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Amazon can now deliver packages to some Ford and Lincoln vehicles

Nothing succeeds without complications popping up along the way. Sure, Amazon's Prime delivery services have made shopping more convenient than brushing your teeth, but leaving millions of packages on doorsteps comes with an inherent danger: Thieves might swipe them without anybody knowing. Amazon's solution is called Amazon Key, which allows delivery men and women to enter a customer's house or car to drop off a package. This week, Ford and Lincoln announced they would be partnering with Amazon to integrate the service into some of their vehicles. Ford is following in the footsteps of Volvo and General Motors, as both companies announced their participation about a year ago. That includes Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC. Key will be made available for 2017-and-newer Fords equipped with FordPass Connect, and 2018-and-later Lincolns with Lincoln Connect. Key is not available everywhere, but it can be used in dozens of city throughout the U.S., and the network is expanding. To look for compatibility for your car and city, check on Amazon's dedicated Key website. Like every other tech invention these days, Key requires a smart device application, which requires a one-time setup. The service is available on the Key app or the FordPass and Lincoln Way apps. While ordering on Amazon, customers will then select in-car delivery during checkout. Input a public delivery address, and park the car within two blocks of that address. While the order is in transit, Amazon will provide status updates, another feature that takes away some of the anxiety of waiting for a package to be delivered. The package will be put into the car within a four-hour window, and users will get notifications that the exchange is complete, and the car is again securely locked. Should customers change their minds, they can always cancel the delivery method, and the car will remain locked. In that case, the delivery could go to the building where the car is parked, or be rescheduled. Ford imagines this as the beginning of numerous car-based services in the near future that can be scheduled while the owner is not there, such as car washes.

MyFord Touch getting buttons and knobs back to counter criticisms

Ford deserves credit for being a front-runner in offering advanced infotainment technology with its Sync and MyFord Touch systems, but continued consumer complaints over its confusing touchscreen interface and capacitive controls has made the automaker relent. The Wall Street Journal reports that physical buttons and knobs for controlling tuning and volume will be coming back to Ford vehicles equipped with the controversial infotainment system.
The 2013 F-150 with MyFord Touch gives us a glimpse of what the new layout with buttons and knobs might look like, as Ford says a similar balance of touch screen capability and buttons/knobs are what's being planned for future models. And, while capacitive controls have no fans in the halls of Autoblog, many of Ford's models with MyFord Touch do have a large physical knob for adjusting volume with integrated buttons for tuning and advancing tracks, though most of those are models with the optional upgraded Sony Audio system. Lincoln models with MyLincoln Touch, however, feature only capacitive controls for all stereo and climate functions.
Despite receiving enough complaints to throw buttons and knobs back into the mix (a move that reminds us of BMW's iDrive trajectory, among others), Ford reports that Sync and MyFord Touch have still been sold on 79 percent of its 2013 model year vehicles, a number it claims is double the rate that Honda and Toyota are getting for their infotainment systems. Ford also states that owners who do opt for the duo of technologies are more satisfied with overall vehicle quality than those who don't have it.

Help make Lego Icon Bronco a reality [UPDATE]

The Lego Ideas process is a pretty neat concept. The website allows anyone to propose a future kit, and if the project gathers 10,000 supporters within a certain amount of time, then the company investigates building it. The creator even gets a cut of the sales. We saw the operation at work last year with a very cool looking Corvette kit that hasn't hit the next stage quite yet. Now, another creator going by the username Legohero1966 has a fantastic looking replica of the Icon 4X4 Bronco hoping for support. The maker nails the boxy, brawny look of the Icon take on the classic Ford Bronco, and the Lego kit even gets the color pretty close. The miniature SUV also features a visible suspension, a removable top and, according to the description, a reel for the winch is hidden in the bumper. Underneath the body, this model even does a pretty good job of replicating the powertrain. As is expected by these kits, the hood, doors and hatch all open; on this one the spare tire carrier even moves out of the way, too. As of this writing, the Icon Bronco kit only has a little over 400 supporters, and that's a long way from the goal. If you like what you see, give the proposal a closer look on Lego Ideas. UPDATE: The original creator of the Icon Bronco kit, Paul Kim, has advised Autoblog that this Lego Ideas proposal was created without his consent, and he has reported the problem there. You can view more pictures of the Bronco and more of Kim's work, here. Featured Gallery Lego Icon 4X4 Bronco Proposal Design/Style Toys/Games Ford SUV Off-Road Vehicles Performance Classics Lego Ford Bronco icon icon 4x4 icon bronco lego ideas