Ford recently patented a “folding vehicle” that hearkens back to the simplistic design features of their Model A, the first car produced by the company. The idea behind the compact, foldable vehicle is that it will make navigating and parking in crowded cities easier.
When it’s not being used, the design allows the vehicle to be folded along a retractable axis that takes up as little space as possible. You can imagine the helpfulness of something like this while searching for a parking space in a crowded city like New York or San Francisco.
In terms of how the new concept car would potentially be like the Model A, it will mostly be in the minimalist design using only the necessary components. While this was part of the discovery process in the development of early automobiles, it’s now become a desired quality among some consumers to have cars that are simpler and take up less space.
Another key aspect of the new design is that it will be a zero-emission vehicle. At this point, it has not been determined whether the vehicle would have an electric or combustible power train. Given the zero-emission goal, it would seem that the early signs point toward an electric powered vehicle, though the patent does include the potential for an internal combustion engine.
Details & Design Of The Ford Concept Car
The secret ingredient in the design is the frame of the vehicle, which design plans show would be able to allow the frame to extend of being compressed as needed. One of the features enabled by this is that the seating arrangement is not fixed and can be adjusted based on the number of passengers. It can carry up to six passengers, or be fitted for just one, depending on your seating needs. Other elements may be added to the vehicle as well, such as a flatbed like you might find on a pickup truck.
There are a lot of possibilities built into the concept vehicle, most of which seems built around its versatility. Having a frame that can be specifically fitted to your needs or how many passengers you’re carrying could be a tremendous benefit, especially when combined with the potential of self-driving vehicles.
Though the possibilities are exciting to think about, it is important to remember that this is just a concept and a patent at this point. Hopefully, we’ll get to see the concept come to fruition and see if there is any viability to the idea. Hyundai has registered a similar patent so signs point this becoming a possible trend in the automaking industry.
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