Webasto: Open air feeling for sun-seeking off-road fans

SUV drivers relish the freedom of being ready to take on any terrain. But until now, an upward glance from inside generally offered a rather limited perspective. Although familiar with blue skies and bright sunshine from the vantage point of panorama roofs, SUV-enthusiasts did not have the option of a true open-air experience. That is, up to now – for May 2016 marked the debut of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible on the market. It is the first luxury compact class SUV convertible worldwide, thus creating an entirely new segment. Convertible roof specialist Webasto was significantly involved in the genesis of this innovation, equipping the car with a high-quality, innovative soft top. So now off-road capability and breezy convertible feeling go hand in hand. Thanks to excellent acoustic insulation, this newly developed product is one of the quietest convertible tops on the market. And at the same time, it is also the world’s largest soft top without a tension bow.

Only 18 seconds to greet the sky 
All it takes is the touch of a button in the center console for drivers to gain direct access to the open skies. Within 18 seconds, in a fully automatic motion, the top slides behind the back seats – and closes flush with the rear of the vehicle chassis. But if dark clouds should happen to loom, it takes only 21 seconds for the roof to close completely. Both of these procedures can be completed at cruising speeds of up to 30 mph. The drive that powers the soft top is handled by four compact electric motors, which ensure super quiet opening and closing.

Elegantly concealed roof mechanism 
The flat side profile underscores the striking design of the Range Rover Evoque and creates a cutting-edge convertible silhouette. In addition, the superlative look of the vehicle is fully retained with the roof open: To accomplish this, the convertible experts at Webasto came up with specially designed flaps for the lateral roof struts that conceal the mechanism.

More than just all terrain, this convertible is ready to take on any weather. The top-notch thermal insulation keeps the interior warm and makes the SUV an all-season convertible. The Evoque convertible is just the thing for anyone who has always dreamed of going on a ski vacation in a convertible: Thanks to the special ski hatch that Webasto took into consideration in its development, avid winter sports enthusiasts – whether they are snowboarders, cross country or downhill skiers – can comfortably and conveniently stow their equipment. Since the roof does not require much space, it allows for ample trunk capacity of 251 liters in both the open and closed positions.

Webasto developed and produces the soft top for the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible at the Hengersberg plant in Lower Bavaria. The scope of fabric and sewing operations are supplied by the textile competence center in Velky Meder, Slovakia.

Technical data of the soft top