Webasto-Edscha, Webasto’s convertible business unit, is for the first time the exclusive manufacturer of the soft top for the award-winning seventh generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible. The convertible roof has a number of lightweight components, providing even more headroom and features an improved design.
A German-American project team of engineers from Webasto’s Hengersberg site in Lower Bavaria and its American plant in Plymouth, Mich., developed the convertible top for the Corvette. The series production of the roof system takes place in Plymouth, with the soft top and inner lining delivered from the textile competence center in Puebla, Mexico.
Sporty, original, and quiet
A flat roof line, accentuating the sporty design, characterizes the fully automatic tension bow roof, developed exclusively for the Chevrolet Corvette. In just 21 seconds, the roof swings back and folds down into a separate, compact compartment behind the seats. The roof can retract while traveling at speeds of up to 30 mph (50 km/h) and can be controlled remotely via a device located on the vehicle’s key fob. The roof bows were rearranged, allowing the roof to fold down more smoothly than the previous model. An improved acoustic insulating mat ensures a quiet and comfortable driving experience. And, whether the top is up or down, the trunk volume remains 10 cu. ft. (283 liters).
An innovative, lightweight and spacious construction
With numerous lightweight aluminum components, this soft top complements the overall lightweight concept of the vehicle. The contour bow, main linkage and bows are made of lightweight aluminum to reduce the weight of the roof. Additional space-saving improvements were made by integrating the closing mechanism into the roof’s kinematics. While the roof cover of the previous model was a component of the windshield frame, the developers from Webasto-Edscha placed the new roof cover on the side, giving the driver and passengers more headroom and improving the driver’s field of vision.
