The new Ford Focus is the first Ford vehicle in Ireland to feature FordPass ConnectFordPass Connect is onboard modem technology that connects the car to the Internet and turns it into a mobile WiFi hotspot with internet connectivity for up to 10 devices.
It first appeared in Ireland on the 2018 Ford Focus but will be rolled out on future models also.
FordPass Connect also enables Live Traffic updates for the navigation system as well as providing up to the minute information on the location of nearby service stations, parking and food or leisure options. Live Traffic is complementary with FordPass Connect for the first two years.
FordPass App
You can download a FordPass mobile app on Android and Apple devices, which allows a vehicle owner to remotely control some key functions on a vehicle with FordPass Connect, including:
- Door lock and unlock – taking away that occasional doubt sparked by the question ‘did I lock the car’
- Vehicle locator – helps owners to find their car in large car parks
- Vehicle status – among other items, it can check fuel levels, alarm status and oil life
- Remote start – (vehicles with automatic transmission) provides the ability to de-ice the windscreen and warm the car on cold mornings.
The Remote Start facility on FordPass has built-in safety elements that prevent the car from being driven away when started remotely and will shut off automatically after a set time period.
In the event of an accident, FordPass Connect can automatically place an eCall to the emergency services and provide them with your vehicle’s location. You can also press an SOS button in your car to contact the emergency services directly if you witness an accident or require emergency assistance.
FordPass Connect in Ireland
FordPass Connect comes with 3 months or 3GB of complementary data. Afterwards you can buy data bundles for a day, a month, or even a year from Vodafone.
FordPass Connect is currently available on the new Ford Focus and the Transit Connect commercial vehicles. In the coming months, FordPass Connect will be extended to other vehicles in the Ford range.
Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, said: “We are delighted to launch the FordPass cutting-edge connectivity on some of our top-selling car and van models such as Focus and Transit Connect. FordPass has great benefits for the average motorist and even more so for the business user who is managing a fleet of vans – one FordPass account can be used to connect with multiple vehicles providing a fleet manager with the ability to remotely monitor a company’s vehicles.”
For more information click here.