Lighting device for the trunk of a convertible motor vehicle

A device for illuminating a trunk of a motor vehicle having a roof that can be retracted into the trunk of the vehicle, wherein the roof has two roof elements including a front roof element and a rear roof element which defines a rear window, wherein the roof elements are connected to body portions of the vehicle for moving the roof elements to and between a first position in which the roof elements cover the vehicle and a second position in which the roof elements are stowed in the trunk, and wherein the illuminating device comprises:

• a first lighting device associated with one of the roof elements for illuminating cabin portions of the vehicle when the roof is in the first position;
• a first detector for detecting when the roof is in the second position;
• a second detector for detecting when a lid associated with the trunk is in an opened position;
• and
• a controller operatively associated with the first detector and the second detector;
• wherein the controller illuminates the first lighting device when the first detector detects that the roof is in the second position and the second detector simultaneously detects that the lid of the trunk is in the opened position, thereby illuminating the trunk of the motor vehicle.