Modern car enthusiasts have recently begun to choose exquisite models of cars with a panoramic roof. This roof layout is much better than a convertible, since the top is closed from the effects of adverse weather conditions: rain, snow, strong wind. But the feeling that you are driving in a convertible remained. And that's great. Some models are equipped with a panoramic windshield. It extends to the backrests of the front seats and thus increases visibility and light penetration into the interior. Such glass perfectly replaces a hatch.

Concerns about the fragility of the glass roof are completely misplaced. The manufacturer has well thought out the technology of how to create super-strong glass on the principle of "sandwich". It is either hardened or laminated. Therefore, you should not worry about your safety. The panoramic windshield or roof is necessarily covered with UV protection, thus reducing the "stove" effect in the heat.

What is the difference between a panoramic roof and a sunroof

Car sunroofs come in many different shapes, sizes, shades and styles today. The presence of a hatch in the roof of the car allows additional ventilation of the interior. In addition, more light enters the vehicle through the sunroof.

Interesting to know! The first car sunroof was installed in 1930 by the German company Webasto. It was opened manually. Only 30 years later, the same company invented a mechanism for opening the hatch using electronics.

The panoramic sunroof is gradually replacing its usual counterpart, since it has a large viewing area, it can be tinted or transparent. The panoramic sunroof can consist of 1 - 2 panels. If the sunroof is two-panel, then one panel automatically slides over the other, and then both are folded at the rear of the roof.

When open, allows a person to stand up to their full height. A roof with a panoramic view Is an improved huge sunroof that allows light to enter the passenger compartment unhindered. Passengers will be able to see clouds in the sky or stars and the moon. Panoramic roofs do not open(only a fabric curtain saves from the heat).

Did you know? When open, the panoramic sunroof allows a person to stand up to their full height. For example, it is convenient for operators to record video on the go.

Advantages and disadvantages of a panoramic roof on a car

Pros:

Creates a convertible feel.

Improves visibility.

Does not take up space in the cabin.

Slightly affects aerodynamics.

Allows you to see the signals of the upper traffic lights.

Minuses:

The pleasure is expensive.

Constant thorough care (bird droppings, snow, mud, fallen leaves).

The blinding sun hits the driver directly.

In extreme heat, the interior is still heated.

Tinted glass more often than ordinary glass is subject to various types of damage.

Sometimes there is a water leak.

Thaw and then frost provokes water freezing on the roof curtains. The resulting ice cover cracks when moving.

If the curtains on the roof are kept closed during the winter, then warm air from the passenger compartment will enter the curtains, but the glass outside will remain cold. As a result, an ice crust forms inside the roof.

Attention!In winter, it is better not to open panoramic roofs and hatches, because curtains, which are controlled by electronics, can fail due to freezing.

In the event of a car rollover as a result of an accident, the risk of glass breakage increases (a hard roof is much more reliable).

Warming up the car in winter takes more time.

In winter, the glass above your head collects condensation.

The air conditioner works harder in hot weather than in a hardtop.

Attention! Open-close mode may not work in the off-season due to fallen leaves, dirt, sand and dust.

The poor condition of our roads, constant shaking on bumps, falling into numerous holes negatively affects the durability of the panoramic roof or the electronic mechanisms of panoramic sunroofs. Remember!Keeping the sunroof open when off-road is a bad idea: damage to the controls cannot be avoided.

The panoramic roof, unlike the hatch, does not open.

Remember! The seals require regular lubrication.

Self-installation of the panoramic roof (prohibited!)

Self-installation panoramic roof is strictly prohibited! This is due to the fact that each structure is designed for a certain load. You cannot calculate all the nuances on your own, and this is a risk for your own life.

The panoramic roof is not just a glass ceiling in the car. It gives the feeling of driving in a convertible and is used, as a rule, in executive cars. At the same time, the panorama reliably protects from adverse weather conditions - which convertibles cannot boast of. Recently, it has become fashionable to install such roofs, but the price of such a pleasure is quite high.

What is a panoramic roof?

The panel can cover both the entire top and a certain part of it. It is made of transparent materials - glass or liquid-proof fabric, if this requirement is dictated by the general design of the machine. This is an alternative to the hatch, which has not yet become more widespread only because of the rather high cost. In fact, the panel is a much larger hatch formation.

The first observation roof was created in 1930. Then it had to be opened manually.

