DEARBORN, Mi., May, 1 2008 – Lincoln Navigator owners wishing they had Ford's industry-exclusive SYNC in-vehicle communications system, need wish no more.

Ford has introduced an affordable, dealer-installed SYNC accessory kit that allows select 2008 Navigator and Navigator L customers to enjoy the award-winning voice-activated communications system that works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players.   

Ford first introduced the Microsoft-powered SYNC system on the 2008 Ford Focus.  And 11 other 2008MY products soon followed, including the Ford Edge, Taurus, and the Lincoln MKX and Lincoln MKZ.  As part of Ford's aggressive migration plan, SYNC will be offered on nearly every 2009MY Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle.

"The company's decision to offer the custom SYNC accessory retrofit kit first on Navigator wasn't casual, says Doug White, Vehicle Personalization Marketing & Planning manager, who adds that original migration plans were to add SYNC to the luxury SUV for the 2009 model year. "Customers and dealers were telling us that we needed SYNC on our flagship SUV and we felt we needed to respond to those concerns as quickly as we could," says White. "They essentially said, 'If you have it on Focus, why not Navigator.' "

California dealer Ed Witt of Witt Lincoln Mercury expects the SYNC accessory kit to be a big hit with Navigator customers. Witt was one of the first dealers to order up the kits in early April. "This product is done to perfection and works just as if it came from the factory," says Witt, who installed 10 of the SYNC kits just three weeks after it became available. "For standalone Lincoln Mercury dealers, the Navigator is an extremely important product for us – an icon for the Lincoln brand. Having SYNC gives us the opportunity to go back to our Navigator customers and offer them a solid system that is absolutely seamless and works perfectly."

For the SYNC retrofit kit, customers must own a 2008 Navigator or Navigator L equipped with the Elite Package that includes the voice-activated navigation radio and rear seat DVD. Vehicles must also be built after December 4, 2007.

The accessory kit, which consists of the SYNC module and related hardware, costs under $550 installed. Installation time is under two hours.

The system uses the existing steering wheel button controls and voice-activation functionality connected with the navigation system, eliminating the need for an add-on HMI or microphone to operate SYNC. Once installed, the retrofit SYNC system is fully integrated.  "The hardware is hidden and the system is totally seamless to the customer," says White.   

SYNC accessory kits are also under development for other vehicles, including the Ford Mustang.

Room to Grow

To keep customers connected with the most current and mainstream innovations in in-car connectivity, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle owners that have SYNC – whether it's factory- or dealer-installed – will be able to upgrade the system's software to support future features and functions. Later this year, for example, Ford will add 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Reports to SYNC's connectivity inventory.

911 Assist is a free-of-charge accident assistance feature. When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC – which is designed to happen every time the driver enters the vehicle with his or her cell phone – the system, if equipped with the 911 Assist feature, will be ready to place a call to a local 911 emergency operator should an air bag-deploying accident occur.

The Vehicle Health Report (VHR) function gives customers the ability to stay up to speed with their vehicle's maintenance needs. Using the SYNC Web site (www.syncmyride.com), customers will be able to set up personal preferences for VHR. Once established, a confidential report can be requested at any time, at no cost, using simple voice commands.

A Platform for More

Ford SYNC is on track to reach 1 million sales in early 2009. This summer, the 2009 models being added to the SYNC play list include the all-new Ford Flex and F-150 as well as the Lincoln MKS.

SYNC is Ford's platform for smarter, easily upgradeable in-car connectivity. Already, Ford is moving beyond the music and the mobile phone to master technologies that will also connect customers with the real-time information and services that they want and value while on the road. Some examples of other in-car connectivity features from Ford that are independent of SYNC include:

• SIRIUS Travel Link^TM – a suite of data services that links drivers to traffic and weather information, fuel prices at nearby stations and the most up-to-date sports and entertainment news – along with a 23,000-song personal jukebox. Broadcast through SIRIUS's existing satellite and repeater infrastructure, the exclusive Travel Link feature launches in conjunction with Ford's next-generation navigation system. Watch for it first on the 2009 Lincoln MKS this summer. 
    
• Ford Work Solutions – The new 2009 F-150 and F-Series Super Duty become true mobile offices with the Ford Work Solutions suite of technological tools for the working professional and commercial driver. In addition to hands-free mobile phone connectivity and voice-activated navigation, Ford Work Solutions allows customers to monitor in-box tool inventories, access and print documents and review engineering drawings from inside the cab.