Is it transparent or matte?

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The panoramic glass roof lets in plenty of light into the passenger compartment, thus providing a better sense of space. However, it can also be annoying in the summer when the hot sun can uncomfortably heat the interior through the glass. The logical conclusion: you cover the glass roof with a mechanical sunshade and the wonderful sense of space is lost. This is not the case for Porsche and the panoramic sunroof with Sunlight Control.

“Transparent or matte at the touch of a finger”, this is how Porsche advertises one of its latest developments. The innovative Sunlight Control is designed to cast a shadow over the passenger compartment while still allowing plenty of light to enter the interior. But how does it work?

Almost like a mechanical roller blind

When the vehicle is inactive and parked, the roof is in its starting position. This means it’s matte and keeps the sun’s heat out. As soon as you start the vehicle, the panoramic roof also wakes up and adjusts the last selected position. On the touch panel, you can choose between matte, thick (60 percent of the glass surface is matte), semi (40 percent of the glass surface is matte), and fully translucent. You can also shade from front to back with the slider, similar to a mechanical roller blind.

The result: The temperature in the passenger compartment drops noticeably when the sun is shining, especially in the head area. But this roof function makes sense not only in summer temperatures, but also in winter. On the underside there is an insulating layer that keeps the uncomfortable cold near the glass. Sunlight Control is therefore more efficient and variable than an ordinary sunscreen, while its energy consumption is less than 20 watts.

Crystals act as sunscreen

The panoramic ceiling has a multi-layered structure. It shields thermal radiation so effectively, even when transparent, that it shields against heat better than a conventional glass roof or roller blind. According to Porsche measurements, only 15 percent of the heat reaches the interior of the car – at least 30 percent with conventional panoramic roofs.

Stefan Wetzel, vehicle window technical advisor at Porsche, agrees that the technology behind the magical glass roof is not far off: “Liquid crystal layers in window glass have long been known for temperature management in architecture.” It takes seven shifts for the climate miracle in Taycan. The technology uses liquid crystals in a film that is supplied with electricity through electrical contacts. At low AC voltage, the crystals arrange themselves so that the glass is transparent. On the other hand, if the glass is disconnected from the power source, the liquid crystals will turn into a disordered state, which means the glass becomes dull. And so, the new Porsche panoramic glass roof, available as an option for all Taycans and costing an extra 6140 francs: simple technology, but a pleasant effect.

Source: Blick