Ford Sync 4 Multimedia System Can Find You a Parking Spot, Cheap Gas

Sync 4, the latest generation of Ford’s dashboard interface, can guide you to an open parking spot, both on the street and in off-street lots, with parking rates and real-time occupancy. Ford announced today that the system has parking data for nearly 20,000 cities in 150 countries thanks in part to a partnership with transportation-data company Inrix, which has tracked parking data — both off-street and on-street — for at least five years.

Related: 6 Things You Should Know About Ford’s Next-Generation Sync 4

Sync 4 can also navigate you to nearby gas stations with the cheapest fuel, due in part to industry analytics provider IHS Markit’s data on real-time fuel pricing for more than 380,000 gas stations worldwide, Ford said. For plug-in vehicles, it will also show nearby charging stations.

It’s worth noting that such capabilities, at least in terms of core functionality, aren’t exclusive to Ford — or even new, for that matter. Inrix’s standalone ParkMe app, available on Android and Apple iOS devices, offers location services for both parking lots and metered parking. Many plug-in vehicles track charging station availability in their navigation systems, as do third-party companies like Google. Ford’s defunct MyFord Touch infotainment system, meanwhile, could list prices at nearby gas stations 10 years ago.

But execution matters, so we’ll have to see how these services integrate with the latest Sync 4 platform. The system will come in Ford’s latest touchscreen-equipped vehicles, starting with the reincarnated Bronco and all-new Mustang Mach-E SUVs, as well as the redesigned F-150 pickup truck. Expect to see Sync 4 appear in more vehicles from Ford and its luxury division, Lincoln, in the coming years.

More From Cars.com:

• 2021 Ford F-150 First Look Video: Something Old, Something New
• 2021 Ford F-150: America’s Favorite Vehicle Gets an Upgrade
• 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport First Impressions: More Capable Than Expected?
• 2021 Ford Bronco 2-Door and 4-Door: Jeep Has Some Homework to Do
• 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Video: Electric SUV With Pony Car Spirit

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.