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Ford Motor Company has announced it will be installing ipod built-in auxiliary audio-input jacks on half its 2007 fleet including in vehicles as the Explorer, Expedition, Mustang, Fusion, Sport Trac, Ranger, F-150, Mercury Milan, Mountaineer, Navigator, and Lincoln Mark LT. New vehicles such as the upcoming Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and MKZ (formerly known as the Zephyr) will also have the jacks installed.

http://www.thefordblog.com/ipod-fans-rejoice-ford%e2%80%99s-got-your-connection/

I personally am behind the times still using--gasp!--CDs and--double gasp!--radio to listen to music. Are input jacks basically to attract the "youth" crowd or it's tech that's essential for car buyers?  

well most of the foreign manufacturers have been doing ipod interfaces for a couple years now. I think this is Ford being playing catch-up, AGAIN. I think an ipod option is almost a necessity now, I know I will definitely pay the extra couple hundred bucks on the next car I buy to be able to plug in my ipod and control it through the deck.

I forget what car commercial it is, one of the American man.s of coarse, but they talk about MP3 player compatibility and have a shot of the MP3 player sitting in the center armrest with a cable running over the shofter and into the deck. That is absolutely rediculous, that you have wires draped over the cars controls, and then they show it on the commercial! Sometimes the US auto industry just amazes me with how stupid they are.  

an ipod or mp3 interface will always be good, i'm using my tape deck and the quality of the sound is bad =[  

Yep, ford is playing catchup...AGAIN  

DjGiant:
Yep, ford is playing catchup...AGAIN

hey

i think ford has very bad time, we can see HONDA TOYOTA like those car companies started auxeilry iPod systems couple yers before and now Ford woke up and think about that stuff...  

i never liked ford...  

Sounds like a good idea  

aquabat911:
well most of the foreign manufacturers have been doing ipod interfaces for a couple years now. I think this is Ford being playing catch-up, AGAIN. I think an ipod option is almost a necessity now, I know I will definitely pay the extra couple hundred bucks on the next car I buy to be able to plug in my ipod and control it through the deck.

I forget what car commercial it is, one of the American man.s of coarse, but they talk about MP3 player compatibility and have a shot of the MP3 player sitting in the center armrest with a cable running over the shofter and into the deck. That is absolutely rediculous, that you have wires draped over the cars controls, and then they show it on the commercial! Sometimes the US auto industry just amazes me with how stupid they are.

that was a new Dodge Caliber.  they have an ipod holder in the center console, but there is a jack on the front of the stereo to plug the wire into.  very bad design.  there is a wire going across the middle of your interior.

I went the aftermarket route.  most car stereo manufacturers make an ipod hookup/interface that works with their head units.  i can view all my playlists and individual songs from my head unit.  i cant tell you how much i love that