I've been staring at the 350Z roadster for last 2 hours. I love the look, and just need the confirmation on the look with top on before I run down to the local Nissan dealer with my deposit.

I still can't figure out how the power top could possibly operate on roadster. Any mechanical engineer in here would like to explain how the top might operate?

Initially, I thought the cover behind the rollbar was 2 piece design, but in high resolution picture it looks like a single piece.

Provided that cover is a large single piece design (in my opinion cannot be removed since it would ruin the design), there must be some elaborate mechanism to operate the top.

It also implies that roadster may have unconventional droptop design since it would start at the end of cover or just behind the roll bar. Two slot doors along the cover also adds to the mystery!!!

Since Nissan is being so secrete about the roadster, there must be something special or ground breaking about the roadster!

 

im not a Mechie, but if you take a look at the SC430, they way they do it, probably the enitire cover which will move back up ,like a clam shell via motors and an intricate swing arm design. then the cloth cover would umbrella out like they do in the old school SL500, that's about it.

what would be really cool is if nissan had a hardtop design. that would take mechie skills in the way they bend the top...

really simply..for the motor, mechanism, you'd prolly have some type of oblong shape (perhaps tear shape?) with a riser atthe end of it, so that it opens up to a pre-determined height and goes back down, and have an arm to extend the top of the cover.

or just read this:


http://auto.howstuffworks.com/convertible.htm

 

Thanks for the info, but I already do know how convertibles and retractable hard top work. (Had a convertible in the past)

My question was more directed toward the 350z roadster in particular. Just looking at the picture closely raises more questions than answers. Other convertible top operation is fairly obvious when you look at the top and storage compartment/cover on the vehicle.

I guess large single piece cover on the back and 2 narrow trapezoid looking doors along the cover throws me off when I try to picture how the roadster would look with the top on.

If you take into account that it is a large single piece cover in the back, photoshopped image of roadster with top on in another thread cannot be how it looks.

If roadster's top were to start immediately behind the roll bars, z would be the ugliest or weirdest looking roadster with top on.

My guess would be a long sloped top similar to the custom job convertible on the other thread few days ago. I'm also going way out there by adding that trapezoid looking side doors may be where nissan is hiding the rear widows

Any comments or flame on my wild imagination

 

There is a similar design found in many roadsters. The boot (smooth cover) you see on top is (i am guess) hinged at the back.

To raise the top:
Raise boot up and back (hinged at back)
Raise convertible roof as normal convertible
Raise BACK edge of soft top to vertical
Lower boot back in to position
Lower back edge of soft top on top of boot

Does that make sense?

As for HOW it works, many systems use hydraulic pistons and a pump. It makes for easy routing of power and remote location of the pump.

AndyB

 

I imagine it will be like the Corvette convertible. And I think that is how AndyB is describing it. The Corvette is a manual top though, so I guess they managed to motorize it somehow.