Ford’s New Digital Experience Merges Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in a Game-Changing Move

Ford is revolutionizing the in-car experience by integrating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into its new Digital Experience, debuting in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. The luxury SUV introduces a next-gen infotainment system that provides drivers with the best of both worlds—allowing Apple and Android systems to operate in harmony without forcing users to choose between them.

The highlight of Ford’s new Digital Experience is a 48-inch Panoramic Display that stretches across the Nautilus’s dashboard. Running on Google’s Android Automotive OS, the system offers a cinematic interface while giving drivers the ability to project Apple Maps from their iPhone via CarPlay without switching between systems. This unique setup allows Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to function simultaneously, marking a significant step forward for in-car technology.

In most modern cars, users often choose between using their smartphone’s interface or the car’s built-in system. However, Ford’s innovation with the Lincoln Digital Experience enables the best of both. For instance, you can adjust car settings or control navigation on the Android-powered display, while Apple Maps continues to display in the background, creating a fluid and uninterrupted experience.

The Lincoln Nautilus is the first to showcase Ford’s new Digital Experience, which results from a six-year partnership with Google. This collaboration allows Ford to use Android Automotive OS to power its vehicles, delivering over-the-air software updates, Google Assistant voice controls, and access to Android apps like Google Maps, Spotify, and more.

Brian Nash, Ford’s digital product line manager, explained the significance of this new system: “The flexibility of that screen is huge,” referring to the Panoramic Display that allows both Apple and Google’s interfaces to coexist.

While Ford’s Digital Experience brings high-tech screens to the forefront, it doesn’t overwhelm drivers. Voice controls powered by Google Assistant make navigating, changing car settings, and reducing distractions while driving easier. For example, drivers can adjust climate controls or navigate to a new location without taking their hands off the wheel. The result is a driving experience that feels intuitive, sophisticated, and safe.

Moreover, Epic’s Unreal Engine bolsters the infotainment system’s performance, delivering fast animations and transitions that make it feel more like using a high-end smartphone than a car’s system. The Nautilus also supports Google Play Store apps, offering drivers access to entertainment apps like YouTube and Prime Video when parked.

Ford’s strategy with the new Digital Experience is starkly contrasted to other automakers like GM, which has controversially discontinued Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its upcoming electric vehicles. By embracing both systems, Ford recognizes that drivers love their smartphones and is making their experience behind the wheel even better.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus demonstrates Ford’s commitment to balancing modern technology with user-friendliness, ensuring that drivers enjoy a seamless experience, whether they prefer Apple or Android. As Ford rolls out its Digital Experience across more models, it’s clear that the automaker is setting a new standard for in-car infotainment.