Lending a car to the kids (or the missus) will never be stressful again. Ford’s new motors come with special programmable keys, so you can set a speed limit for the car, and even set the maximum volume for the stereo!
Personally, we think it’s a bit pointless, since Ford says the car’s speed can only be locked to “unlimited” or 80mph. There’s still plenty of damage to be done at that speed, but the other limits are more sensible.
See, Ford reckons parents will be “more comfortable” lending a car to their offspring with some conditions attached, using a chip inside the key to tell the car who’s behind the wheel.
“It’s making use of existing technology, and through the magic of software, we’re able to build features on top of the features we already have,” said Jim Buczkowski, the company’s director of electronic and electrical systems engineering.
Dubbed MyKey, the technology will limit the loudness of the car’s stereo, and also sound a chime every minute if seat belts are left unfastened. There’s also the option to set a chime when the car exceeds 45, 55 or 65 mph.
The 2010 Ford Focus will be the first car to feature MyKey, after which it’ll roll out to other models.
Out 2010 | £TBC | Ford (via Yahoo News)
