Recent patents suggest that the brand may have a nifty truck bed feature in the pipeline for its forthcoming pickup.While the pickup truck tailgate was once humble in its ambitions (i.e., keeping the bed closed), the auto industry's relentless pursuit of progress has made it a proving ground for innovation. As such, nowadays, it's not enough to merely hinge open and shut. From Nissan's slick sliding concept to GM's clutch game-day seating, the tailgate is taking on new designs and also more responsibilities. AdvertisementAdvertisementWelcome to Moonshots: A series exploring the big ideas that could reshape the future of products. Discover more here.The latest of such visions comes from Hyundai. It takes the form of a patent filing, and it promises a new level of flexibility. Hyundai's hinged design includes an extension. - Credit: Hyundai / USPTOA more flexible split-gateThat's because the documentation CarBuzz surfaced depicts a tailgate design split into independently operated panels. While that concept is very similar to something Ford previously explored and eventually put into production on its own trucks, Hyundai's execution is what's especially noteworthy. The support is key to the design's load-bearing promise. - Credit: Hyundai / USPTOUnlike the Blue Oval's design, the patent includes provisions for a frame, an extension and a much more robust locking mechanism. As a result, the segmented tailgate not only hinges separately but also lays flat to increase the truck bed's available real estate. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt even comes with robust striker locking mechanisms to keep everything in place, and there are multiple fail-safes to ensure everything stays secure.Honestly, though, that's just the beginning of the benefits to the functionality. I can see this tailgate design having all kinds of camping applications, and it would likely be a big hit among sports fans, too.The discontinued Santa Cruz leaves a noticeable hole for the brand to fill in the coming years. - Credit: HyundaiHyundai has a midsize inboundIn any event, given Hyundai's discontinuation of the Santa Cruz, it's likely hard to see a reason to be excited about a tailgate design, especially as patents don't guarantee production.However, this is but the latest in a series of other promising Hyundai pickup developments. AdvertisementAdvertisementHyundai and Kia previously published patents for a truck with a removable roof and doors not unlike the Jeep Gladiator in spirit. In sheer openness alone, it promised a new frontier for Hyundai pickups.Hyundai's forthcoming pickup promises to be far more rugged. Will it benefit from this kind of clever multifunctionality? - Credit: HyundaiMoreover, the brand has also confirmed that a new midsize truck targeting the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger is inbound. Even if the pictured pickup looks more like a past model, the design would likely be bound for the forthcoming truck.Considering the challenges of efforts like the Santa Cruz and the Kia Tasman, the brand will have to come out swinging if it wants to stay competitive. Doubling down on modularity could be the edge Hyundai needs to carve out a niche.About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he's not chasing the latest industry news, he's probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.AdvertisementAdvertisementWant to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.
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