2008 Ford Focus Sedan

Transportation, recreation, communication. Three concepts, formerly distinct, but lately related, as the lines blur between work and play, home and away. Originally, cars were conveyances, something to get us from place to place. But increasingly, that view of auto as rolling appliance is being crowded out by a different take.

Making Connections

These days, we seek interconnectivity, a complicated word for a simple idea. People are looking for ways to seamlessly stitch together the ways they talk with each other and listen to music. Cars on the cutting edge have absorbed the technology necessary to keep pace with this trend. They help drivers and passengers stay connected, smoothing the links for their cell phones and MP3 players. For the most part, these innovations have been found on upscale models. In cars as elsewhere, high tech and low price seldom go together. That's what makes recent developments by Ford intriguing.


The company is rolling out an in-car connectivity system called Ford SYNC. Developed in conjunction with Microsoft, SYNC integrates Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and most media players into Ford vehicles. The system is voice-activated and hand's free, using Bluetooth wireless technology and USB connectivity. While it will appear on high-end models, Ford is making it available across the product line, including the compact Focus. SYNC is offered as standard equipment on the top level Focus SES, and available optionally on SE trim models for $395. SYNC allows a command and control hook-up with MP3 players. It also allows users to import their tunes via USB storage device. A USB port in the center console simultaneously recharges your media player while the music plays over the car's sound system.

Using Bluetooth technology, SYNC can pair up with 12 different devices and connect to one at a time. Once the phones are "paired" with the system, the wireless connection allows users to access their phone's features like address book or ring tones (Bluetooth phone requires the "address book" or "ring-tones" features). A mirror-mounted microphone picks up voice commands. In practice, SYNC responds best when issued clear commands. It also helps to keep ambient noise to a minimum. You'll need to learn the lingo for voice commands, too. Specific callouts ("Phone", "USB", "Help," etc.) are used to access functions, or to connect with various devices. Follow-up dialogue with Sync allows the user to drill down to the exact activity desired. You can, for example, tell the system to play an album or a track from your USB device ("Play Album (name)"), or even ask, "What's playing?" Your phone book can be referenced ("Phone book") and numbers dialed hands-free. SYNC will read your latest text messages to you ("Read Message"). And of course, when memory fails, help is available as simply as asking for it.

Light Display

While expounding about sound, we shouldn't lose sight of light. Another new addition to the option sheet is programmable, LED-powered ambient lighting. Lights in the cup holders and foot wells can be set to glow in seven different shades. Newly standard on all Focus models are a standard input jack for your MP3 player, ice blue instrument backlighting, driver and front passenger side impact and side curtain air bags, air conditioning and a tire pressure monitoring system. The main "top-of-dash" display is bright and legible. Especially with models equipped with SYNC, the center stack is busy with buttons, all sharing limited space. Focus will fit a pair of six footers up front. However, with those front seats at full extension, legroom in back is tight, if passengers are similarly long of leg. The trunk is nicely sized for a compact, at 13.8 cubic feet. Rear seat pass through space will allow you to take long items along for the ride.