Ford SYNUS
Encyclopedia
The Ford SYNus is a concept car
produced by Ford Motor Company
and created by Spanish designer Jose Paris (exterior design) and Joe Baker (interior). The SYNus debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
.
The unusual name, which is pronounced "sin-you-ehs", comes from the words synthesis (synthesis of the tough exterior and the soft interior) and US, which stands for Urban Sanctuary. Its name is a homophone of sinuous, which means curving, or graceful.
, in that it has a tough exterior and a soft interior. Armadillo was a working title
of the SYNus, but was discarded when it was discovered that there was another concept car from Fiat
with this title. Other production names have included "Ford Knox" and "Gorilla".
The SYNus shares its powertrain
design with the Ford Mondeo
. The engine is a diesel powered, 16 valve, turbocharged
, 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder Duratorq
TDCi Diesel engine that produces 134 horsepower (100 kW). The SYNus has a five-speed manual transmission
. Its wheel
s are 18 inches (457 mm) in diameter. It has an IEEE 802.11g compliant wireless LAN
hub.
The SYNus was designed to maximize safety, and derives its aesthetic from modern bank vault
s. The car's windows and frame are bullet-resistant. It has no rear window, and instead displays a video feed on a large LCD monitor installed in the back of the car's interior. Also, when in "lockdown mode" steel shutters close around the front windshield, windows and the exterior lights.
The car also, as mentioned earlier, is an "Urban Sanctuary". When in "lockdown mode", the car's seats can be configured to face rearwards, to watch movies or relax in otherwise hectic city life. In this sense, the car can be used to shut out the outside world.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
produced by Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and created by Spanish designer Jose Paris (exterior design) and Joe Baker (interior). The SYNus debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
.
The unusual name, which is pronounced "sin-you-ehs", comes from the words synthesis (synthesis of the tough exterior and the soft interior) and US, which stands for Urban Sanctuary. Its name is a homophone of sinuous, which means curving, or graceful.
Design
The design mimics that of an armadilloArmadillo
Armadillos are New World placental mammals, known for having a leathery armor shell. Dasypodidae is the only surviving family in the order Cingulata, part of the superorder Xenarthra along with the anteaters and sloths. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one"...
, in that it has a tough exterior and a soft interior. Armadillo was a working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
of the SYNus, but was discarded when it was discovered that there was another concept car from Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
with this title. Other production names have included "Ford Knox" and "Gorilla".
The SYNus shares its powertrain
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
design with the Ford Mondeo
Ford Mondeo
The Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
. The engine is a diesel powered, 16 valve, turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
, 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder Duratorq
Ford Duratorq engine
The Ford Duratorq engine, commonly referred to as Duratorq, is the marketing name of a range of Ford diesel engines first introduced in 2000 for the Ford Mondeo range of cars....
TDCi Diesel engine that produces 134 horsepower (100 kW). The SYNus has a five-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. Its wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
s are 18 inches (457 mm) in diameter. It has an IEEE 802.11g compliant wireless LAN
Wireless LAN
A wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...
hub.
The SYNus was designed to maximize safety, and derives its aesthetic from modern bank vault
Bank vault
A bank vault is a secure space where money, valuables, records, and documents can be stored. It is intended to protect their contents from theft, unauthorized use, fire, natural disasters, and other threats, just like a safe...
s. The car's windows and frame are bullet-resistant. It has no rear window, and instead displays a video feed on a large LCD monitor installed in the back of the car's interior. Also, when in "lockdown mode" steel shutters close around the front windshield, windows and the exterior lights.
The car also, as mentioned earlier, is an "Urban Sanctuary". When in "lockdown mode", the car's seats can be configured to face rearwards, to watch movies or relax in otherwise hectic city life. In this sense, the car can be used to shut out the outside world.