2016 Ford Mondeo upgrade package to include SYNC 3 infotainment system

Ford has updated its 2016 mid-sized Ford Mondeo range to include the latest SYNC 3 infotainment system as standard across its six-model line-up, without passing on a rise in the list price to buyers.

Joining other technologies like emergency assist and a Wi-Fi hotspot, the latest SYNC 3 unit boasts an eight-inch full-colour touch screen with swipe and pinch functionality using a system that’s both faster and more intuitive than the outgoing SYNC 2 unit.

Featuring both the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto platforms - which gives the user in-car access to their smartphone apps using Ford’s AppLink technology – other improvements include conversational voice recognition and an easier to understand graphic interface.

Users also now have the option to switch between a day or night-time theme, while an all-new home screen provides a larger interface for controlling audio, climate, phone, navigation and user apps. A settings icon will remain permanently displayed for more user-friendly adjustment.

The car maker believes the addition of the latest infotainment package will bolster the mid-sized passenger vehicle’s popularity which has enjoyed considerable growth during the first six months of 2016.

According to recent VFACTS figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Ford sold 1464 new Mondeo models in the first six months to the end of June, an increase of over 800 more than it managed for the same period in 2015.

The mid-year update, according to Ford, is the result of the firm’s A$2 billion investment in R&D during the past six years.

The SYNC 3-equipped Mondeos have been available in Australian dealerships since the start of the month and pricing starts at $33,190 for the Ford Mondeo Ambiente Hatch (Ecoboost) through to $49,340 for the Mondeo Titanium Wagon (diesel).