The patents discovered by CarBuzz were filed in both Germany and the US, implying that the new invention would be fitted to a vehicle that is sold globally. Simply put, the invention is for a retractable exhaust pipe, but what has that got to do with off-roading, or any part of the driving experience, for that matter?
By and large, most vehicles have a greater approach angle than departure angle, and this means that, while you can easily get up an incline without damaging the front of your vehicle, the rear will often scrape. According to the filing, the exhaust pipe is one area that is often scratched, compressed, or deformed, and “this can have a negative impact on the way the customer perceives the capabilities of the vehicle.” So how does Ford’s invention work?