Motoring company Ford is giving a selection of its older vehicles a taste of the connected future.
It has developed a device, called SmartLink, which plugs into the previous generation cars and allows for features normally reserved for the latest and most expensive models.
The device only works with the 2010 - 2016 model-year Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
Ford SmartLink is a 4G LTE-enabled OBD II device that plugs in under the steering wheel, and has a companion app and Web portal.
The app connects to the car and can be used as a remote to lock and unlock the vehicle, locate where it is parked, as well as schedule service appointments with the owner's preferred dealer.
Other features include WiFi access capable of hosting up to eight devices, and vehicle health and security alerts.
Raj Nair, Ford executive VP and chief technical officer, says the company has been developing SmartLink for two years and conducted extensive testing to enhance the security and performance of the device.
"We are thrilled to offer this level of convenience and connectivity to our existing customers, extending the value of their vehicles."
SmartLink can be obtained at US Ford and Lincoln dealerships around the middle of this year. The company did not mention how much the device will cost and if it will work outside of the US.
Ford has been the centre of attention in SA lately, as it was forced to recall 4 500 Kuga SUVs after dozens of reports of the vehicles catching fire spontaneously.
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