Ford Ranger tech upgrade to see SYNC4 axed, hands-free driving added
The Ford Ranger is set to ditch its SYNC4 infotainment system under a revised tech strategy which will also enable the popular ute to run its BlueCruise autonomous driving system.
SYNC4 will be used in the upcoming Ford Ranger PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) as well as the recently revealed 2026 Ranger Super Duty – but these may be the final Rangers with the system.
While timing of SYNC4's departure is yet to be revealed, a report from Ford Authority pointed to comments from Ford digital design boss, Doug Field, who said the SYNC4 system will make way for a version of Ford Digital Experience (FDE) – with the Toyota HiLux-rivalling Ranger top of the queue.
Also set to move to FDE are the F-150 and Mustang, with the latter set to join the Ranger in getting BlueCruise for the first time.
FDE was developed in collaboration with Google, with the roll-out beginning in the US on the 2025 Ford Explorer large SUV – and several models from Ford's luxury brand Lincoln – not sold in Australia.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 2025 Ford Explorer with Ford Digital Experience Credit: CarExpert
'Software can sit in several types of electrical layouts, and in our plan, we'll innovate within a layout that draws from our existing platform instead of building a whole new one,' said Mr Field.
'For example, we will be able to take our very successful Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience that we've launched in the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus and Navigator to many more products like Mustang, Bronco, Ranger, and F-150.'
FDE brings a more smartphone-like experience centred around personalisation for vehicle owners, where preferred apps are displayed front-and-centre on the screen.
The ability to fit FDE in existing vehicles comes after Ford dropped development of its FNV4 (fully networked vehicle) software.
Instead, it will update existing platforms, enabling the use of its BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system, while developing a separate electrical architecture for its upcoming low-cost electric vehicle (EV) platform.
BlueCruise, a Level 2 autonomous driving feature, allows for hands-free driving across over 209,000km of highways in North America.
As of July 2024, it can also be used across 132,000km of highways in Europe, as Ford continues to receive regulatory approval for the feature in different markets. It currently isn't supported in Australia. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The Ranger's move to what Ford is calling the FNV3.X electrical architecture may see SYNC4 replaced in the Ranger in a model year update ahead of a new model on a fresh platform, with the current underpinnings having been introduced in 2011.
The next-generation Ranger is expected in 2028 after the Ford F-150 development was delayed 12 months, with the two vehicles previously planned to share the same platform for the first time.
It is not clear whether the planned shared platform strategy – which was intended to reduce the number of platforms globally to streamline manufacturing costs – will go ahead.
SYNC4 was announced in 2019 and brought capabilities including over-the-air (OTA) updates including cloud-based navigation and connected services.
The Ford Ranger was the first Ford Australia vehicle to gain the FordPass smartphone app when it was launched locally in 2020. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
MORE: Everything Ford Ranger
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Toyota says its hybrids have saved nine million EVs worth of CO2
Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda has reinforced his company's commitment to prioritising hybrid vehicles (HEVs) over battery-electric vehicles (EVs or BEVs), outlining that hybrids are its ideal way forward in terms of reducing total CO2 emissions. Speaking through an interpreter in a recent interview with Automotive News, Toyoda-san said Toyota is as committed to reducing the environmental impact of cars as any other brand, but has adopted a cost- and time-effective way to go about reducing its carbon emissions. 'When the term 'carbon neutrality' started to become popular and we started to hear about it, we set our target as a company saying that for us, the enemy is carbon,' he said. 'The way that we thought about it was that we're not going to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality just by building BEVs, but we have to focus on things that we can do now so that, immediately, we can reduce CO2 from the air. