The 2025 Explorer is the first Ford to get the new Android-powered infotainment system

Ford’s caller Android-powered infotainment strategy is yet coming to a Ford-branded vehicle. The automaker’s alleged Digital Experience, which debuted with the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus earlier this year, volition powerfulness the caller 2025 Ford Explorer SUV, the institution announced today.

The 2025 Ford Explorer includes galore of the Digital Experience’s main features, including built-in Google Maps, Google Play Store, Google Assistant, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and integer HVAC controls. It doesn't person the extravagant 48-inch panoramic surface setup that the Lincoln Nautilus has, but from the looks of it the main 13.2-inch touchscreen has the aforesaid interface. And the Explorer’s 12.3-inch integer instrumentality clump tin task maps for the archetypal time.

Speaking of HVAC, it looks similar the caller Explorer lacks carnal clime power buttons. That tracks with Ford’s recently redesigned Maverick truck, which besides moved its HVAC controls to the touchscreen. The Maverick, however, inactive runs connected Ford’s older QNX-powered Sync 4 software.

The Explorer’s overmuch much subdued surface size, arsenic compared to the Lincoln Nautilus, shows however the strategy is adaptable to antithetic interiors and usage cases. And arsenic we previously reported, Ford is not readying to signifier retired its interior Sync operating system, which runs connected similarly-sized screens crossed galore of Ford’s vehicles.

Ford is besides readying to see its Android-based strategy successful its electrical vehicles similar the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, some of which person a overmuch larger, vertically oriented surface — and volition request a Digital Experience that looks antithetic than the 1 we spot today.