Ford and National Public Radio have partnered to make voice-controlled NPR News content available to SYNC users on demand.

The NPR News app is now compatible with Ford SYNC AppLink, enabling listeners who download the app to listen to and create play lists of popular NPR programs like Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and tune in whenever they choose using either steering wheel controls or voice commands. Users can also call up individual stories by topics including science, politics, movies, health, and more.

Other options include asking for hourly news to get the latest reports, listening to a favorite NPR station from another part of the United States and programming a car radio button for that station, and pausing, skipping, or repeating a report.

Because the app makes NPR programs available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, fans of Car Talk who just have to hear the belly laughs of Click and Clack while crossing Ohio at three in the morning will now have that option.

The NPR News app is free, and available now through Android Market and the iTunes Store. SYNC App Link is offered on a wide variety of 2012 Ford vehicles, including the Fiesta, Mustang, Fusion, and F-150.