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By 2010, population trends suggest that for the first time in history, more than half of the population will be living in urban areas. Ford's compact SYNUS concept vehicle expects to be right at home in the city, too.

Designed to navigate crowded city streets and maneuver into small parking spaces, the SYNUS concept is just five feet tall and 158 inches long. The 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine delivers 134 horsepower, high miles per gallon, and is designed to run on bio-mass diesel, which blends traditional petroleum-based diesel with an organic diesel alternative derived from agricultural feedstocks.

Designers, inspired by, of all things, bank vaults and armored vehicles, outfitted the SYNUS concept with a combination lock for the front doors and a four-handle spinner handle to open the rear hatch. The SYNUS concept also features steel security shutters over the front windows, and bullet-resistant glass in the side windows and sunroofs to prevent "smash and grab" thieves.

The tough outside is tempered by cutting edge electronics inside, including a 45-inch, flat screen LCD screen that encompasses the entire tailgate area. The LCD screen acts as a high-definition rear view mirror for the driver, or a multimedia hub, connectable to wireless internet, videos and more.

The SYNUS concept shows Ford's renewed interest in what is known as the compact car, or B-class of cars, popular in Europe, South America and Mexico.

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