---
title: "Patent Drawings Suggest 2020 Ford Bronco Could Come With Convertible Cloth Roof"
description: "Potentially used on the new Ford Bronco, the dual-layer roof system could also act as an awning for campsites."
date: "2019-04-02"
modified: "2019-04-02"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Chin"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-chin"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/27252/patent-drawings-suggest-2020-ford-bronco-could-come-with-convertible-cloth-roof"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Patents"
tags:
  - "Bronco"
  - "Convertible"
  - "Ford"
  - "Off-Road"
  - "suv/crossover"
---

# Patent Drawings Suggest 2020 Ford Bronco Could Come With Convertible Cloth Roof

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/04/2020-Ford-Bronco-Roof-Patent-Drawings-9.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Ever since [Ford](<https://www.ford.com/suvs/bronco/>) announced a project to revive the famed [Bronco](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/6873/a-bucking-brief-bronco-history>) SUV, we’ve been excited to see the result. And the fever only grows upon learning that the upcoming Ford Bronco might come equipped with a retractable cloth roof, according to some patent drawings discovered by [*MotorTrend*](<https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-bronco-cloth-roof-patent-drawing/>)*.*

The drawings show a potential roof design and construction for a very square SUV featuring an integrated retractable cloth function. In addition, the top has a mechanism that allows it to extend backwards out off the vehicle like an awning—similar to how certain versions of Volkswagen’s famous, forbidden-fruit camper vans feature retractable awnings to act as portable sunshades.

The roof in the patent drawings actually has two layers: one comprised of what’ll likely be a mesh polyester material on top of a secondary cloth part, offering two varying levels of shade and protection for occupants. It could also be entirely dismantled and removed, should drivers want a completely open motoring experience.

Previous reports suggested that the [Bronco](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/24136/2020-ford-bronco-could-come-with-a-7-speed-manual-transmission-report>) revival could at least come with a removable hardtop, in addition to [removable doors](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27134/dealers-whove-seen-ford-bronco-prototype-say-its-twice-as-cool-as-expected>) to offer a wide-open motoring experience. This will sound familiar to Jeep Wrangler fans; it would jibe with the company's promise that the new Ford Bronco is an ["authentic" off-roader.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20463/ford-promises-new-line-of-more-authentic-off-road-suvs-as-it-ditches-sedans-in-the-u-s>) Plus, it's an ode to the versatility of the original [Bronco II](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Bronco_II>).

Of course, automakers file speculative patents all the time to protect ideas that might not make it to a final product. These drawings are in no way a guarantee that the Ford Bronco (or any Ford SUV, for that matter) will have a convertible cloth roof. But it's certainly something to look out for. And it might explain why Ford dealers who recently saw a near-production Bronco concept [called the truck](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27134/dealers-whove-seen-ford-bronco-prototype-say-its-twice-as-cool-as-expected>) a "game-changer."

![message-editor%2F1554152408014-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152408014-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings2.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

![message-editor%2F1554152418017-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152418017-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings3.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

![message-editor%2F1554152427237-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152427237-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings4.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

![message-editor%2F1554152434937-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings5.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152434937-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings5.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

![message-editor%2F1554152441263-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings6.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152441263-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings6.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

![message-editor%2F1554152446654-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings7.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152446654-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings7.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

![message-editor%2F1554152451780-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings8.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152451780-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings8.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

![message-editor%2F1554152460339-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings9.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1554152460339-2020fordbroncoroofpatentdrawings9.jpg>)
*Google Patents*

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