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Ford SYNC

A voice-controlled phone and media hub in 2007, then touchscreens from 2010.
Maker
Ford
Years
2007–2023
Versions
6
Cars
7
Input
Touchscreen, voice, buttons, steering-wheel controls
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The first SYNC ran on Microsoft software; MyFord Touch added the touchscreen, and SYNC 3 and SYNC 4 moved to BlackBerry QNX. The fifth phase, marketed as Ford Digital Experience and Lincoln Digital Experience, runs on Android Automotive OS. Lincoln had its own names for the second generation (MyLincoln Touch) and the fifth (Lincoln Digital Experience); SYNC 3 and SYNC 4 kept the SYNC name on Lincolns, SYNC 3 with a Lincoln theme.

Cockpit of the Ford F‑150 (14th generation) (opens in a new tab)
Ford F‑150 (14th generation) · SYNC 4© Ford Motor Company · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · Ford From the Road: source page for this photo (opens in a new tab)

Versions

6 versions · 2007–2023How this is counted

  1. SYNC (first generation)2007Fitted to Focus (2008)
  2. MyFord Touch (SYNC Gen 2)2010–2016Fitted to F‑150 (12th generation)
  3. SYNC 32015Fitted to F‑150 (13th generation)
  4. SYNC 42020Fitted to F‑150 (14th generation)

2 versions not yet photographed: SYNC 4A, Ford / Lincoln Digital Experience. Add a photo

Versions, oldest first
VersionYearsDisplayInputOperating systemFirst carSources
SYNC (first generation)2007Not recordedVoice, buttons, steering-wheel controlsMicrosoft Auto (Windows Embedded Automotive)Focus (2008)1, 2, 3
MyFord Touch (SYNC Gen 2)2010–20168-inchTouchscreen, voice, buttons, steering-wheel controlsMicrosoft Auto 4.0F‑150 (12th generation) (earliest in the archive)1, 4, 5
SYNC 32015Not recordedTouchscreen, voice, buttons, steering-wheel controlsQNX (BlackBerry)F‑150 (13th generation) (earliest in the archive)1, 5, 6
SYNC 4202012–13.2-inchTouchscreen, voice, buttons, steering-wheel controlsQNXF‑150 (14th generation) (earliest in the archive)1, 7, 8, 9, 10
SYNC 4A2020Not recordedNot recordedQNXNot recorded1
Ford / Lincoln Digital Experience2023Not recordedNot recordedAndroid Automotive OSNot recorded1, 10, 11, 12, 13

The table scrolls sideways.

Cars fitted

Showing 7 cars

Versions by car, oldest car first
CarYearsVersions
Mustang (S197)2005–2014
Focus (2008)2008–2011
F‑150 (12th generation)2009–2014
F‑150 (13th generation)2015–2020
Mustang (S550)2015–2023
F‑150 (14th generation)2021–present
Mustang (S650)2024–present

The table scrolls sideways.

Photos

Showing 19 photos

All Ford cockpit photos

Version notes

6 versions

  1. SYNC (first generation)

    2007Supplier: Microsoft (software); Continental AG (hardware)Sources 1, 2, 3

    • Announced with Microsoft in January 2007 and first offered on 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models for the 2008 model year.
    • Voice control for Bluetooth phones and for music players connected over USB.
    • Later software releases added 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and Traffic, Directions and Information.
    • Launch price was US$395 as a stand-alone option; hardware was a separate module with a 400 MHz Freescale i.MX31L processor.

  2. MyFord Touch (SYNC Gen 2)

    2010–2016Supplier: MicrosoftSources 1, 4, 5

    • Shown at CES in January 2010 and launched on the 2011 Ford Edge, with a MyLincoln Touch version on the Lincoln MKX.
    • An 8-inch center touchscreen plus two driver-configurable 4.2-inch LCDs in the gauge cluster.
    • Many center-stack functions moved to capacitive touch switches that were hard to use with gloves.
    • Reliability complaints helped drop Ford from 5th to 23rd in J.D. Power's 2011 Initial Quality Survey.
    • Phased out as SYNC 3 spread through the lineup, which Ford planned to complete by the end of 2016.

  3. SYNC 3

    2015Sources 1, 5, 6

    • Announced on December 11, 2014 as the replacement for MyFord Touch, for 2016 model-year vehicles.
    • Switched from Microsoft software to BlackBerry's QNX.
    • Smartphone-style screen layout with bigger icons and text, plus software updates over Wi-Fi.
    • The Sync 3 name was used on Lincoln models too, with a Lincoln-specific theme.

  4. SYNC 4

    2020Sources 1, 7, 8, 9, 10

    • Announced on October 30, 2019 with about twice the computing power of SYNC 3.
    • Landscape main screens of 8 or 12 inches at launch; a 13.2-inch version followed on the 2024 Mustang.
    • Cloud-based navigation, conversational voice recognition and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
    • Receives over-the-air Ford Power-Up updates.
    • Standard on the 2021 F-150; Lincoln used it under the SYNC 4 name, for example on the 2021 Nautilus.

  5. SYNC 4A

    2020Sources 1

    • Announced alongside SYNC 4 in October 2019.
    • Portrait-oriented main screen of 12 or 15.5 inches.
    • First shown on the Mustang Mach-E, revealed in November 2019.

