THE new Ford Focus, among other things, will feature new technology that Ford tells us will enhance convenience and safety.

I must admit, I’ve always found Ford satnav systems and their Bluetooth set ups very easy to follow and to use. But Ford reckons the latest Focus will have new technologies not seen before in the family hatchback class that will be intuitive and highly simple to use. Bravo to that. The best tech in the world is worth nothing if it’s too difficult to work.

I gather there will be full web connectivity, plus radar controlled braking, plus a sophisticated voice control system, Bluetooth and satellite navigation. It all sounds good.

Ford chose to unveil the new Focus in the States today at the Detroit Motor Show. The US cetainly seems to be the place where new tech is arriving – fast. At the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show I understand Tele Atlas – the global provider of digital maps and dynamic content for navigation and location-based solutions – has revealed new satnav software that shows gradient and road curvature.

One of the reasons to develop this, says Tele Atlas, is to help meet the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) being developed by car makers. ADAS systems seek to modify driver or vehicle behaviour to create a safer, more economical driving experience.

So what can you expect?

Tele Atlas ADAS-level applications include eco-routing, adaptive cruise control, energy management, headlight steering, road preview and bend warnings. So if, for example, a car is approaching an upcoming bend too quickly, it can issue a speed warning; improve the performance of Cruise Control and Automatic Cruise Control to take into account upcoming road bends; and improve fuel economy by using information about hills and real world speeds to manage energy usage.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not in favour of the machine taking over. But some of these aspects of technology can have real business benefits. Like being able to calculate the best route based on speed and fuel economy taking into account terrain and traffic conditions – that’s quite sophisticated. And if it saves fuel, it will save your business costs, too.

Latest developments promise more intuitive control