Buyers see them as a top option

Large glass sunroofs let sunlight in while keeping your hair in place

The glass roof of a Saturn is cleaned at the Detroit Auto Show. A supplier of the roofs, Webasto Inc., estimates that the number of panoramic glass sunroofs could more than double to about 700,000 vehicles by 2012. (Tony Ding/Associated Press)

DETROIT - For back-seat stargazers and those seeking the benefits of a convertible without the wind-blown hair, the auto industry is offering a new look.

A growing number of new cars and crossover vehicles are offering broad panoramic glass roofs made of one or two large panels, opening up the cabin to the heavens and giving motorists the feel of more head room and natural light.

Ford Motor Co. offers the feature on a number of 2008 vehicles, including the Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers, and upcoming releases such as the Ford Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan.

General Motors Corp. makes the feature available on the Cadillac SRX along with a power sunroof with companion skylight option on GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, and Buick Enclave. Toyota Motor Corp. showed it yesterday on the 2009 Venza crossover-sedan, while consumers can also find it on vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and S-Class.

Sales breakdowns for vehicles with the glass roof options weren't available but a leading supplier of the glass roofs, Webasto Inc., estimates that the number of panoramic glass sunroofs could more than double to about 700,000 vehicles by 2012.

Andreas Weller, Webasto's vice president of business development, estimated that the option costs about $1,200 to $2,000, providing "almost the benefits of the convertible without the drawbacks."

Sunroofs have long been a popular option for those seeking the open air, but most vehicles have limited the glass to a small space above the front seat. With the advent of shatter-resistant glass and reinforcements on the roof, the industry has been able to broaden the sunroofs on car-based crossover vehicles and sedans.

The glass roofs typically offer tinted glass and moveable shades to give a darker feel in the vehicle.

"With cars becoming more highly styled and in some ways [having] smaller window-lines, cars are becoming a little claustrophobic in size. So these wide open sunroofs give you an air of space," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center.

Ford is making the glass roofs more available, and showed a variant of its popular Mustang sports coupe with a panoramic glass roof at the North American International Auto Show on Sunday.

The panoramic roofs were also displayed on concept vehicles such as the Ford Verve compact and Lincoln MKT crossover.

"It's a production feature that people really enjoy. There's a lot of people ordering this glass roof. It gives a very nice, different feeling inside the car," said Peter Horbury, Ford's executive director of design for the Americas.