Stellantis has filed a patent in France for a split tailgate design intended for use in sedans and hatchbacks. The patent, which was found by CarBuzz, details a mechanism that could allow these vehicle types to carry long items, such as pieces of wood.
The design consists of two sections. The lower section of the tailgate folds down flat, functioning like a pickup truck's tailgate to create a flat loading surface.
The upper section of the tailgate opens higher than a typical trunklid. This upper portion can flip around to lay flat against the roof of the vehicle.
To secure the hatch against the roof, the patent shows a bar and loop mechanism. The bar and loop are reported to fit into a slot on the car's roof.
Design implications and engineering
The patent hints at the use of a motor on the hatch to facilitate opening and closing the mechanism.
The patent comes from the French arm of Stellantis, where engineers for the design work at the company, which includes Peugeot and Citroën.
It is not yet known whether Stellantis will bring this design to production.
