Ford gamifies Mustang Mach-E with Escape Room concept

Ford has shown a somewhat slightly creepy concept that brings the escape room experience to your car.

Programmed using Apple's iOS and integrated with the software of the new Mustang Mach-E via Apple CarPlay, Ford has shown a short video of how the game works.

Essentially, it integrates features such as the infotainment, electric seats, tailgate, climate control, and more in individual tasks for the occupants to complete before they can deliver a package to a location. Beyond having some fun, Ford thinks that it could help owners familiarise themselves with their car.

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The game is led by a slightly creepy-sounding voice asking the occupants to complete a word puzzle that unlocks a location they must drive to. They must then do further tasks, but these are only enabled once the car is stationary and only the heater and sound system are used when driving.

While this conceptual gamification of Ford's Mustang Mach-E looks like fun, there is more that can be done with the idea according to Ford, such as educating drivers on how the car works and providing driver safety.

“This is a bit of fun that has a serious side, as it shows just what could be possible with the technology we have in cars today,” said Carsten Starke, technical expert interior materials and customer experience at Ford Research and Advanced Engineering in Europe.

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“Having the ability to create interaction between vehicle and driver could open up new ways to explore other possibilities in the future, like an interactive owner’s manual or even driver coaching.”

The game was developed by Ford of Europe with the brand's Software Enablement and Research team and the IOT group based at Palo Alto, California, and could be the first of more to come with manufacturers finding ways to keep EV drivers entertained while charging up. But most importantly for players is that they can exit the vehicle whenever they want (and thus forfeit the game), unlike a real escape room.