The manufacturer has thought over the product to the smallest detail. It is made of durable laminated glass, which can be laminated or tempered. All layers of the "sandwich" have their own purpose. The puff will not allow ultraviolet light to pass through; when it is destroyed, there will be no fragments. There is no need to worry about durability. Plus, the panel is covered with a special layer that provides reliable protection from ultraviolet rays. Thanks to this, there is no "stove effect" in hot weather.

What are panoramic roofs?

A panoramic roof on a car can be so transparent that there is a feeling of its complete absence. But glass with light or dark tint is also made. This gives the car originality, makes it more attractive.

The cabin area visually expands, passengers can admire the view of the sky. Panoramic roofs are of several types:

1. Fixed option. The top panel is fixed. It fills almost the entire upper part of the car, which makes the car look extremely unusual.
2. The panoramic sunroof is a system consisting of several panels that can be folded (one panel overlaps another) when fresh air needs to be introduced into the cabin.
3. Panoramic windshield does not contain any partitions - there is a smooth transition from the "lobovik" to the roof. The structure is connected to the car body with a rubber seal.

Panoramic roof on a car: pros and cons

The open panoramic sunroof makes it possible to stand up to full height. Very convenient for operators filming from a moving vehicle. Panorama has other advantages and disadvantages. First, about the positive aspects:

• The car looks more impressive, the detail gives it originality. The view from the inside is especially impressive.
• The driver's view is increased and passengers can enjoy the surrounding views.
• It seems that the area of \u200b\u200bthe cabin is dimensionless.
• The salon is well lit.
• Glass helps to improve sound insulation. No dripping noise is heard during rain.

But when using the design, problems can arise. We will now list them:

• The roof still heats up during extreme heat, although it is made of glass that absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Such protection does not save from the scorching sun.
• In winter, the car will have to be warmed up longer due to the fact that the heat is retained worse. And this is a waste of time and gasoline.
• With a "minus" and a switched on stove, condensation may appear on the inner surface - but only with the curtains closed. And if you keep the stove off for a long time, a thin ice crust will appear.
• The risk of deformation of the case during an accident increases. Considering how expensive the product is, any collision is a significant expense.
• The panoramic roof requires constant maintenance.

Can you install a panoramic roof yourself?

Self-installation is not possible. The main difficulty here is not the need to have certain skills and not what are needed special tools - this is prohibited by law. It is strictly forbidden to make changes to the design of the car yourself. In the factory, when calculating the load, specialists carry out a number of studies. Therefore, it is better to order the installation from professional services.

The popularity of observation roofs continues to grow, especially in Europe and Russia. The design has its drawbacks, but they are too insignificant to give up the pleasure of driving a "transparent" car because of them.

Auto engineers never cease to amaze car owners with new products and offer new solutions for a more comfortable ride. Perhaps everyone is familiar with such an element as a sunroof in a car, however, panoramic roofs differ from the usual "vents", since they occupy the lion's share of the "ceiling" of the vehicle.

They look very stylish, and the driver and passengers can enjoy the views thanks to the enlarged view. If someone is tired of looking at the beauties of nature or a person just feels uncomfortable, then the transparent roof can be closed with a special curtain - a false ceiling. Such a curtain can be equipped with an electric drive or closed manually. But, as many believe, glass is glass, and it just couldn't be more comfortable or as safe as a metal roof. Is it so? To understand, consider the main concerns of car owners.

Is the glass roof really unsafe and degrades the strength of the entire body

Before explaining that this fear is completely unfounded, it is worth asking the question, what is the windshield made of? If the car gets into an accident, rolls over several times, or a brick flies into the "lobovuha", will the person not be hurt? But, for some reason, there was an opinion that it is the sunroof or the panoramic roof that can cause the car to twist into an accordion, and rain from fragments will fall on the driver.

Such a statement can be based only if the glass element was added to the construction of the auto by a handicraft method (which, by the way, is prohibited by law, just because of security measures). For example, the owner of Zhiguli armed himself with a grinder, cut a hole in the roof and installed the first glass that came to hand in it. In this case, he violated the strength of the entire body and doomed himself to the risk that even with minor damage, the "stylish" hatch will harm his health.

What is the factory panoramic roof

In reality, such elements can only be installed in the car structure at the factory. In this case, the calculations of the strength characteristics of the same machine with or without a panoramic roof will differ significantly even at the design stage. This means that the car's power frame does not become more flimsy if a glass element is added to it.

