthermobile was created for "The Pink Panther Show," which ran from 1969 to 1976 on NBC.

According to auction house, Robson Kay, the car was the brainchild of Hollywood designer Jay Ohrberg, who is best known for creating memorable small- and big-screen vehicles such as K.I.T.T. from "Knight … Read more