You’re a globally connected, 21st-century consumer. Isn’t it time for a smarter car key?
Four thousand years is a good run, but with the all-new Fiesta, Ford is betting that consumers are ready to leave the Bronze Age behind. With a keyless entry and ignition system among its many smart technologies, the all-new Fiesta is a proud product of the 21st century.
The system is designed with simplicity in mind. There is no need to manually unlock the car or put a key into the ignition. Just walk up to your Fiesta with a special transponder key in your pocket or bag, and the car will unlock its doors for you. Sit in the driver’s seat and press the Ford Power Start button, and the engine will come to life at your touch.
A 21st-century consumer will find the concept comfortingly familiar. Think of it as the automotive equivalent of an app or browser that remembers your passwords, letting you access your email or favourite websites immediately. Just walk up to your car, get in and go. As an emergency backup, the transponder fob contains a conventional key inside it, and there are keyholes in the driver’s door and steering wheel mount. When you arrive at your destination, you don’t have to worry about locking your keys inside by mistake. Smart sensors can tell that there’s still a key inside the car and will prevent the doors from locking.
“We’re seeing more and more applications in which keys are giving way to more advanced technologies, like key cards, passcodes and even biometric scanners,” said Prudz Castillo, AVP for Marketing – Cars.
“A lot of these technologies are driven by a desire for improved security, but consumers have also been enthusiastically adopting them for the convenience they offer. We think the car is the next logical step,” Castillo added.
Additionally, with the use of Ford’s MyKey technology, owners will have the ability to program a separate key to restrict the vehicle’s top speed and lock in other safety settings for younger drivers – a different driver, a different key, a different car.
The all-new Fiesta will be launched in the country later this year.