It feels like a lifetime ago when I traded my gas-guzzling SUV for a hybrid sedan, thinking my upgrade was life-altering and noteworthy. After all, hybrids were still relatively new at the time, so it was a shock to my family that I would get behind the wheel of something seemingly foreign. Like I said, it was a lifetime ago, and that version of me would be floored by the current automotive landscape, particularly high-tech electric powerhouses like the Mustang Mach-E for sale at Ford dealerships nationwide. An all-electric SUV with the Mustang name, who would have ever imagined?
I thought my hybrid was mind-blowing over a decade ago, but the Mach-E and innovative technologies like Ford Power-Up are revolutionary. While all-electric performance is exciting enough, I’m even more impressed by the technologies working behind the scenes on cutting-edge models like the Mach-E and F-150. Ford Power-Up marks a new chapter in the automotive landscape, giving electric powerhouses like the Mach-E and best-selling models like the F-150 the capacity to run their best with over-the-air software updates. It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it?
Ford Power-Up: What Is It?
Technology is at the forefront of the automotive industry, from the apps that seamlessly connect our smartphones to the technologies working behind the scenes to heighten our safety and situational awareness while minimizing the potential for collisions. As an automotive pioneer, Ford is at the helm of innovation and is an early adopter of modern technologies that enhance our experience in the driver’s seat. We saw this firsthand when the Mustang Mach-E debuted and introduced Ford Power-Up.
Ford Power-Up wasn’t a new concept for the Mach-E but was a rebranding of the automaker’s over-the-air software updates. Ford Power-Up sounds better and more impressive than OTA updates, which is a wise move considering Ford’s focus on building modern powerhouses. But what exactly does Ford Power-Up do? Why is it such a big deal in models like the Mach-E and F-150?
Vehicles have relied on computers for decades, with software updates only accessible via your local dealership and service center. Because of this, updating your vehicle’s software meant scheduling an appointment and taking precious time out of your day. Fortunately, coordinating those updates with other routine services, like oil changes and tire rotations, mitigated some of this inconvenience.
Today, Ford Power-Up changes the entire landscape by automatically updating the software in models like the Mach-E and F-150. The Mach-E’s reliance on technology is extensive, with Ford continuously finetuning the SYNC system and other software. Instead of asking Mach-E owners to visit a dealership for these updates, Ford provides over-the-air updates using its revolutionary cloud-connected and vehicle software platform. As a result, the Mach-E runs on the latest technology, constantly improving behind the scenes to perform better and transform your experience.
How Does It Work?
Ford Power-Up is designed to operate seamlessly in the background, meaning drivers can expect little to no inconvenience. Think of these updates like a software update on your smartphone, but only better. How so?
You can schedule the optimal time for Ford Power-Up enhancements using your vehicle’s center touchscreen display. Many owners schedule updates for the middle of the night, allowing the vehicle to check for and download updates overnight and be ready to go the following day. In other instances, the over-the-air updates occur when you’re in the driver’s seat but are entirely unnoticeable, with Ford updating the software once you engage the ignition button.
Since the SYNC system is engineered to work seamlessly behind the scenes, the updates run in the background and refresh using the updated software once complete. There’s no interference with your experience beyond an alert notifying you of the update. The concept is incredible, considering smartphones must reboot with every update. However, this reboot isn’t always required with something as complex and innovative as a vehicle like the Mach-E.
Updates: Past, Present, and Future
One of the biggest questions surrounding Ford Power-Up is the type of software updates Mach-E and F-150 owners can expect. The 2021 F-150 sitting in my driveway has given me firsthand experience as Ford consistently updates everything in the SYNC 4 system to improve its performance. For example, the 2021 F-150 and 2021 Mach-E enjoyed several significant updates to the navigation system, Apple CarPlay, and owner’s manual. Ford enhanced Apple CarPlay to incorporate turn-by-turn navigation on the instrument cluster and made the digital owner’s manual more accessible.
Ford Power-Up enhancements in 2021 also included improvements to the navigation system and the Mach-E’s Remote Vehicle Setup and Trip Logs features. With the navigation update, the F-150 and Mach-E introduced cloud connectivity with enhanced voice recognition and internet-based searches to help drivers navigate their routes using simple voice commands. The Remote Vehicle Setup enhancement in the Mach-E improved the owner experience by making it easier to set individual profile preferences.
Within the last year, Ford Power-Up has also introduced SYNC 4A enhancements on the Mach-E, F-150, Edge, and Expedition. The updates improve the infotainment system by refining the home screen layout, adding icons to the status bar, and incorporating personal profiles. The updates also combined the Settings and Control menus, making it easier to access Ford Power-Up details and schedule future updates from a consolidated menu.
Besides connectivity and personalization tools, Ford Power-Up sends critical over-the-air updates to the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite and other safety and driver-assist technologies. These updates have improved features like Intelligent Cruise Control and how it works with BlueCruise, Ford’s hands-free driver-assist technology.
Looking to the Future
Ongoing technological advancements add to the excitement of revolutionary features like Ford Power-Up. Think about how much technology and the automotive industry have advanced over the last few decades. Because of industry-wide advancements, batteries in electrified vehicles last longer and are far more affordable to replace. Likewise, we’re seeing electric powerhouses like the Mach-E and F-150 Lightning challenge our expectations of performance and what it means to adopt an all-electric lifestyle. It’s an incredible time in the industry.
Ford Power-Up adds to the excitement because the opportunities for expansion are seemingly endless. Our reliance on smartphones is undeniable, with millions of people turning to technology to help manage other areas of their lives. We see this firsthand in tools like Google Built-In and Alexa. Fortunately, Ford is also paying attention.
With Ford Power-Up, drivers can expect more connectivity across the board. Ford introduced Alexa to its lineup in 2017, but with over-the-air software updates and a partnership with Amazon, the automaker now has an even better and more intuitive version of Alexa Built-In. Ford Power-Up ensures the Mach-E, F-150, and other compatible vehicles have the latest Alexa software, allowing drivers to make calls, locate parking lots, find the closest gas stations, play music, control their smart home devices, navigate routes, and more without stealing their focus from the road.
The integration of Alexa Built-In and revolutionary driving tools like BlueCruise adds to an already incredible package in vehicles like the Mach-E, F-150, and others. Ford Power-Up gives its lineup a distinct advantage and showcases the automaker’s commitment to improving our experience as drivers. With the sky as the limit, I expect Ford Power-Up to continue to improve and introduce more features that positively impact how we navigate our busy lives from the driver’s seat.
