Nissan and Hyundai are about to start a war. Not over horsepower, gadgets, or fuel economy, but over SUV tailgates. CarBuzz has uncovered patents from both automakers for new and very similar tailgate designs. Both let their hatch open in a new way, but both also seem like a lot of effort for not a lot of gain. The questions are, whose is better, and who gets there first?
Patent filings do not guarantee the use of such technology in future vehicles and are often used exclusively as a means of protecting intellectual property. Such a filing cannot be construed as confirmation of production intent.
Two Hatchback Ideas For Very Tight Spaces
Hatch Patent DrawingHyundai
The two ideas try to solve the same problem: how much swing a tailgate needs to open. Traditional tailgates pivot around a hinge at the top, and that means when they open, they swing out behind the vehicle.
It’s not usually a long distance, but in some parking situations it’s still too much. Especially if someone has pulled in tightly behind you.
Both patents want the tailgate to slide upward and then pivot around a point lower down the height of the gate. That would reduce the swing of the hatch and raise the swing above the hood of most other vehicles. They also seem to need less height above the vehicle, which is handy in tight garages.
Each of the methods is complicated, but Hyundai’s might be more complex. In Hyundai’s invention, the tailgate first pops open slightly. It then slides vertically on a linear actuator. Once it has risen high enough, it then rotates open on a hinge that looks a lot like the gooseneck hinge in your car’s trunk.
The hinge moves it up and around so the tailgate stops partly over the roof. The outward swing is minimal, and the biggest difference over a standard hatch is the actuator and slide mechanism.
Which Method Will Dominate The Tailgate Wars?
Hatch Patent DrawingNissan
Nissan’s hatch uses a four-bar mechanism to move the hatch in and out as well as rotating up. As it opens, the top of the tailgate pivots up over the roof. The tailgate then stays close to the roof as it opens, and it ends up mostly over the top of the vehicle instead of out behind it.
While the four-bar mechanism is simple, it demands more changes to the vehicle. An exterior panel covers the motors and leaves slots in the roof for the hinge mechanism to pivot upward.
The advantage of Nissan’s design is that it doesn’t seem to require motors. Hyundai’s seems to, at least to slide the hatch upward, but also possibly to rotate it around its hinge because it has less leverage than a conventional hatch. Nissan’s patent drawings show it on a Pathfinder body, but it could launch with the upcoming Xterra. Hyundai’s drawings don’t show a vehicle, but it could be for the next Tucson or Santa Fe.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
2013 Nissan Xterra, Rear View, Blue/BlackNissan
SUV tailgates haven’t seen much innovation since BMW and Ford took Range Rover’s split-gate idea, and it’s been decades since that happened. So it’s good to see that automakers are still trying.
Nissan’s idea seems like the best one. It keeps the hatch close to the roof of the vehicle and doesn’t use a heavy and complex linear actuator. But Hyundai’s should allow you to open it in an even tighter space, even if you need more overhead clearance. Neither one seems ideal if you want a roof tent or roof-mount storage, though.
Source: US Patent & Trademark Office