No less important point - this is the material from which glass is made. Many will be surprised, but it is not just not inferior in its strength to the "lobovuha", but on the contrary surpasses it (both in thickness and in characteristics). This became possible due to the composition of the glass, which is a "sandwich" of five layers:

• In the very center of the panoramic glass there is a sheet of polycarbonate film, which gives the transparent roof the necessary strength. In simple terms, polycarbonate is a polymer with high impact strength (1000 kJ / m2). Thanks to this, such a film can increase the strength of organic glass by 60 times, polystyrene by 150 times, and silicate glass by 200 times. Polycarbonate can be deformed, but it is almost impossible to break it (even if you hit it with a sledgehammer for a long time). Moreover, this polymer is lighter than ordinary glass. Polycarbonate retains all its properties at temperatures from -80 to +220 degrees.
• Above and below the polycarbonate film, layers of liquid polymer are applied, which acts as an adhesive.
• Glass is located on top of them.

The entire structure is pressed and dried at extremely high temperatures. As a result, the product becomes uniform and very strong. The panoramic glass is 7.5 mm thick. At the edges, it is thickened to 9 mm.

Helpful! The panoramic roof is airtight, so there is no need to fear that water will ooze through it in bad weather. This is possible only with a makeshift hatch installation.

Metal, in comparison with such glass, can be called a more fragile material. Besides, it's pretty tough. If the car gets into an accident, then both the metal and glass will deform, but will not break.

Interesting! Many experts even argue that the presence of such glass only improves the rigidity of the car body. Even if the glass breaks completely, it will not shatter into small pieces.

Therefore, you can safely forget about the idea that glass is fragile and breaks for any reason. But, since this is a relatively new trend, is it likely that the repair of such an element will cost a pretty penny?

If the panoramic roof is damaged, will the repair be more expensive

In this case, remember again that this element can deform, but not break. Therefore, if the dent on the roof does not hurt the eyes, then there is no need to immediately run to the car service (the glass is not subject to corrosion, so there is no need to fear that rust will begin to creep around the defect).

The repair itself will certainly cost a lot. But, you need to understand that if a block of ice collapsed on a car, then most likely the entire body was damaged. Accordingly, regardless of the presence of glass or metal on the roof of the car, you will have to perform expensive procedures to restore the power frame of the car.

Helpful! The most expensive is the mechanism responsible for the movement of the glass.

If we figured out the myths and reality, then it's time to talk about the other advantages of such modern types of hatches.

Panoramic roof advantages

First of all, the presence of such an element makes the trip more interesting. Passengers can enjoy beautiful views, look at the passing plane or the starry sky. A person ceases to feel himself in an iron box and it is easier for him to relax.

In addition, the panoramic roof:

• Visually increases the space of the car interior.
• Gives the car a more stylish look (most of these glasses are tinted at the factory).
• Performs the role of sound insulation. If it starts raining on the road, the knock of drops on the metal roof is very annoying. The glass surface is devoid of this disadvantage. The car owner and passengers will not hear wind and other sounds. The five-layer material will resist this.
• Allows to ventilate the car. There is no need to turn on the air conditioner again.

It would seem that everything is fine, but there is no smoke without fire. Therefore, it would be fair to say about the shortcomings of such elements.

Is it true that there are problems with glass heating

It really is. Most often, problems appear during high heat, or, conversely, in conditions of negative temperatures. If you leave such a car in the parking lot on a hot summer day, then the interior will turn into hellish heat in 10 minutes. Even if the curtains are closed, the element is multi-layered and the tinted material is present in the composition, the glass heats up quite a lot (since it has high thermal conductivity) and cools down for a long time. In winter, the situation changes in back side... The glass freezes and remains cold all the time.

Important! In winter, the glass in the roof is covered with a layer of ice. During the ride, he constantly cracks. Not everyone will be pleased to hear such sounds overhead.

Because of this, car owners have to use the air conditioning system at more powerful modes. This, in turn, leads to increased energy (and, accordingly, fuel) consumption and heating time. But, even this does not solve the problem. The fact is that the engineers thought about the strength and other characteristics of the glass. But, they did not take care that other, more powerful air conditioning systems were installed in cars with panoramic sunroofs. Therefore, such cars have standard stoves and fans, which are designed only for metal with a thick layer of insulation.

Such glasses have one more drawback - cost. If we compare two identical cars in the same configuration, with only one difference - the presence of a panoramic roof, then their price will differ significantly. You will have to pay extra for the reinforced frame and high-strength "window leaf".

