The Verge: Around 1800 Lightnings built as of week of 4/17/22

[hturnerfamily]

no matter what 'year' or new 'model' you argue, there will always be those who think that 'waiting' for the next best up-to-date model is going to be what they want to get - those who have to 'wait' to get the 2023 version, though, will still be outdone by those getting the newer '2024' model, and so forth.... buy now, otherwise, just keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for the next 'newest and greatest', which will never come...

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[TaxmanHog]

As an original Sync 1 orphan [2012 F250 PSD], living the last few years with loss of some of its functionality, I can handle the generational change.

I vividly recall as I was taking delivery in September 2012 senior sales dude was introducing the system to me and a junior trainee sales dude asked senior if my truck had the new system the 2013 trucks would have, he mumbled softly under his breath {no....} hoping it would not deflate my excitement for MY new truck, anyhow 9.5 years later, life is fine, now that I'm stepping up to a Lariat-ER Lightning this will blow my mind, who cares if it's the last of this generation, it'll do fine as long as they maintain parallel software updates.

I mean in Microsoft can support multiple lines of OS's Ford can learn a few tricks as well. This truck is a long term investment to me!!

 

[vandy1981]

As an original Sync 1 orphan [2012 F250 PSD], living the last few years with loss of some of its functionality, I can handle the generational change.

I had Sync 2 in my 2014 C-Max. I ended up installing a Sync 3 head unit in it so I could get Android Auto. I doubt a head unit upgrade will be as simple with the Lightning, but here's hoping!

 

[PV2EV]

Maintaining parallel software updates is a lot of work, considering how different the platforms likely are. I will recover from missing out on the base features of the android OS (native google maps and assistant) and will just use Android Auto, but am concerned about slow fixes, and no new features.

Assuming MY22/23 have the same HW, if they were to extend the range by say 25 miles, and MY22 did not get the update, that would suck. Would be interesting if they upgraded to Tensor for MY23, but short of that, why wouldn't they upgrade MY22?

 

[gorwell]

but am concerned about slow fixes, and no new features.

One would hope Ford doesn't fuck things up here.... All ford models are transitioning... So we're talking about a lot of MY22 vehicles on the road needing to be maintained.

Farley also highlighted OTA a lot in the F150L launch presentation, so one would think they are not going to be slow on fixes/features.

 

[metroshot]

Dont really care about the infotainment system, as long as the rest of the car can be updated. I honestly hardly ever used any of the infotainment stuff in the Model 3

If anything the new one will have more bugs than the current one

Yes, same here - don't really care about the infotainment system - I really wanted the simpler 12" interface instead of the 15" version which I don't care for.

It's like my workplace - one year we get Windows PC laptops and tablet, next year we get Apple laptops and tablest, then after that we get the Google chromebooks and tablets - so doesn't matter to me much whether it's Sync 4 or 4a or 4 whatever...

 

[Vorador]

Maintaining parallel software updates is a lot of work, considering how different the platforms likely are. I will recover from missing out on the base features of the android OS (native google maps and assistant) and will just use Android Auto, but am concerned about slow fixes, and no new features.

Assuming MY22/23 have the same HW, if they were to extend the range by say 25 miles, and MY22 did not get the update, that would suck. Would be interesting if they upgraded to Tensor for MY23, but short of that, why wouldn't they upgrade MY22?

This is my biggest worry. They focus on updating the new OS first, and then in a few months the MY22 gets the same update.

 

[jerock]

I listened to Jim Farley on a podcast talking about how the electric vehicles would probably change the way people buy vehicles and they should last much longer than ICE vehicles. With less moving parts in the vehicle and the continual updates online to the vehicle. I would certainly have thought that they'd thought this through & planned on how to do this with the continual updated hardware on newer models over the course of a vehicles lifetime. The best way to lose your customers would be to have a vehicle become obsolete in a few years like early computers did. Most vehicle companies say they are becoming more like a software company & investing accordingly.

 

[jazzmanmonty]

Its disappointing they aren't going to upgrade 2022 Lightnings to the new operating system. I would have thought that is something they would have planned in order to keep all the Lightnings in sync for OTA updates.

