Nissan has submitted a patent application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, identified as 20260274351, detailing a midgate mechanism. This feature creates a passthrough between the truck bed and the cabin by folding the rear seat backs flat, which allows for an extended flat floor for cargo storage.
The proposed design utilizes a single-piece midgate, requiring both rear seats to be folded to access the opening. While the patent documentation suggests the technology could be adapted for various vehicle types, there is no confirmation that the feature will be implemented in the upcoming next-generation Nissan Frontier.
The next-generation Frontier is expected to launch by the end of the decade, featuring a new platform and an electrified powertrain. Currently, no mid-size truck on the market offers a midgate, although General Motors provides this feature on the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV models.
Midgate technology has historical precedents, notably appearing in the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, as well as the Cadillac Escalade EXT and Hummer H2 SUT during the early 2000s. Nissan's potential adoption of this mechanism would represent a departure from current mid-size truck configurations.
