For off-road enthusiasts, scraping exhaust tips is neither an issue nor a huge concern. That hasn't stopped Ford from developing a new solution in the shape of retractable exhaust tips, as detailed in a recent patent application filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The patent, which was filed in 2020 but was released in early October 2021, is named Retractile Tail Pipe For Vehicle Exhaust System and operates pretty much as it sounds.
On a succession of tiny shafts, a gear-driven tip glides. Because the tip is electrically controlled, you may parade across the mall parking lot with your exhaust in full display before pulling it in without damaging it.
Since a standard exhaust pipe doesn't stick out that much anyhow, the notion seems a little ridiculous. And we think that anyone who finds himself in such a circumstance has far more pressing concerns than a scratched tip.
Ford promotes off-road use for their concept, although it may be more suited for urban use in lower-riding pickup trucks and SUVs. Those are the kind of conditions when exhaust tips are likely to scrape. A retractable function may be beneficial.
There's no assurance that it'll get beyond the concept stage. With the industry heading toward electrification, which eliminates the need for exhaust systems, it appears that this brilliant idea will stay just that.