SYNus Concept Takes Urban Living to New Level

Finishing off the armored vehicle styling theme is near upright windshield glass, complementing the vehicle's bold, big truck

>Despite its tough as nails exterior looks, the inside of the SYNus is actually quite luxuriously appointed. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

grille, headlights, external front bumper, industrial sliding-style doors, and bulging wheel arches.

Making the SYNus feel even more secure, and convenient, is a driver-side combination lock on the B-pillar.

Once inside, the SYNus is actually quite luxuriously appointed. Ford says that chief designer Joe Baker "conceived the interior of the concept as a warm, welcoming private sanctuary in contrast to the cold, perhaps cruel, world outside the car."

Fair enough. The colors, crème brulé and a deep, burnt orange, plus the backlit lighting techniques Baker has chosen are indeed welcoming, while the seats, front and back, are quite unique, capable of sliding from back to front with the latter capable of swiveling around

The SYNus has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

so that all four can face each other in kind of a rolling conversation pit. When three's a crowd, the rear seat can be folded flat for an accommodating cargo area.

Also practical is a steering wheel that folds under the dash in order to make ingress and egress easier for the driver, a similar feature to one highlighted by Mazda's Washu concept that came onto the scene in 2003.

The SYNus has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible, integrating large, easily legible gauges and what Ford describes as "intuitive controls".