Debuting with the 2010 Ford Focus is MyKey, a teenage drivers worst nightmare. With the MyKey feature enabled, parents will be able to govern how fast their child can drive and annoy them with other regulations. A chip in the key of said teen driver will trigger software that restricts the vehicle from going over 80 mph along with limiting the audio system’s volume and a six-second beep will sound every minute the driver’s seatbelt isn’t buckled. What’s surprising about the latter feature is that it will shut off after five minutes for the adult drivers who just don’t want to wear their seatbelt. That’s just not right if you ask me. There’s another option where a chime will sound when the vehicle goes over, 45, 55 or 65 mph.

Ford has not announced which cars in its fleet will have MyKey for 2010 other than the Focus, but that it would spread to all of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury fleets when models are updated.

Nothing screams super-spy, gadget tech like a Ford Ka hatchback: 13-inch rims, 45 mpg, and sexy metallic gold paint job. The last Bond flix had a Euro-spec Ford Mondeo sedan cameo, but Bond’s female counterpart is expected to pilot this European Blue Oval in the Quantum of Solace. Who knows what gadgety is stuffed into the tiny car, but the grill is big enough to house at least four rocket launchers — or a blue laser beam out of the Ford logo.

via Autoblog

Please see Microsoft’s Surface.

via TC

Honda will be leasing a limited number of its FCX Clarity sedans in California this upcoming summer. The cars use hydrogen fuel cells that’ll be topped off via a "home fueling station that uses a home’s existing natural gas supply to produce hydrogen."

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Best graphic ever?
Microsoft this week received a patent that could have a profound effect on the car audio landscape. The newly minted patent covers a portable audio device that can be docked and/or integrated into a car stereo. The union would allow the devices to transfer media and data back-and-forth.

The guts of the patent boil down to this key point: Read More

If you prefer a trip to the local arcade over playing video games at home, take a seat on Ford’s new twin-unit arcade racing machine. The $19,000 arcade machine features Ford Racing: Full Blown, which includes cars like the 68′ Mustang GT and the SVT Cobra. The arcade machine also gives you force feedback steering wheels, driving pedals, racing chairs and 12 tracks. The arcade game even updates itself at preset date with 8 new cars and 12 new tracks. Though the Ford Racing arcade machine comes with a few good features, there’s nothing that justifies that $19k price tag. I’d expect something more along the lines of the Daytona Racing arcade machine, which features 8 connected cabinets and racing seats that vibrate and move. Unless you’ve got money spraying out of your pockets, I think you’ll be more than OK with Xbox 360’s force feedback steering wheel and a copy of Burnout Revenge.

Ford Racing: 1, 2, 3, Bankruptcy [uncrate]