Soft automotive top stands up to extreme cold

To demonstrate the resilience of the Lexus LC Convertible under extreme weather conditions, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) recently froze the vehicle at – 18 C (-40 F). While in deep freeze at the Millbrook Cold Weather Chamber, the convertible was outfitted with a high-performance Sonnenland A5B/DS soft top material from Haartz Corp. that shielded its interior components for 12 hours. 

In the past, this type of protection was normally only offered by coupes and hardtops. This successful test with Lexus shows that automotive materials, like those manufactured by Haartz, can provide the protection of a hardtop without sacrificing the advantages of a soft top convertible. Manufactured using aspects of fabric laminates and enhanced 3-ply topping, the material from Haartz demonstrates the company’s latest innovation in textile and laminate manufacturing. 

Millbrook provides vehicle test and validation services and systems to customers in the automotive, transport, tire, petrochemical and defense industries. It has facilities in the U.S., the U.K. and Finland. Haartz Corp., headquartered in Massachusetts, is a global supplier of convertible topping fabrics and interior surface materials.