Mercury Meta One Concept Sports Advanced Safety Systems

While Attractive the Meta One Doesn't Exude Adventurous Concept Car Styling

Mercury recently released a sketch of the Meta One concept, which will be unveiled at this year's North American

The Meta One, which will be unveiled at this year's North American International Auto Show, is Mercury's first concept car since the racy Messenger of 2003. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

International Auto Show in January 2005. The Meta One is Mercury's first concept car since the racy Messenger of 2003. While the Messenger lured people to Mercury's auto show stands for its dramatic styling and raw power, the Meta One is a scientific research vehicle, aimed at attracting the thinking person by showing new methods of both active and passive safety.

The Meta One is the product of Ford's extensive research and development; it is a four-wheeled showcase of some of the most advanced collision prevention technology to be fitted to a motor vehicle. Ford's decision to use the Meta One as a focus for collision prevention comes from the fact that most safety-related technologies are designed to protect the

The Meta One is a four-wheeled showcase of some of the most advanced collision prevention technology to be fitted to a motor vehicle. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada

vehicle's occupants in a collision. The question which they pose is simple and logical: what if those collisions could be prevented?

One of the highlights of the Meta One is the Lane Departure Warning system, a mechanized vision system which uses a camera to track the left and right lane markings and warns the driver about unintentionally leaving his or her lane via acoustic or visual signals, or vibrations 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.