Also, do not forget that glass tends to get dirty. If there are windscreen wipers on the "windshield", then the panoramic roof is devoid of such elements. Accordingly, a picturesque picture of the sky overhead can be easily spoiled by a flying bird that succumbed to the call of nature. In order not to look all the way at the spreading feces, you will have to stop the car every time and wipe the glass surface.

In custody

Thus, panoramic roofs are really safe and can change the feeling of driving. However, this does not mean that this element can be installed in any car. It is dangerous to install such elements on your own. Therefore, it is better to either buy a car with a transparent roof from the manufacturer, or familiarize yourself with the disadvantages of such hatches and continue driving a car with a standard "ceiling".

AT last years panoramic sunroofs and roofs are becoming more and more popular. Today, a car with a panoramic roof is no longer exotic. After all, the panoramic roof is a kind of logical development of the hatch, the presence of which not so long ago aroused the unambiguous envy of drivers who did not have this "feature".

Today I invite you to understand in more detail the pros and cons of sunroofs and panoramic roofs in modern cars.

Luke

The sunroof of a car was first proposed by the German manufacturer Webasto in 1930. Initially, the hatches were opened manually and served as an opening for supplying fresh air to the passenger compartment. In 1960, the company undertook a modernization and the hatches began to open electronically.

In those years, such a decision was more than relevant, since air conditioners, and even more so, climate control systems could only be dreamed of.

Today, sunroofs come in all shapes, sizes, and styles with their own positive and negative qualities.

Lifting hatch. The most popular type for home installation. In such hatches, the rear side of the glass is lifted using a lever, rotary knob or button. On new cars, lifting hatches are quite rare. However, in the 80s of the last century, they were very popular with different manufacturers... Even the export versions of VAZs were often equipped with them.

pros

• low cost and the possibility of self-installation.

Minuses

• does not have a sunblind, acts as a cooker hood and leaks frequently.

Integrated sliding sunroof. Slides into the space between roof and headliner. Operated by either a rotary knob or electronically. This type of hatch is still actively used in the automotive industry.

pros

• usually has a sun shade and opens in two directions.

Minuses

• "Eats" the space above the heads rear passengers, impairs aerodynamics (due to rushing air flow in the open position) and often leaks.

Sliding sunroof. This type of hatch is a glass (usually) cover, the trailing edge of which rises, and the glass moves completely back, positioned over the roof of the car. The drive can be mechanical (rotary knob) or electrical. Such hatches are rare today. The peak of popularity of this type of hatches was in the mid-2000s, when these hatches were used in top trim levels Audi A3 and BMW 3 Series.

pros

• does not "eat up" the space above your head and affects aerodynamics to a lesser extent (in comparison with the previous type).

Minuses

• very often drainage channels are clogged.

Double sliding sunroof. Consists of two successively located glasses, the front part of which is sliding, and the back is deaf (it is also not uncommon to find sliding). Previously, this type of hatch was widely used in Mercedes E-class (W211) and Subaru Outback.

pros

• a good alternative to the panoramic sunroof, which has less impact on the rigidity of the body.

Minuses

• you can often find the lack of a sun shade; requires additional maintenance (in the version with two opening hatches).

Folding hatch frame. Usually, this type of hatch is covered with a waterproof material, which, when opened, slides back and folds like an accordion at the end of the opening. Such hatches have become extinct long ago, but something similar is used today on Bugatti or Lamborghini supercars.

pros

• simplicity and originality.

Minuses

• very high probability of leakage; meticulous care is required; not suitable for all-season use of the machine.

Folding roof. An analogue of a folding hatch, but only here the entire space above your head opens. The folding roof is used on the fashion Fiat 500 and Citroen DS3. Plus only one - the feeling of being in a convertible. Cons are similar to the folding hatch.

Panoramic sunroof. Today this type has practically supplanted its "usual" counterpart due to the larger viewing area. It can be transparent or tinted and consist of one or two panels. In the second version, one panel automatically slides over the other, and then both fold down on the rear of the roof. Most often, panoramic sunroofs are installed on crossovers, premium sedans and minivans.

pros

• a good alternative to the panoramic roof; the ability to get up and look out the hatch.

Minuses

• impairs body rigidity; high price; reducing the area of \u200b\u200b\\ u200b \\ u200bthe rear passenger compartment and daily care.

A roof with a panoramic view

These days, cars with a panoramic roof are gaining more and more popularity. For safety reasons, the panoramic roof is made of several transparent layers of glass (usually laminated or tempered), which have high strength and durability. Today, a "transparent" roof is offered as an option by most of the renowned car manufacturers.

