About Sunroofs
A sunroof is a type of automobile window that is located on the top of the cab. They have the ability to be opened and may be operated mechanically or manually. Sunroofs come standard in several car models from manufacturers like Hyundai, Volvo, and Honda, however are available as upgraded optional features in models from Jaguar, Chevrolet and Toyota. Sunroofs are not typically found on vans, mini-vans, or pick-up trucks.
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History
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The concept of a sunroof was born out of the ceiling vents located on horse-drawn stage coaches. The first sunroof is credited to the German automobile manufacturer, Webasto, who produced the first vented cab roof in 1930. Referred to as a "Pop-up," a roof panel was manually opened up to three inches to bring fresh air into the cabin. In the early 1960s, Webasto updated its popular vent feature and made the panel clear and able to be completely retracted across the top of the roof through an electronic control. An inbuilt sunroof system, where the sunroof panel retracts into the space between the roof and interior of the cab, was introduced to the market ten years later by the American Sunroof Company.
Types
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Sunroof technology and design has expanded considerably since Webasto's early designs, and now many sunroofs are able to both fully retract and tilt to provide a vent. This common style, referred to as a "Spoiler," has been popular on Honda and Saturn car models since the early 1990s. Their dimensions tend to be slightly smaller than a traditional sunroof. Spoilers don't take up any cab space because they retract up and over the roof, making them a popular choice in coupes and other smaller cars that can't afford to lose space with an inbuilt system. They are electrically controlled.
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Identification
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In recent years, the panoramic sunroof system has become popular among large luxury cars like the Cadillac SRX. Panoramic sunroofs are oversized opaque roof panels that extend over the front seats and the back seats. Some car models use just one panoramic panel, like the Ford Flex, while some use two or three to make the entire roof open, like the Pontiac G6. Due to their size, these panels do not fully open or retract, though many incorporate spoiler-tilt aspects in their design to allow some ventilation.
Considerations
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The sunroof genre extends to include non-glass options as well. The "rag top," or folding sunroof, is a vinyl panel that covers a section of the roof and folds down like a convertible to open the cab. Rag tops originated in European car design during the 1970s, and are exemplified most recognizably in the 1976 Volkswagen Beetle design. They waxed out of popularity during the late 1980s and 1990s, however are now being renewed through popular American cars like the Jeep Liberty.
Benefits
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Sunroofs are able to be added to most car models post production through aftermarket body work. While custom work can be done to incorporate any type of sunroof onto a car, the least invasive and most popular post production style is the spoiler, since it doesn't require the entire roof of the cab to be modified.
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