I've had this problem many times in the past buying a 1st year model or a 1st year redesign. They put all this effort into a new product, then BAM! Hey lets throw in all the same shitty software from our prior models and upgrade the OS next year. You had 2 or 3 years to plan a new concept or redesign. Wouldn't you think ahead about the software as well?! Idiots.

 

[Vorador]

I've had this problem many times in the past buying a 1st year model or a 1st year redesign. They put all this effort into a new product, then BAM! Hey lets throw in all the same shitty software from our prior models and upgrade the OS next year. You had 2 or 3 years to plan a new concept or redesign. Wouldn't you think ahead about the software as well?! Idiots.

That happened when I bought the first year Colorado update. The following model year added Android auto support. Ended up getting the updated modules off of ebay and installing them myself.

 

[jazzmanmonty]

That happened when I bought the first year Colorado update. The following model year added Android auto support. Ended up getting the updated modules off of ebay and installing them myself.

Luckily you had the option. Happened with my wife's 2017 Pacifica. 2018 they added android auto and a bunch of features. Only way to get them was to replace the entire head unit display. Cost of upgrade is that the swap broke the GPS, hotspot and XM radio. So i passed. Same with My 2012 Explorer..13's got sync update i believe. Kia pulled same shit in 2015 Sedona (although they did push through wireless android auto via update which was shocking.. but somehow ford isn't capable of doing the same).

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

Yes, same here - don't really care about the infotainment system - I really wanted the simpler 12" interface instead of the 15" version which I don't care for.

It's like my workplace - one year we get Windows PC laptops and tablet, next year we get Apple laptops and tablest, then after that we get the Google chromebooks and tablets - so doesn't matter to me much whether it's Sync 4 or 4a or 4 whatever...

Ditto for me. I already have the 15" screen in the Mach-E and although I like it, I'd rather have some physical buttons too. 12" is pretty dang big for a screen anyway... bigger than an iPad, and its on your dash.

 

[metroshot]

Ditto for me. I already have the 15" screen in the Mach-E and although I like it, I'd rather have some physical buttons too. 12" is pretty dang big for a screen anyway... bigger than an iPad, and its on your dash.

Yes, the 12" is as large as my iPad Pro so 15" is just too large...

I have heard in the past that recent Ford models had a touchscreen only interface and sometimes when it shuts down (malfunctions), it seriously affected sound levels, GPS, and basic climate controls which in California would be deadly due to the heat.

Wonder if all this integrated technology into an infotainment system will affect our Lightnings should it malfunction ?

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

Yes, the 12" is as large as my iPad Pro so 15" is just too large...

I have heard in the past that recent Ford models had a touchscreen only interface and sometimes when it shuts down (malfunctions), it seriously affected sound levels, GPS, and basic climate controls which in California would be deadly due to the heat.

Wonder if all this integrated technology into an infotainment system will affect our Lightnings should it malfunction ?

My Mach-E screen is pretty reliable, but the top / media section has become unresponsive a couple of times, but the lower controls seem to work.

My beef with the larger screen is mainly the lack of tactile controls for simple things like the heat temperature. I like to adjust my seat temp when I'm backing out of my driveway, but I forget to do it before I switch to reverse.

Once you're in reverse, the camera takes up the screen and the lower buttons won't work.

I also don't like sliding to the 4 positions (high, med, low, off). It's distacting. I think they can fix this with a software option to make the on-screen seat controls like the physical version (tap to turn on 3 bars, tap again for 2, etc).

I also like that space above and below the original center stack. You loose a lot of that with the giant screen.

 

[PV2EV]

My Mach-E screen is pretty reliable, but the top / media section has become unresponsive a couple of times, but the lower controls seem to work.

My beef with the larger screen is mainly the lack of tactile controls for simple things like the heat temperature. I like to adjust my seat temp when I'm backing out of my driveway, but I forget to do it before I switch to reverse.

Once you're in reverse, the camera takes up the screen and the lower buttons won't work.

I also don't like sliding to the 4 positions (high, med, low, off). It's distacting. I think they can fix this with a software option to make the on-screen seat controls like the physical version (tap to turn on 3 bars, tap again for 2, etc).

I also like that space above and below the original center stack. You loose a lot of that with the giant screen.

I have had the same issue (freezing) with my Volt touchscreen. It is always software, which is a major reason to have Android as the OS and google coding it in the Lightning.

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