Ford to patent new electric car party trick

Ford wants to patent a big screen for the front trunk cargo area – commonly known as a ‘frunk’– which may find its way into future versions of its electric vehicles such as the Mustang Mach-E or F-150 Lightning.

US motoring site Motor Authority has reported Ford filing a US patent application for a unique retractable screen set-up, building on previous patent applications for 'frunk' area uses.

In the latest version, Motor Authority reports Ford has designed a multimedia screen to be stowed in a special housing towards the back of the frunk cargo area.

When in use, the screen would rise from the stowage pocket, with a projector mounted on the underside of the vehicle’s front grille – a model eerily-similar to an F-150 Lightning in the patent filing drawings – to be used together with it.

The set-up could be used for entertainment while camping, or as the US site jokes, at ‘tailgate’ parties commonly held in the US.

Previous screen mounting concepts from Ford revealed in earlier filings include a display hanging from an open bootlid or 'frunklid', as well as a similar set-up where a screen rises from a slot within the frunk.

Ford has also produced numerous party-focused patent filings for the front end of its electric vehicles, including a fold-out table and Bluetooth wireless connected speaker.

Enthusiast site Ford Authority also points to other frunk-associated patents from the US car maker, including a frunk with in-built work-related features – such as a peg board to hold tools.

The ideas patented by Ford may end up in production versions of future-generation showroom models.

While the electric F-150 Lighting ute is currently not on sale in Australia through Ford dealers – although Queensland-based company AusEV is selling right-hand drive versions converted locally – the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV has been in local showrooms since late 2023.

The frunk of the Mach-E is already designed to be a cooler, complete with protective plastic lining and drainage hold.

The Mach-E joined the E-Transit electric large commercial van in the car maker’s Australian line-up, with global boss Jim Farley confirming the car maker is working on a cut-price electric car to combat fierce competition from Chinese manufacturers.