The next-generation Ford Explorers will offer something unique that we haven’t seen before. Rear seatbelts that will inflate in an accident the same way an airbag inflates. The idea is that rear inflatable seatbelts would be able to multiply the surface area of the belt against your body by up to 5 times.

So in an accident, your crash would be more “comfortable.” We aren’t sure if this would be practical or not, but it might save lives in the future. I wonder if it will hurt those people with more girth, by squeezing them tight.

One of the coolest options that Ford offers on most of its vehicles is the Sync Bluetooth system. Sync allows you to control your Bluetooth phone to make and receive calls and allows you to control your music collection as well.

Ford has announced that owners of 2010 Ford vehicles can now download a free Sync application called TDI (traffic, directions, information) that allows the Sync system to provide turn-by-turn driving directions using the drivers Bluetooth mobile phone.

Ford and Sprint are working hand in hand to connect upcoming Ford trucks to Sprint’s wireless broadband network. Specifically the dashboards of 2009 F-Series trucks and E-Series cargo vans. To start with they are aiming this at Construction workers.

It will help them track stuff like inventory and schematics. Not sure how they are going to do that on such a small screen, but that’s the plan. Ford boasts that the user can “review and edit graphically-rich blueprints” right from the cab of their truck.

Self-parking automobiles aren’t new, but Ford’s system, which is part of the company’s new power steering technology, will work on hills and uses sensors to monitor blind spots and notify the driver of approaching traffic. This new auto-parking technology debut on the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and Lincoln MKT luxury crossover vehicle.

The fancy new power steering uses the vehicle’s battery instead of it’s hydraulic system, which improves fuel economy and reduces carbon emissions. It should be showing up in almost ninety percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles by 2012.

Sure, we’ve heard it all when it comes to Ford jokes. Found On Road Dead, Fix Or Repair Daily, etc. Say what you like about Ford, you can’t deny the coolness of their SmartGauge LCD panels in their new 2010 hybrids.

Instead of the usual boring analog dials, Ford gives you a LCD screen cluster and even some animations. Notice the fuel gauge. Nice to look at, easy to find and functional. The best part about using an LCD display is that it’s fairly customizable. You can display battery charge, GPS and Satellite radio coverage, maybe even current mp3 track information. Of course there’s the usual boring MPH and RPM indicators. They just don’t look boring.

Love cars? Love zipping your mouse around your desktop pretending it’s a Mustang? Then this might be your thing Speed Racer. These mice are modeled after a range of classics including the Ford Mustang GT, a Chevy Concept Camaro and a Dodge Charger SRT8. The Road Mice collection offers 800 dpi resolution and will work with both PC and Mac. As for ergonomics, not so much. But they’ll let you enjoy a scaled down version if you can’t have the real deal parked in your garage. They retail for $44.95.

Today Ford announced that they have teamed up with Microsoft to offer some in-car software to enhance the use of digital audio players, mobile phones and multimedia in their vehicles. Ford Sync will be powered by Microsoft Auto Software and provide voice activated communications and entertainment in select Ford vehicles.

Sync is planned to be available in 12 different Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles yet this year and will allow users to access their mobile phone, mobile music and will host almost any digital media player including the iPod and Zune, all from voice commands or from controls on the steering wheel. Integration will happen via either Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones or a USB 2.0 port inside the vehicle to connect digital audio players and most media storage devices. The Microsoft Auto software will support …