Ford’s MyKey – because someone has to teach them to be responsible

For a teenager, there’s nothing like the feeling of independence that comes from hitting the open road. But now Ford is saying not so fast, Junior (literally). Ford’s new MyKey system (standard on the 2010 Focus coupe and optional on other models) allows parents to program a specific car key to play Big Brother. When used to start the car, the MyKey can limit top speed to 80 mph (as well as chime at speeds as low as 45), mute the stereo until a seatbelt is fastened, give early low fuel warnings, and perform other mothering tasks that will be sure to get your kids to give you the “that’s, like, totally unfair” look.

If Ford really wanted to do parents of teenagers a favor, they would set the system to warn if the car detected it was parked in the woods with two (or more—woohoo) occupants. But I guess for services like that you would need to get the trunk monkey.