Ford Sync Technology Allows Jimmy Carr And Jay Leno To Perform 'Sit-Down' Gig Across The Atlantic

BRENTWOOD, UNITED KINGDOM – Oct 4, 2011: Two of comedy’s biggest stars –separated by six thousand miles – have been brought together using Ford SYNC technology, as part of the Ford of Britain Centenary Tour.

Comedy stars Jimmy Carr and Jay Leno have taken part in an unusual gig, live from the front seats of two Ford Focus cars, communicating across the Atlantic using Ford’s Wi-Fi-enabled SYNC system. Leno was parked in Hollywood in Los Angeles, with Carr outside the Corn Exchange in King’s Lynn, in Norfolk.

“It’s great to do something that is cutting edge, to chat about cars, gadgets and have a laugh,” said Carr, who leapt at the chance to get together with one of the kings of American stand-up.

Ford SYNC Wi-Fi capability uses an external USB broadband modem, plugged into the vehicle’s media system, effectively turning it into a rolling Wi-Fi hot spot. By broadcasting a secure wireless connection throughout the vehicle, Ford SYNC allows up to 5 passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices to access the signal.

Carr and Leno used this signal to run Skype on their iPad 2’s, allowing them to video-call each other from across the Atlantic.

Jay Leno, said: “Bad cars don’t really exist so car makers are increasing looking for ways to make their models stand out. The one place we spend more time than anywhere except our house or office is the car. It’s not a surprise people want the same gadgetry on the road.”

Since the introduction of the Ford SYNC system in the Focus, Ford has installed the system on more than 3 million vehicles. The system is currently available on Ford vehicles in the US and scheduled to launch in the UK in 2012.

The Ford Centenary Tour comes to an end after one month, covering a distance of over 2,200 miles across Britain, from Inverness to Southampton and Cardiff to London.