One of the pioneers in the class of affordable cars with a panoramic roof was Peugeot, which offered this option for a number of new products in its lineup.

By the way, now there is a widespread tendency to add photocells (in other words, solar panels) to the construction of panoramic roof glass, which act as an additional source of energy.

However, when buying a car with a panoramic roof, you must take into account all its characteristics and features. Even though manufacturers claim that roofs pass all possible tests and tests, they have both positive and negative qualities.

pros

• feeling of being in a convertible, increased visibility;
• does not reduce the space in the cabin;
• allows you to see the signal of the upper traffic lights if you drive too close.

Minuses

• quite an expensive option;
• requires additional care;
• in extreme heat, the interior heats up more;
• sudden changes in temperature provoke freezing of moisture on the roof curtains;
• the risk of getting additional damage in an accident (due to shrapnel hitting the passenger compartment);
• in winter, the car needs to be warmed up longer;
• in summer, the air conditioner operates at increased power;
• bad roads, getting into holes and constant shaking on uneven surfaces negatively affect durability.

Another type of "holes" in the roof of a car is a panoramic windshield. Very often panoramic windshields can be seen on the Opel Meriva, Opel astra J, Citroen C3 and Citroen C4 Picasso, as well as an electric car Tesla Model X. Among the pluses are greater visibility (compared to conventional glass) and the feeling of more space in the car. The disadvantages are more significant: the rather high cost of replacement (in the event of an accident or the formation of cracks due to pebbles) and a shortage.

In the end, the choice is yours. When purchasing a car with a "hole" in the roof, it is worth remembering a few basic rules:

• do not use the hatch in off-road conditions (extraneous noise may appear or the hatch mechanism will fail altogether);
• carefully monitor the cleanliness of the mechanism to avoid jamming or leaks;
• all seals and the mechanism itself must be lubricated 3-4 times a month.

• May 19, 2017

The panoramic roof (glass and transparent) looks very nice on the car, but only from the inside, because from the outside, the roof is covered with the factory tinting, if the car is light in color, then the dark roof will stand out, if the car is dark, at first glance from the outside you will not even notice that the car has a glass roof.

What are the advantages of a panoramic roof:

Sitting in the car, the panoramic roof adds visual volume to the car, but this is only for those who are sitting in the back, the driver's and passenger's seats next to the driver do not allow you to see the beauty of the sky, because you will have to raise your head, and so it is not convenient to steer. In any season of the year, visibility in all directions and upward opens for passengers in the back; at first glance, it is rather unusual to see the sky through the roof of a car. At night, while driving around the city, you can see the city, not limited to the view of the first floors. The panoramic roof is very popular with children.

The panoramic roof consists of thick glass and is designed to withstand a car roll-over; this is a fairly safe option if it is installed directly at the car manufacturer's factory. Even in rain, there is no noise in the cabin from the panoramic roof.

What are the disadvantages of a panoramic roof:

In extreme heat, the dark interior heats up very much, tinting and curtains do not protect from the penetration of sunlight, it is also not pleasant to drive with open curtains on a sunny day, even with air conditioning the sun is very hot.

AT winter period time, during severe frosts, snow melts from the outside on the panoramic roof, then it freezes again and ice floes are formed that do not pleasantly crack overhead due to the unevenness of the road.

One winter I drove with closed curtains on a panoramic roof and it turned out that the warm air in the car reaches the curtains, and the glass is always cold and ice was formed on the roof from the inside. In another winter, I drove with the curtains open, and the glass on the panoramic roof was always clean from the inside, and ice did not form.

All cars test stoves and air conditioners without taking into account panoramic roofs, because this additional option and the power of the air conditioner and the stove is designed for a car with a metal roof and insulation. Therefore, cars with a panoramic roof take longer to cool down or warm up the interior of the car.

There are also moments that the mechanical curtains are made very jewelry and the various latches and amplifiers are quite miniature, you can accidentally pull the wrong way or the child pulls in the closed position, the curtains instantly break. But it all depends on the operation of the car.

Electronic curtains on panoramic roofs behave well, but in severe frosts, the hatch may fail, if there is one, it is not recommended to open it in winter.

In general, there are little things and drawbacks, but after driving for four years with a panoramic roof, you no longer want the usual one, you quickly get used to the good, not paying attention to the little things that are associated with weather phenomena and temperature changes.