Nissan Patents Four-Bar Tailgate That Moves Over Roof

Nissan patent filings describe a four-bar tailgate system that moves over the roof to reduce rear clearance in tight parking. Explore the details and implications.

Nissan has proposed a new take on one of the most familiar SUV components: the rear door. In patent publications filed in the United States and internationally, the company describes a rear door assembly built around a multi-link mechanism — essentially a four-bar linkage — that fundamentally changes the opening trajectory.

Instead of the conventional layout where the tailgate swings upward and rearward, this system first moves the door upward and then shifts it forward, so that in the fully open position at least part of the panel is positioned above the roof structure. The documentation explicitly states the goal of reducing space constraints in small parking areas and improving access to the cargo opening in tight environments.

The design references components identified as a rearward member, forward member, extender, and a support bracket attached in the roof structure area. This linkage defines the arcuate path of the door between fully closed and fully open positions. In one version, the mechanism may also incorporate a motor located in the rear portion of the roof structure, indicating potential compatibility with powered tailgate systems.

The central idea is to minimize rearward displacement during opening. For SUV owners, that could translate into more convenient operation in dense urban settings, where a traditional liftgate requires substantial clearance behind the vehicle. By relocating the panel into the space above the roof, the design effectively frees up the area directly behind the car.

At the same time, the very principle of movement — with the door partially or fully positioned over the roof — implies that the roof zone becomes part of the functional envelope of the mechanism. The patent materials do not provide quantified accessory or clearance restrictions, but the described trajectory clearly ties the system to the roof structure and its mounting points.

It is also important to note the development status. Patent publications and granted patents document and protect a technical concept, yet they do not guarantee its introduction into production vehicles. Still, the emergence of such a solution underscores Nissan’s ongoing efforts to rethink even long-established automotive design elements.