Ford's SYNC Connect lets you start your car with a phone app

Ford Sync Connect

Ford debuted SYNC Connect, its in-car telematics technology, at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. The technology – enabled through the eponymous app – enables owners of supported vehicles to remotely lock, unlock and start their cars.

Those living in extreme climates, whether cold or hot, can schedule remote starts with the app to get the car warmed up or cooled down before hopping in the car and driving off – just don't remote start the car when its parked in a garage, though.

If you too often forget where you've parked your car, you can easily locate it via the SYNC Connect smartphone app. (It can happen to the best of us on rough days or in unfamiliar places.) SYNC Connect can also report on your car's health, including fuel levels, oil life, battery and tire pressure.

SYNC Connect Mobile App

Let's say Ford is 'fashionably late'

While the telematics features are new to Ford vehicles, the company is late to the telematics party. General Motors offered remote door unlocking via phone call with its OnStar system in the late 1990s, while more recent vehicles have a smartphone app, too.

Hyundai debuted similar functionality with Blue Link a couple years ago, and it even has a companion app for Android Wear and the Apple Watch, too.

Unlike OnStar and Blue Link, SYNC Connect does not offer call-center based services, such as emergency crash notification, turn-by-turn directions or stolen vehicle slow-down services.

SYNC Connect takes advantage of AT&T's LTE network in the US, like GM's OnStar, while Hyundai Blue Link operates on Verizon. The LTE modem employed in vehicles with SYNC Connect technology ensures Ford can easily take advantage of LTE networks around the world.

Ford includes five years of complimentary service to SYNC Connect with a new car purchase, a nice bonus over GM OnStar and Blue Link's one year of complimentary subscription. Ford has not revealed the potential subscription costs after five years yet.

2017 Ford Escape

The 2017 Ford Escape crossover, also known as the Ford Kuga in Europe, will be the first car to feature SYNC Connect technology when it arrives at dealerships next spring. The firm has yet to release its roll-out plan for other models.

Ford revealed the refreshed 2017 Escape this week with revised styling, new driver assist technologies – such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with brake support and a lane-keep assist system – new 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter Ecoboost turbo motors with auto start/stop technology, and the latest SYNC 3 infotainment system.

Latest in Car Infotainment
Android Auto
Android Auto is about to get a big Gemini upgrade – and there's good news and bad news
Apple CarPlay 2
Apple promised us CarPlay 2.0 in 2024 – but it hasn't arrived yet
Android Automotive examples in EVs
Here's the real reason Android Automotive is still kind of a mess in EVs
A look at the Target "Drive Up" experience running in Apple CarPlay.
Target aims to make picking up orders even easier by integrating with Apple CarPlay
The Lamborghini Revuelto on a road
Lamborghini taps Sonus faber to make a first-of-its-kind sound system for the luxury Revuelto – the ultimate fine Italian two-piece
LG Display SDV
LG wants to screenify your EV and it may be wild enough to work
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over