SOUNDBITES: SYN-US CONCEPT
One of the most unusual concept cars to be unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit is the SYN, US, which translates to "Synthesis-Urban Sanctuary". This B-size segment vehicle is designed to attract the sub-Ford Focus segment. According to J Mays, vice president of design for Ford Motor company, B-size vehicles are popular in Europe and about the size of a MINI Cooper.
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"The name Syn -US is actually a synthesis between the tough exterior of the vehicle and the very comfortable interior and the US part actually means "Urban Sanctuary" so this is a name our designers came up with. We put a young design team on this, we always as you probably remember, every year, pick one of our concepts and we just unleash our designers and ask them to do the vehicle that they would like to." : 23 sec. |
Mays says this vehicle is built Ford tough, which is obvious when you look at it, but it is also very small.
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"Many people over the years have confused small with fragile, and I said there is a difference between a small poodle and a small Bull-Dog….this certainly falls off the fence, clearly on the side of the bull-dog." : 09 sec |
When you see photo's of this concept, you might get the impression that this is a very large vehicle, but the young design team was unleashed to create a European type vehicle with a roomy inside, but small exterior resembling a "mini-brinks truck."
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"The vehicle has bullet-proof glass on the small windows that are on the back of the rear quarter flank as well as the roof, it also has schields that come up and in to place on the front screen and on the side…..now we realize that this is really over the top, but keep in mind that this is a show vehicle at an auto show. We're probably driving home the point a little hard, but it's good fun." :23 sec. |
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But, is America ready for the B-size car....is there a market for it in the U.S.
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"We're plowing that field right now and we're trying to see how fertile is that market, so what we're looking for with the SYN-US is really a reaction back from the market place." :10 sec. |
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And that is exactly what they expect to get at this year's 2005 North American International Auto show during the first few weeks of the New Year.
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"Now keep in mind traditionally, in the United States market in particular, that B-size cars have been associated with cheap and cheerful, what we're trying to do is we're trying to bring a bit of attitude in to that segment and we think that's probably a good story to have if you're going to try and be successful in it." :16 sec. |
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The SYN US will be unveiled to the press Sunday January 9th, in Detroit at the 2005 North American International Auto Show.