Ford files patent for radical built-in bike carrier so you’ll never have to fit a roof rack again
Aftermarket bike racks could be a thing of the past with game-changing Ford design
THE days of wrestling to fit a bike rack to the back of your car before a weekend getaway could be over.
That's thanks to Ford which has filed a patent for a radical in-built bike carrier that folds INTO the car when it's not in use.
Documents and sketches submitted to the US Patent Office reveal the plans for the integrated rack that disappears into the rear bumper.
Not only will you not have to worry about attaching or removing heavy rails every time you take your bikes on a trip, you won't need to find somewhere to store the bulky carrier.
Instead you just slide the pieces back into the body of the car.
It also means thieves can't detach and steal your bike rack while it's parked up and there's no worry about height restrictions.
The design is most similar to a towball-mounted carrier - like the - and sketches show it could carry two bikes.
The patent application shows it fitted to a Ford Mustang which could be an even more important breakthrough for cyclists.
MOST READ IN MOTORS
Sports cars with sloping rooflines have often been ruled out for cyclists given how difficult fitting a carrier can be.
Roof racks are unstable on sporty models and the low slung body makes mounting rear mounted carriers tricky.
It's not the first time Ford has turned its hand to unique and helpful redesigns of the rear of their cars.
It previously integrated a rear tailgate step on the Ford F-150 to make it a breeze to climb onto the rear deck of the pickup.