2005 Mercury Meta One Concept

Biodiesel proponents should feel validated by Ford's use of the renewable fuel, made from biological feedstocks, or biomass.

The Meta One is equipped with a high tech Lane Departure Warning system. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

The use of such fuels delivers a double positive to the environment: one being that C02 is absorbed during the various plants' growth, and the other being that the fuel itself, blended with conventional diesel and produced in partnership with BP, runs cleaner than regular pump diesel.

While environmentally friendly, those that have witnessed, or worse yet experienced a top-heavy sport utility vehicle upturned will appreciate the Meta One's collision prevention systems. While most such safety-related technologies are designed to protect occupants in a collision, the new Mercury looks to prevent the likelihood of an accident happening at all in the first place.

The vehicle's Lane Departure Warning system is a mechanized vision system that uses a camera to track the left and right lane markings before warning the driver about unintentionally leaving his or her lane via acoustic and visual signals, as well as vibrations

While some technologies are new to North America, Ford has derived many innovative features from production vehicles around the globe. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

in the driver's seat. If a departure to the right or left side without the use of turn signals is detected, a vibration on the corresponding bolster of the driver's seat is made.

The system automatically activates when the car's headlights are turned on, and works in all weather conditions, but still needs further development for conditions where line markers are not available. Not only could this system save the lives of the Meta One's occupants if the driver unintentionally falls asleep at the wheel, for instance, but it would increase the use of turn signals, which would benefit everyone on the road.