New Ford Patent Supports Removable Door Theory on 2021 Bronco

The arrival of the 2021 Ford Bronco will be ushering a new era for Ford after two decades, which is why it comes as no surprise that the brand is making a lot of fuss in the development of the upcoming Jeep Wrangler rival.

Ford’s rugged off-road SUV has long been rumored to get a removable roof as well as removable doors. But while nothing has been confirmed, a new patent application in the United States suggests the company could indeed go for the removable parts in the highly anticipated model

Based on documents filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a unique design showing barebones tubes doors built-in from the Ford factory and fitted with quick-release outer door panels could be coming to the lineup.

The design in the patent has overlapping elements with a previous patent filed by the company in 2019 and supports the theory of the new Bronco sporting a set of removable doors with built-in tube doors when it arrives.

Additionally, the design is the opposite of Wrangler’s factory tube-less doors.

Removable doors are popular among off-road enthusiasts because of open-air driving. But more importantly, it gives drivers the option to reduce the risk of damage to door panels while off-roading from various elements encountered while off-roading.

A tube door provides the same benefits of doorless vehicles while also protecting occupants from tree or rock intrusions. It is also consistent with several places in the U.S. that require tube doors on public roads at the very least.

The USPTO recently published the patent application, describing it as a “lightweight removable body door system” for automobiles, where the door’s sheet metal, window glass, and electronics are housed in a single removable piece.

The 2021 Ford Bronco is set to be unveiled this March with sales expected to begin sometime in 2021.