In many ways, 2016 is just carrying over many of 2015’s burdens. For instance, we still have amazingly abysmal traffic situations and road conditions, with the management to match. Too many cars on the road; too many incompetent, speed-happy, selfish, and law-breaking people behind the wheel; too many “enterprising” folks hounding cars and public transport vehicles. So much for that goal of being more optimistic this year.

Advertisement

While we continue to bemoan the deteriorating state of Philippine road traffic, we bring you some things to brighten up your commute. Legendary US car manufacturer Ford made a few announcements at CES 2016 relating to its big Ford Smart Mobility Plan, making us imagine how different driving could be in a few years’ time, if all goes well. Here’s what went down (and what we loved hearing) during yesterday’s press event at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

Ford SYNC updates

Its SYNC 3 connectivity system got spruced up with new voice-control-enabled AppLink apps and support for 4G LTE connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. We find it real cool that with 4G LTE, Ford car owners can now use the system to do things like start your car remotely, find the car in crowded parking lots (perfect for chaotic sale weekends), or simple stuff like unlocking doors and checking how much gas you have left (plan that according to gas prices’ fluctuations).

Playing nice with Apple and Android on interfaces is also a good move. It allows people from both mobile camps to easily link up their smartphones with Ford’s system, and use specific apps and features to do what they need to do while driving and navigating.

No word on when SYNC 3 will be available for Philippine customers — best to ask Ford Philippines directly — but in North America, consumers can expect SYNC 3, with all the bells and whistles, in 2017 models, with the next Ford Escape as the first one out. Those with 2016 models can upgrade “later in the year”.

Speaking of car software systems…

This one came as a surprise, at least to us. Toyota will use Ford’s open-source SmartDeviceLink tech (on which AppLink is based) on its own cars for added driver convenience, with Honda, Mazda, PSA Peugeot Citroën, and Subaru considering its use in their own vehicles. Time to start liking the sound of your voice. Thing is, a new study showed motorists become distracted when using voice-controlled car systems while driving; we guess this tech falls under the “wait and see” category for us.

Teamups with Amazon and DJI

So Ford owners can talk to their cars. Well, Ford also made their cars able to talk to, in Re/code’s own words, everything.

We gotta say, Ford’s new partnerships with certain tech companies are very interesting. Let’s start with Amazon (for Amazon Echo intelligent speakers, Wink connected home hub, and Alexa app). That aforementioned ability to check gas levels and start the ignition remotely? This new partnership envisions that it can be done with the Amazon trio as well. The added perks: opening garage doors, checking your home security system, opening porch lights, and checking road travel conditions.

The second announced partnership — Ford and DJI — is equally intriguing. The 2016 DJI Developer Challenge is set to make Ford cars and DJI drones partners-in-not-crime. The participating devs’ mission is to create a drone-to-vehicle communications system that can be used for commercial and emergency (i.e., search and rescue) situations. The winning system will be used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in their worldwide surveys and emergency/disaster deployments. The winning developer, in turn, will get US$10,000 (around PhP470,000 based on present exchange rates).

The application period starts January 10, and will run up to March 10. Visit http://developer.dji.com/challenge2016/ for more details. No word yet on contest rules and eligibility.

More cars!

We go from communicative cars and partnered cars to autonomous cars. Ford, adding to its years-long work on self-driving rides, has upped its fleet of autonomous Fusion Hybrid test sedans to 30. These 30 cars are currently being tested in specific areas in the US of A. Not only have the vehicles been upgraded (platform’s now third-gen), they now have the latest Venodyne LiDAR sensors (a.k.a. Solid-State Hybrid Ultra PUCK auto sensors), which are lighter in weight than the older models, and have a longer range.

And don’t forget, the Ford GT supercar was made the official vehicle for CES 2016. Well, isn’t that ride beautiful.