We recently told you that the 2021 Ford Bronco would come with detachable doors and a roof. Before that, we heard rumbling rumors of it possibly getting a seven-speed manual. Now, Ford is raising the roof of speculation before summer with newly discovered patents hinting at a cloth top canopy. Perhaps this is why its prototype looks strange in past pictures from new car spies.
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Autoblog recently referenced 15 illustrations in a patent application that Ford Global Technologies filed in Germany. It shows versions of a multi-use SUV roof with multiple functions. While it is not certain whether this feature will go into production with the two-door Bronco, we can dare to dream.
The abstract from the patent application is as follows:
“A roof that includes a first material and a second material, wherein the first and the second material are selectively pulled out to cover at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, wherein the first material is configured to filter the light to a different extent than the second substance.”
A retractable roof is a solid feature to have. However, this option provides a cloth top and screen layer to shade passengers from the sun and give cover from the wind.
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Figure 15 of the patent also describes a roll-up device that pulls the cloth out opposite from the vehicle to create a canopy.
Head on over to Autoblog.com to see the illustrations. Let us know what conclusions you draw from the Ford patent applications.
Source: Autoblog.com
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