On board a car there are two types of connectivity. The first is more closely linked to the driving experience, thanks to the availability of advanced driver assistance technologies, the so-called Adas, designed to offer greater safety behind the wheel — the same technologies that in some ways anticipate autonomous driving, such as cruise control, anti-collision systems, those that keep the car in the correct lane, or the very useful ones that monitor the blind spot and warn of the approach of other vehicles. Then there is another kind of connectivity, more closely tied to everyday use, to on-board services, or to the management of the electrified powertrain, the range and the charging of plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid models. Let's look at a few examples on the hybrid Ford Kuga.

Wi-fi in the car, increasingly widespread

The Covid-19 health emergency and the lockdown have highlighted over these months just how much staying connected can make a difference. The car is no exception, and manufacturers such as Ford are offering their latest models, such as the new generation of the Kuga SUV, equipped with an integrated modem that provides travellers with a wi-fi hotspot with connectivity available for up to ten devices at once. The system, called FordPass Connect, on the one hand helps the driver plan journeys thanks to traffic updates available on the navigation system, and on the other offers passengers the opportunity to enjoy online entertainment channels during the trip.

The car and apps: many services available

Staying with the Kuga, Ford's recent SUV available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid versions, the Pass Connect system provides a range of functions via a dedicated app — functions that simplify use of the car through remote access, via smartphone, to numerous vehicle features. Let's look at the most interesting ones.

• Door lock/unlock: allows remote access to the vehicle.
• Remote start: allows the car to be started remotely.
• Vehicle locator: helps you find your car — an extremely useful function in the crowded car parks of shopping centres.
• Vehicle status: provides information on fuel levels, battery charge, oil level, tyre pressure and the alarm system.
• Charge level: monitors the charging status and available range.
• Find a charging station: helps to locate and navigate to a charging point; in the case of the Kuga, the system gives access to more than 125,000 stations on the FordPass charging network across 21 countries, with information on the type of connector and technology available and on the access conditions.
• Charging schedules: the app allows charging times to be pre-set, choosing time slots based on location and tariffs, and setting charge levels.
• Trip log: monitors battery usage and fuel consumption, including energy used, energy recovered through regenerative braking, the distance covered in purely electric mode, and the amount of fuel and CO2 saved.

Smartphone in the car: goodbye charging cables in the connected car

It is not uncommon, especially on family trips, to find yourself with a tangle of cables all plugged into the on-board USB sockets to charge your devices. Ford has solved the problem on the Kuga with a wireless charging pad, capable of automatically detecting compatible devices and starting to charge them without the need for a cable. As is well known, using a smartphone while driving is prohibited. So, once again, in-car connectivity comes to the rescue by keeping devices connected to the on-board communication and entertainment system via Bluetooth. Managing all the functions is made easier thanks to increasingly large touchscreens — the Ford Kuga's, for example, is an 8-inch colour display with a pinch&swipe function (the same as on many mobile phones) and compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. From here it is possible to control audio, navigation and climate control functions with simple, intuitive gestures that minimise distractions and make driving safer.