Even though we’ve already seen the Ford Bronco in production form, it seems Ford isn’t quite done developing new options for the SUV. A Facebook user managed to snap a few pictures of the Bronco testing with some sort of prototype roof design. It’s ungainly and awkward to look at now, as many of the post’s commenters acknowledged, but that’s because of the camo covering up whatever’s underneath.
The 2021 Ford Bronco is already going to be available with both a hardtop and soft top, so this isn’t either of those. Instead, this is probably a more elaborate option. Most likely, it’s a power retractable soft top, much like the Jeep Wrangler’s Sky One Touch Power Top. While this prototype doesn’t look to have anything retractable on the roof, we think that’s what the camo is trying to hide.
With the comparable Jeep roof, the soft top portion rolls back and sits in a pile at the back. This Bronco prototype has a bulge in the back of the roof, and that’s probably where the soft top retracts to. Because the roofline looks oddly tall, Ford is probably covering the opening with camo, but leaving enough room underneath for the roof mechanism to operate for testing.
Jeep’s sliding soft top is a convenient option, because it lets owners to easily have the open roof experience without ever having to get out of their car to lower a soft top, or have the space to hold a hardtop when removed.
If this is indeed a power sliding soft top, it’ll be interesting to see how the Ford Bronco differentiates itself from Jeep’s offering. These two SUV’s have such a rivalry going that every new option, model or feature will probably be directly aimed at besting the other. We aren’t sure what Ford will do to make their sliding top better, but their new approach to clever thinking in vehicle development means they probably have something in mind.