Ford Adding B&O PLAY Audio Systems for New Vehicles in 2017
Ford has announced that its new vehicles will host HARMAN’s all-new B&O PLAY audio systems starting next year. The collaboration was revealed this week during the Further with Ford trend conference, and it was a decision likely influenced in some part by an Ipsos 2016 Automotive Audio Branding study that found approximately 33% of new car buyers would base future vehicle purchase considerations on the brand of audio system used.
“Customers tell us they value consistent, high-quality audio experiences, and our collaboration with HARMAN is helping provide that,” said Raj Nair, Ford‘s executive vice president, product development and chief technical officer. “This is just one of the ways we are creating richer, more engaging in-vehicle experiences for customers.”
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Details on the application of B&O PLAY in Ford vehicles are sparse, apart from the assurance that the equipment will be tailored on a per-model basis. This entails optimized speaker placement and calibration, which Ford says will ensure that audio quality remains consistent regardless of driving conditions or seating position.
In lieu of details, Ford and B&O PLAY revealed an art installation called Sound Journeys. This installation is meant to involve all five senses by creating the illusion of being immersed in a forest, canyon, and ocean. It’s somewhere between really neat, hoity-toity pretension, and avant garde haunted house.
Watch: Take a Trip Through Sound Journeys
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“Ford and B&O PLAY are a perfect match among brands that stand for quality, freedom and innovative design, coming together to revolutionize the driving experience for consumers,” said Michael Mauser, executive vice president and president of HARMAN’s Lifestyle Audio Division. “With our shared commitment to seamless engagement and elevated experiences, Ford is the ideal automaker to bring the transformative power of B&O PLAY audio to drivers and passengers worldwide.”
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