- Ford designers created a retractable tent that deploys over the cab and rear truck mattress.
- Intelligent integration permits full mattress use whereas enhancing aerodynamics for EVs.
- Patent could preview an adjunct for the $30,000 electrical pickup launching in 2027.
A brand new chapter in Ford’s electrical automobile plans will arrive in 2027 with an reasonably priced midsize pickup beginning at round $30,000, kicking off a complete lineup of funds EVs. Whereas the automaker has solely revealed a simplified silhouette of the upcoming mannequin, latest patent drawings could provide an early glimpse at one in all its non-obligatory equipment.
The design seen within the patents outlines a rooftop tent that deploys over the truck and shops neatly in a retractable module above the rear mattress.
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Filed with america Patent and Trademark Workplace in February 2024 and revealed final week, the patent carries the title “Shelter System Having Deployable Platform.” Whether or not it turns into a manufacturing actuality continues to be unsure, however the idea alone has sturdy enchantment.
If it makes it into manufacturing, the tent could be an awesome choice for camper conversions on future Ford pickups just like the upcoming EV or the next-generation Maverick, Ranger, and F-150 fashions.
Room to stretch
When totally deployed, the tent provides the same profile define to the truck because the Tesla Cybertruck. The prolonged platform presents sufficient room to sleep two adults. Moreover, the rear part has greater than sufficient headroom for folks to comfortably stand whereas being shielded from the weather. Entry is thru a rear doorway, and two home windows herald mild and air flow.
Ford / US Patent and Trademark Workplace
When folded, the tent appears like a glossy cover mounted above the rear mattress. Apparently, it doesn’t occupy the house beneath the mattress cowl, which means that it’s nonetheless accessible.
The advantages of this design over a conventional rooftop tent are its seamless integration with the automobile. Quite than growing drag, the rear module might truly enhance the truck’s aerodynamics, boosting effectivity and increasing driving vary. This benefit is especially vital for hybrid and totally electrical fashions, the place each weight and aerodynamics play an even bigger function in efficiency.
A glimpse at Ford’s future truck?
One other element price noting from the patent is the design of the truck itself. It’s unclear whether or not this represents an precise upcoming mannequin or just a mockup created for the submitting. Even so, parts such because the vertically stacked headlights and the sleek, streamlined roofline look totally believable for a future electrical Ford pickup.
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Hopefully, the Blue Oval gained’t let this creative concept collect mud, as seeing it developed right into a manufacturing facility choice could be a welcome sight. Under are just a few renderings we created based mostly on the patent drawings, digitally inserting the camper within the form of settings the place it belongs.
Renderings CarScoops
H/T to Carbuzz