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2021 Ford Bronco Almost Had A Foldable Windshield

While we were awaiting the reveal of the all-new 2021 Ford Bronco, many rumors swirled regarding what, exactly, we could expect. One such rumor was that the new Ford Bronco would feature a foldable windshield, just like its established rival, the Jeep Wrangler. But when the Bronco was revealed, we quickly realized that the foldable windshield did not make it to production. And now, we know why.

“We looked at that. In the original vehicle, you could do that,” Paul Wraith, Bronco chief designer, told Ford Authority executive editor, Alex Luft, in a recent interview. “But it brings with it some problems. It does provide the user with a fairly rare event, since you start getting into things like flat windshields, which is a compromised construction around pillars.”

“So what we actually really wanted to do is to provide a very open-air feel, thin out the pillars as much as we could, which is why we have the airbags in the sport tubes,” Wraith explained. “That provided people a very safe envelope for people to sit within. So when you look at tradeoffs, we think we made the right one – but it’s very safe, very open, and a good experience – and I think we made the right tradeoff.”

The sport tubes Wraith is referring to is what Ford calls the roof construction that runs from the windshield to the trunk. It’s clear that safety was at the forefront of the Bronco’s design, particularly in the event of a rollover accident, which is more common with high-riding, shorter-wheelbase vehicles.

Those that seek an open-air experience will still be able to remove the roof and doors rather easily. In the four-door 2021 Ford Bronco, those doors can also be stored in the rear cargo area, which is something the Jeep Wrangler does not accommodate. And its top can also be removed in sections by one person, while the Wrangler requires a bit of heavy lifting and preferably a partner.

We’ll have much more on the new Bronco soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Bronco news and non-stop Ford news coverage.

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Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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Comments

  1. Seem like you could’ve done the same structure and still had a foldable front windshield. I hope someone is still working on that idea and it might become a option in the future. SAFTY 1st

    Reply
  2. While a folding windshield is cool, I’m quite happy they took this route. The Bronco should be quite a bit quieter to drive on the highway with being more aerodynamic.

    Reply
    1. Do you like grasshoppers in your teeth? Have you ever been hit by a bug going any speed at all, it feels like you got hit with a baseball if it is the size of grasshopper, if it is smaller it feels like a piece of weed eater line came off and hit you in the face.

      Reply
  3. Do you like grasshoppers in your teeth? Have you ever been hit by a bug going any speed at all, it feels like you got hit with a baseball if it is the size of grasshopper, if it is smaller it feels like a piece of weed eater line came off and hit you in the face.

    Reply
  4. No one will use foldable windshield anyway. Heck.. Most Jeep owners these days never take off their hard tops and doors… which is whole reason to haveva jeep.

    Bronco is perfect how it is.

    Reply

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