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 'We looked at ourselves [and asked] 'what can we do with the things that we have to contribute to carbon neutrality?' That was the base of how we made our decision in those times, and that has not changed now, and will not change for the future.' Toyoda-san is referring to the widespread rollout of hybrid vehicles, which dominate the Japanese brand's current model range. Toyota is credited with creating the first mass-produced hybrid car in the late 1990s, and has continued to develop the technology to the market-leading status it holds today. The company's passenger car lineup is now dominated by hybrids, evidenced by the Japanese brand's Australian axing of all petrol versions of cars that offer hybrid options in 2024. Hybrids continue to play a significant role in Toyota's global efforts too, not least in its home country. Toyoda-san claims that over the past five years, the focus on hybrids played a larger role in reducing Japanese CO2 emissions than EVs. Above: Toyota Hybrid range 'If you can check the data for each country about the CO2 emission situation for the past five years, it's going to be very clear,' Toyoda-san said. 'For Japan, we had this weapon of hybrid vehicles, so with the hybrid vehicles, we were able to reduce 23 per cent of CO2 emissions in the same [time], and it was the only country that was able to achieve that.' Toyoda-san added that his company has produced and delivered upwards of 27 million hybrids to date, and claimed that figure was 'equivalent to nine million BEVs in terms of the contribution to carbon neutrality'. 'The hybrids that we made and sold had the same impact as nine million BEVs on the road, but if we were to make nine million BEVs in [Japan] it would have actually increased the CO2 emissions, not reduced, because we are relying on thermal powerplants.' Despite that, Toyoda-san reaffirmed that HEVs aren't the only way forward, pointing to Toyota's continued development of internal combustion petrol and diesel engines (ICEs), as well as EVs, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Toyota recently revealed the next-generation RAV4 mid-size SUV (above), which will be the brand's first PHEV in Australia. The Mirai FCEV is currently being used by corporate fleets and government partners locally via very limited leases, too. The Japanese auto giant is also part of an alliance with Subaru and Mazda to develop lower-emission ICEs into the future. 'I think we shouldn't just focus on [BEV] … but we should look at all the options that we have and work in all directions,' Toyoda-san said. 'That will be similar to thinking as a person of the planet, not just from one perspective, but thinking about the whole planet, and then we can think about the various options and take the movements to reduce CO2 as much as possible. 'I believe if everyone can support this way of thinking, it will be for the benefit of all the stakeholders too.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Toyota says its hybrids have saved nine million EVs worth of CO2
Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda has reinforced his company's commitment to prioritising hybrid vehicles (HEVs) over battery-electric vehicles (EVs or BEVs), outlining that hybrids are its ideal way forward in terms of reducing total CO2 emissions. Speaking through an interpreter in a recent interview with Automotive News, Toyoda-san said Toyota is as committed to reducing the environmental impact of cars as any other brand, but has adopted a cost- and time-effective way to go about reducing its carbon emissions. 'When the term 'carbon neutrality' started to become popular and we started to hear about it, we set our target as a company saying that for us, the enemy is carbon,' he said. 'The way that we thought about it was that we're not going to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality just by building BEVs, but we have to focus on things that we can do now so that, immediately, we can reduce CO2 from the air. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'We looked at ourselves [and asked] 'what can we do with the things that we have to contribute to carbon neutrality?' That was the base of how we made our decision in those times, and that has not changed now, and will not change for the future.' Toyoda-san is referring to the widespread rollout of hybrid vehicles, which dominate the Japanese brand's current model range. Toyota is credited with creating the first mass-produced hybrid car in the late 1990s, and has continued to develop the technology to the market-leading status it holds today. The company's passenger car lineup is now dominated by hybrids, evidenced by the Japanese brand's Australian axing of all petrol versions of cars that offer hybrid options in 2024. Hybrids continue to play a significant role in Toyota's global efforts too, not least in its home country. Toyoda-san claims that over the past five years, the focus on hybrids played a larger role in reducing Japanese CO2 emissions than EVs. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Above: Toyota Hybrid range 'If you can check the data for each country about the CO2 emission situation for the past five years, it's going to be very clear,' Toyoda-san said. 'For Japan, we had this weapon of hybrid vehicles, so with the hybrid vehicles, we were able to reduce 23 per cent of CO2 emissions in the same [time], and it was the only country that was able to achieve that.' Toyoda-san added that his company has produced and delivered upwards of 27 million hybrids to date, and claimed that figure was 'equivalent to nine million BEVs in terms of the contribution to carbon neutrality'. 'The hybrids that we made and sold had the same impact as nine million BEVs on the road, but if we were to make nine million BEVs in [Japan] it would have actually increased the CO2 emissions, not reduced, because we are relying on thermal powerplants.' Despite that, Toyoda-san reaffirmed that HEVs aren't the only way forward, pointing to Toyota's continued development of internal combustion petrol and diesel engines (ICEs), as well as EVs, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Supplied Credit: CarExpert Toyota recently revealed the next-generation RAV4 mid-size SUV (above), which will be the brand's first PHEV in Australia. The Mirai FCEV is currently being used by corporate fleets and government partners locally via very limited leases, too. The Japanese auto giant is also part of an alliance with Subaru and Mazda to develop lower-emission ICEs into the future. 'I think we shouldn't just focus on [BEV] … but we should look at all the options that we have and work in all directions,' Toyoda-san said. 'That will be similar to thinking as a person of the planet, not just from one perspective, but thinking about the whole planet, and then we can think about the various options and take the movements to reduce CO2 as much as possible. 'I believe if everyone can support this way of thinking, it will be for the benefit of all the stakeholders too.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert MORE: Toyota RAV4, Corolla, Camry, Corolla Cross, Kluger go hybrid-only in AustraliaMORE: 2026 Toyota RAV4 gets fresh design, tech plus PHEV power for AustraliaMORE: Toyota, Mazda and Subaru commit to petrol power with new enginesMORE: Everything Toyota
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Peugeot e-208 GTi unveiled: French hot hatch goes electric
Peugeot is wading into the electric hot hatch battle with the GTi badge now affixed to the e-208 city hatch. Under the bonnet there's a more powerful French-made electric motor with 209kW and 345Nm driving the front wheels. That's quite a big step up from the regular e-208's 115kW motor. To help the GTi make a clean getaway it's fitted with a limited-slip differential. The e-208 GTi can complete the 0-100km/h dash in 5.7 seconds, and hit a top speed of 180km/h. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert A 54kWh battery from CATL is standard, and provides a 350km driving range under the WLTP standard. AC charging speeds top out at 7.4kW, and 100kW can be achieved with at a DC fast charger. The GTi rides on 215/40 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres wrapped around 18-inch wheels styled to resemble the 'hole' rims used on the 205 GTi. Peugeot claims this not only honours the car's heritage, but provides extra cooling for the brakes. The front discs have been upsized to 355mm with red-painted four-piston calipers. The brakes at the rear are unchanged from the regular e-208 for 'efficiency' purposes. Supplied Credit: CarExpert To benefit the car's handling, and stance, the GTi is 30mm lower than lesser e-208 variants, and its tracks are wider by 56mm at the front and 27mm at the rear. Inside the cabin there are new grippier front seats, a small steering wheel with a flat top and bottom, and plenty of red highlights. Prominent GTi badging appears on the alloy wheels, side sills, seats, and steering wheel. Faux suede trim is used on the door grips, steering wheel, seats, and centre console lid. Leather is applied to the seat bolsters and parts of the steering wheel, while a huge swathe of carbon-fibre-like trim stretches from the door cards and across the dashboard. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The e-208 GTi will be produced in right-hand drive for the UK and Ireland, but it's unclear if the e-208 GTi will grace Australian streets. Indeed the Australian future of the 208 range is unclear. Originally slated to appear locally in 2024, that date has come and gone with no movement at the station. Although the e-208 did receive Australian certification back in 2023, local importer Inchcape is keeping its cards close to its chest. The last GTi model sold in Australia was the 308 back in 2020, with the 208 and the 208 GTi discontinued in 2018. MORE: Everything Peugeot 208
