Ford has stretched its technology lead over its dual-cab ute and ute-based SUV rivals in Australia.
The strong-selling Ranger ute, the seven-seat Everest SUV, and the Transit van will be the first Fords to feature the FordPass Connect app in Australia, allowing owners to remotely lock and unlock, start, and locate their cars from an iPhone or Android phone.
The technology will standard across the Ranger, Everest, and Transit line-ups from the end of July, before rolling out across the entire Ford range as a part of model-year upgrades by early in 2021.
There will be no ongoing subscription charges: the FordPass system is free for the life of the modem in the car, and isn’t linked to a particular owner.
FordPass compatible cars have an embedded modem which allows the car to communicate with a smartphone remotely. You could be on the other side of the world but, provided the car and your phone have reception, the two will be able to communicate.
Owners will be able to:
- Check fuel level and tyre pressures
- Remotely start and stop (automatic) vehicles
- Remotely lock and unlock vehicles
- See live traffic in the satellite navigation
- Locate their cars in large carparks
- See when fluids are low or need replacing, and book a service with some dealers
None of the Ranger’s dual-cab ute rivals offer the same functionality, although the range-topping Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed does feature app connectivity as standard in the seven-seat off-road SUV segment.
“FordPass Connect makes life simpler and easier, and as our best-selling vehicles in Australia, we’ve chosen Ranger, Everest and Transit as the first to offer this innovative technology as standard,” said Kay Hart, Ford Australia and New Zealand president and CEO.
