WiFi + hybrid + pretty, enough to buy a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid?

The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid has a lot going for it with fuel efficiency rivaling that of the 2010 Toyota Prius, sleek looks and a decent price tag. But that still isn’t enough for many to make the leap and buy. Ford knows that and in another effort to spur its bottom line the company just announced it will introduce mobile hotspots in its vehicles using the next generation SYNC in-car connectivity system. Would WiFi be the golden nugget that makes you want to buy?

Ford is hoping so, and with this move it’s targeting the Millenials, which grew up on the Internet and are usually seeking better ways to access it in every avenue of life. Internet connectivity has a host of implications like the ability to update the car’s operating system, the potential of keeping maintenance logs updated online automatically, even building in video conferencing on a central monitor.

In this case going green with a hybrid doesn’t mean giving up anything on lifestyle, though the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid carries price premium like most of its competitors on the market.

So for those still considering a hybrid despite the high up-front cost, would WiFi access be a determining factor in a purchase decision? Ford has decided to take a future looking approach that allows a USB device to connect with the SYNC’s hardware. That means wireless modems from the likes of of Verizon, Sprint and AT&T would connect to the car and rebroadcast their signal as local WiFi.

It’s a more integrated approach than something like the MiFi from sprint, which is a portable version of the same thing. An option like the MiFi does have the advantage of being mobile, and some phones have the capability to broadcast WiFi signals already. The question becomes would you rather have integration on your mobile device, car, or in both?

Please note that the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid does not currently offer the second generation of the SYNC in-car connectivity system and Ford has not made its plans clear on which car models will be compatible, though the Fusion hybrid would be a logical fit. This was a hypothetical exploration of how Ford may deploy SYNC’s upcoming WiFi hotspot feature.