  6. Ford / Lincoln Digital Experience

    2023Sources 1, 10, 11, 12, 13

    • Debuted on the second-generation Lincoln Nautilus, shown in North America on April 17, 2023 and built from September 2023.
    • Reached Ford-brand vehicles with the 2025 Explorer (revealed February 2024), then the 2025 Expedition (revealed October 2024, built from January 2025); the 2025 Lincoln Navigator (revealed August 2024) uses the Lincoln Digital Experience.
    • Replaces SYNC 4 and SYNC 4A, moving from QNX to Android Automotive OS.
    • Also known as SYNC 5; marketed as Ford Digital Experience and Lincoln Digital Experience.

Sources

13 sources

  1. 1.Ford SyncWikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  2. 2.Ford Partners with Microsoft to Deliver Sync In-Car Digital SystemAutomotive Fleetautomotive-fleet.com
  3. 3.Review: 2008 Ford FocusAutoblogautoblog.com
  4. 4.MyFord TouchWikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  5. 5.Here's The Replacement For Ford's Hated MyFordTouch Infotainment SystemJalopnikjalopnik.com
  6. 6.Ford Announces More 2016 F-150 UpdatesAutomotive Fleetautomotive-fleet.com
  7. 7.Ford SYNC 4 brings new levels of connectivity, voice recognition and fewer cords to make life on the go easyAutomotive Worldautomotiveworld.com
  8. 8.2021 Ford F-150 Interior: New Design, Features, And TechMotor1motor1.com
  9. 9.All-New Ford Mustang upshifts its style, performance and digital immersion for the ultimate pony car experienceFord of Europefordpers.be
  10. 10.Lincoln NautilusWikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  11. 11.Ford ExpeditionWikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  12. 12.Ford ExplorerWikipediaen.wikipedia.org
  13. 13.Lincoln NavigatorWikipediaen.wikipedia.org

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Photo credits

Photo credits (20)
  1. Ford F‑150 (14th generation), cockpit, 1 of 3“2024 F-150 Platinum” (opens in a new tab) · © Ford Motor Company · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · Ford From the Road
  2. Ford Focus (2008), cockpit, 1 of 3“2009 Ford Focus Coupe 4” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Ford Motor Company from USA · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  3. Ford F‑150 (12th generation), cockpit“CES 2012 - Ford Raptor F150 truck interior (6937825497)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: The Conmunity - Pop Culture Geek from Los Angeles, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  4. Ford F‑150 (13th generation), cockpit, 1 of 2Cropped from “2020 Ford F-150 Lariat interior” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Burns Ford · Public domain (opens in a new tab) · Flickr
  5. Ford Mustang (S197), cockpit, 1 of 4“Ford Mustang GT (US) - Flickr - skinnylawyer” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: skinnylawyer from Los Angeles, California, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  6. Ford Mustang (S550), cockpit, 1 of 2“2018 Ford Mustang GT V8 5.0 facelift Interior” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  7. Ford Mustang (S650), cockpit, 1 of 5“2024 Mustang Interior” (opens in a new tab) · © Ford Motor Company · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · Ford From the Road
  8. Ford Mustang (S197), cockpit, 2 of 4“Ford Mustang dash (52460811539)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Thomas Vogt from Paderborn, Deutschland · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  9. Ford Mustang (S197), cockpit, 3 of 4“Mustang GT Convertible Interior (12488190564)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: artistmac · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  10. Ford Focus (2008), cockpit, 2 of 3“2009FordFocusSES(coupe)PassengerEntryView” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Porsche997SBS · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  11. Ford Focus (2008), cockpit, 3 of 3“2009FordFocusSES(coupe)Dashboard” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Porsche997SBS · CC0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  12. Ford Mustang (S650), cockpit, 2 of 5“2024 Mustang Interior” (opens in a new tab) · © Ford Motor Company · Editorial use (opens in a new tab) · Ford From the Road
  13. Ford Mustang (S197), cockpit, 4 of 4“Ford Mustang V8 GT Coupe Premium interior” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: TTTNIS · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  14. Ford F‑150 (13th generation), cockpit, 2 of 2“2020 Ford F-150 Lariat interior” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Burns Ford · Public domain (opens in a new tab) · Flickr
  15. Ford Mustang (S550), cockpit, 2 of 2“Mstg S550 hk160616 7016besg” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Malchick743 (ALJMW) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  16. Ford F‑150 (14th generation), cockpit, 2 of 3“2022 Ford F-150 interior” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: deathpallie325 · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  17. Ford F‑150 (14th generation), cockpit, 3 of 3“2025 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Lariat-EV driving mode” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: McChizzle · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  18. Ford Mustang (S650), cockpit, 3 of 5“Ford Mustang S650 5.0 GT interior” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Ethan Llamas · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  19. Ford Mustang (S650), cockpit, 4 of 5“Ford Mustang EcoBoost Coupé (2024) (53620395732)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Charles from Port Chester, New York · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
  20. Ford Mustang (S650), cockpit, 5 of 5“Ford Mustang VII Convertible Autofrühling Ulm IMG 9335” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons

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