Lucas Bell 
We know that the Ford Bronco is slated to return in 2020, and we know that it will be based on the T6 mid-size body-on-frame truck platform that currently underpins the Ford Ranger. But considering the massive hype surrounding the reintroduction of this iconic SUV, there has been a lot of digging though USPTO images and filings to unearth any bit of information that they can about the truck, leading to some interesting discoveries. While the majority of the patent filings we’ve reported on relate to the Bronco’s rumored removable doors, other potential design features continue to trickle out from these patents. The latest of which come from The Drive.
A patent was filed by Ford depicting a sketch of the Brazilian-market Troller T4, but with the Bronco’s rumored A-pillar-mounted side mirrors, which would bolster a vehicles rearward visibility during doorless driving. This filing once again hints at the fact that the Ford Bronco will arrive next year offering an open air experience similar to the Jeep Wrangler.
In fact, this A-pillar mirror positioning is something that the Jeep aftermarket has utilized for years, so it is no surprise that the Bronco will offer something along those lines. Another patent also shows how the oddly placed mirrors will offer puddle lighting without the doors in place.
Continuing with the open-air experience, another patent has been filed detailing removable rear-panel windows. This feature really only makes sense if the Ford Bronco features removable doors, as this would allow owners to remove all the glass behind the windshield for peak open-air driving. Ford also appears to be working on a removable roof rack for the Bronco as well, though this patent could prove redundant if the SUV’s long rumored removable roof comes to fruition.
Aftermarket parts and accessories are extremely popular in the off-roading segment, particularly with models like the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator pickup. Mopar offers a huge selection of these parts themselves, which is something Ford could be planning to do for the Bronco. A patent filed for an interchangeable grille system could be one attempt by Ford to offer such parts, along with other potential performance and appearance modifications later on.
While these patents don’t vastly change what we know about the upcoming Ford Bronco, they do continue to hint at the SUV’s off-road intentions. None of the patents filed actually carry the Bronco name, though this shouldn’t be a surprise considering how sneaky Ford has been with the Bronco thus far.
