MyFord Touch added to 2014 Ford Fiesta

The newest version of MyFord Touch will be available in the 2014 Ford Fiesta when it debuts next year. It will feature a 6.5-inch screen in the small car's center console. The company's SYNC technology will also hit its five-year anniversary next year.

“We are seeing strong brand lift from MyFord Touch amongst in-market shoppers, with 65 percent of those intending to purchase a vehicle reporting SYNC definitely plays a role in their purchase consideration,” says Michelle Moody, Ford cross-vehicle marketing manager.

“Take rates for MyFord Touch on new vehicle orders, such as the 2013 Escape and Fusion, continue to outpace our internal projections. We expect the same trend for Fiesta.”

New software for 2014 will simplify Bluetooth phone pairing by allowing the driver to only touch the OK button if pin numbers match rather than entering their own pin number with each pairing. Ford says the system has improved voice recognition and more simplified controls for changing functions. Drivers and passengers can also now say, “play jazz” instead of “play genre jazz.” The destination entry screen has been improved and simplified as well.

The 2014 Ford Fiesta was revealed in September, but not before we found out it would be the first North American-market Ford to carry the company's three-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

We'll probably see a version at the L.A. Auto Show this week, and definitely in Detroit in January.

By Jake Lingeman