Roof module: Light and shadow play

Shading system – Keeping the heat outside

The idea is as simple as it is effective: Don’t let the heat into the car in the first place, thereby providing significantly pleasanter interior temperatures right from the start. The Webasto approach involves a shading system made from fabric as is familiar in convertibles. When closed, it reduces the rate of heating of the vehicle interior. It is attached over the roof opening system and is electrically driven in a guide below the railing. Functionally divided into three, the front part moves over the rear when opening, the rear being lowered at the same time. Firstly, this makes it possible to have a fold-free opening over two thirds of the surface. Secondly, this creates a permanently stretched Z-fold that prevents the fabric covering from fluttering.

The high-quality design of the cover, the possibility of opening it without draping folds and the fact that it is fully integrated into the roof panel means that farther-reaching possible implementations can already been foreseen: As the latest generation of the familiar Webasto folding roof or a high-quality, stand-alone variant of the panorama roof, the fabric cover will be able to undergo fascinating, independent interpretations in the future.

New large-format panorama roof – a surplus of light and air

A novel panorama roof consisting of two glass elements provides extraordinary levels of light and air in the Hattrick. This is made possible by a fully new concept of the front roof frame. The front roof crossmember alone used to be about 400 mm high, but it has been reduced to 150 mm now. In this way, the panorama roof can extend 250 mm further forward and cover more area at the same time – and all without dispensing with functionally important elements such as the wind deflector, switches, light or aerial! All of the space obtained is put to good use in terms of unobstructed upwards visibility. Furthermore, the mobile front glass element is designed so it can be almost entirely moved over the fixed element. This makes an opening for light and air to enter amounting to around half a square metre.
The casing of the front roof frame is also based on a new concept from Webasto: Transparent polycarbonate encases the front carrier and the lateral reinforcement in the middle. As such, Webasto is further underlining its most recently acquired core expertise, namely polycarbonate technology and its variety of applications. The transparent polycarbonate is underlaid with a glass fibre layer covered by an aluminium vapour-deposited coating. The interplay of materials makes for an exceedingly attractive look. The control console in the front crossmember is also a new feature and enables the light, shading and roof system to be operated. It is designed for particularly easy, clearly understandable and convenient operation. The roof can be opened and closed at a touch; both the roof and shading system can be opened and closed by quickly swiping your hand across the entire switching surface. The symbols on the control panel are illuminated at night in the same way as the other displays in the basic vehicle.

The Webasto developers have come up with an unusual technical highlight for protection against sun on the windscreen. The Hattrick does not have the usual sun visors but instead features dimmable films laminated into the windscreen. These are fully transparent and allow completely unobscured forward vision as long as an electrical voltage is applied. As soon as no current is flowing, the light permeability is so far reduced as to provide effective protection against dazzling by the sun.

Rear module: Comfortable loading for all positions in life

When a car is used in a wide variety of ways, such as is the case in a family car, a considerable number of different loading requirements soon arises. Webasto was therefore prompted to produce a multifunctional, electrically operated tailgate that can cope with more than just one everyday challenge. In addition to the familiar classic opening function – swinging the entire tailgate upwards – it is also possible to open the top and bottom parts separately in this model. Whereas opening the top section principally makes it possible to load small, light items very quickly, the swivelling-down bottom part can be opened to load bulky and long objects or drinks crates, for example, conveniently into the car.

Cargo module: Stowing heavy items easily

The boot of the Webasto Hattrick contains a cargo box that makes life easier, especially when relatively large or heavy objects have to be stowed away in the recesses of the compartment. With electric drive and side walls, the box can be moved out and in at the push of a button. There are basically two possible loading positions in conjunction with the rear module: When the tailgate is fully opened, the cargo box moves out to the rear edge of the bumper and moves back automatically again as soon as the tailgate is closed. If the lower section of the tailgate is opened alone, however, the cargo box can be moved out to its rear edge in which position it is supported on four rollers. Not only does this make it possible to load the vehicle in comfort, it also avoids the annoyance of getting dirty by touching outer surfaces of the car body.

There is a shelf mounted on the lateral interior trim. Its three fixed elements can be folded together in a Z-shaped arrangement and are stable enough to be used as a second loading level. A flap in the base of the cargo box will afford access to the spare wheel, toolkit or a storage compartment underneath the floor trim in subsequent actual applications.

Contact:
Hans-Joachim Lesser
Product PR
Tel. +49 (0)89 8 57 94-1433
Fax +49 (0)89 8 57 94-1399
E-mail: hlesser@webasto.de
Internet: http://www.webasto.com/