World Premiere of the VW concept C

Press Release

The folding roof:
The most innovative cabriolet roof system in use anywhere in the world

Coupé roof, sliding sunroof and cabriolet roof. The new, five-level, electro-hydraulic hardtop system in the concept C is a multitalented, tri-functional solution: a coupé roof, a sliding sunroof and a cabriolet roof all incorporated into the one system. This type of combination, in this form, is truly unique and special. The coupe roof: When the hardtop is up, it combines with the vehicle body to form a dynamically homogeneous profile. The benefits are obvious: wind and ambient noise levels do not exceed those of a comparable type of classic coupe, and the safety aspect also comes into play. The sliding glass sunroof: One of the technical highlights of this hardtop system is its integrated sunroof. It is electrically controlled, sliding open at the push of a button and letting just the desired amount of fresh air and sunlight into the passenger compartment (it includes a tilted ventilation setting). This is basically a conventional sunroof, only that, in the case of the concept C, it is actually fitted into a convertible roof – a convertible roof, that is, with the added advantage of allowing light into the interior of the car event when it is up. The cabriolet roof: The roof of the concept C is drawn open and back by way of an electro-hydraulic motor. The way in which this intelligently constructed five-part roof system tucks away out of sight is truly astonishing – both technologically and visually. Once the lock-in mechanism is released, the sunroof retracts to the back of the vehicle (stage 1). Then the rear windscreen (including the C pillar) lifts up and glides forward (stage 2). By this time, the glass sunroof is moved underneath the rear end of the hardtop roof, forming a compact sandwich unit. The system hydraulics now fold the boot lid, to which the rear shelf is attached, all way back (stage 3). The sandwich unit then slides back and into place; only now do the roof rails release themselves from the windscreen frame (stages 4 and 5), folding into a Z shape and retracting into position. The integrated sunroof and the rear section of the hardtop roof are drawn completely back, the roof rails are led into the available cavities (and covered) adjacent to the rear side windows. Sound complicated? It is complicated. But it functions perfectly and looks great. Because the roof rails do not move vertically, but only horizontally, and because the sandwich unit is so compact, not a lot of upward room is needed to draw the hardtop up or down, thereby allowing roof conversion to function even in low-ceilinged spaces. Around 400 litres of stowage space and room for skis. Because the hardtop roof folds away so compactly, there is plenty of room left in the boot even when the roof is down (approx. 200 litres). When the roof is up, stowage space is increased to around 400 litres. A tunnel which passes through the rear bench and the bulkhead also enables the transportation of skis or other, similarly lengthy, items.

Design:
The shape of things to come

A perfect figure. Compact-type cabriolets can tend to look thin and disproportionately high (especially when the roof is up), given the dimensions taken from the mass-series derivates on which they are modelled. While the larger-sized cabriolets don’t have this figure problem, they also do not have much appeal if you like an athletic, compact look and a coupé-like style when the roof is up. There is another sore spot to most cabriolets, especially when it comes to compact-type versions, and that is that the majority of them are originally modelled on the typical cab-forward design, so that the A-pillar and its transverse beams extend a long way into the interior of the vehicle, causing almost a tickling sensation to the forehead as the frame of the windscreen hovers menacingly close. All these problem areas were effectively dealt with in the concept C. This vehicle is not founded on an existing basic model, but was newly developed as a cabriolet in its very own right. Which is why Volkswagen’s cabriolet design study has a number of constructional advantages. These are merits which are perceivable even in the design – from whichever perspective you look at the car. A fusion of tradition and progress. The concept C’s sporty and powerful architecture and the principles employed to design its contours produce a very concrete outlook on the new design for future Volkswagen automobiles. By the same token, however, the concept C is but a new chapter in a long and successful tradition of cabriolets: including the legendary Beetle Cabriolet, which achieved cult status around the world, or the more rationally designed Golf Cabriolet, one of the most successful of all convertibles. The most recent in the series of Volkswagen convertibles, today’s New Beetle Cabriolet, is characterised by a combination of emotional and functional attributes. It is on this foundation of successful tradition that the concept C was designed.