Ford Sync Steps Closer to KITT with 10,000 Voice Commands

By Nick Mokey Published July 15, 2010

2011 Ford Fiesta to Receive New SYNC AppLink Cabability — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The next Ford won’t deploy a smoke screen, jam microwave signals , or deflect bullets, but it will get one step closer to the fantasy of every child of the ‘80s by recognizing – and responding to – relatively intuitive voice commands. Just like Michael Knight’s KITT 2000. Ford recently overhauled its intelligent Sync system, which controls everything from climate control to audio, to recognize up to 10,000 voice commands.

According to Brigitte Richardson, voice recognition engineer at Ford, the original version of Sync included about 100 voice commands, which typically meant new users have to memorize the exact terms the car recognized. With the latest update, the system has been updated to included 10,000 commands, adding a number of identical commands for the same function so that drivers can speak to the car in more natural language.

Recommended Videos

For instance, when it gets a little chilly, drivers can turn up the heat by saying “warmer,” “increase temp,” or “temp up.” Every category within the navigation system is also recognizable now, allowing drivers to verbally request something nearby – like gas – and have the system automatically search for it and set it as a destination.

Check out the video below for a demo of the new Sync features in action.

Editor in Chief

As Digital Trends’ Editor in Chief, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team covering every gadget under the sun, along with…

Cars

Trump administration prepares to end Biden’s EV tax incentive, report says

president biden drives 2022 ford f 150 lightning electric pickup truck prototype visits rouge vehicle center

If you’re looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle (EV) and benefit from the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax incentive, you’d better act soon.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is already planning to end the credit, according to a report from Reuters citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Cars

Kia EV4: everything we know so far

Kia EV4 Front

Kia is continuing to expand its electric car lineup. The EV6 and EV9 have both been out for some time now, and the company is in the middle of rolling out the EV3 in Europe, with a North American release expected next year. After that, it's likely the company will turn to the EV5. But what about after that? Well, that could be where the Kia EV4 comes in.

Kia announced a concept version of the EV4 at its EV Day in 2023, showing off a futuristic-looking hatchback that's seemingly a little smaller than the EV6, but keeps many design elements. Since then, Kia has confirmed very few details about it, though we have seen it shown off at other automotive events. Here's everything we know about the Kia EV4 so far.
Kia EV4 design
The Kia EV4, or at least the concept version of it, is smaller than the EV6, and much smaller than the EV9. It's actually closer in size to a sedan than anything else, though with its open trunk, it could be considered a hatchback. Regardless, it certainly blurs the line between the two. So much so, that in recent months we've actually seen a full hatchback version of the EV4 being tested -- and it's possible that Kia is pivoting the design of the EV4 entirely to be a hatch, or will be releasing both hatchback and sedan versions.

Cars

Hertz is selling used Teslas for under $20K, Chevrolet Bolt EVs under $14K

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently nixed hopes of a regular Tesla model ever selling for $25,000.

But he was talking about new models. For car rental company Hertz, the race to sell used Teslas and other EVs at ever-lower prices is not only still on but accelerating.