Panoramic vehicle roof module assemblies

A panoramic vehicle roof module assembly comprising:

• a first cross member and a second cross member, each adapted to be mounted to a vehicle body at spaced apart locations;
• a first extruded side rail and a second extruded side rail, respectively mounted to one of the first and second cross members at spaced apart locations, each first and second side rail having a drive integrated roof track and an idler integrated roof track, each track formed therein along a length thereof;
• and
• a moveable roof panel supported by the first and second side rails for movement between the first cross member and the second cross member within the drive integrated roof track and the idler integrated roof track;
• a third extruded side rail and a fourth extruded side rail, respectively mounted to one of the first extruded side rail and the second extruded side rail, each third and fourth extruded side rail having an idler integrated roof track formed therein along a length thereof;
• and
• a fixed roof panel mounted to the third extruded side rail and the fourth extruded side,
• wherein the idler integrated roof track of the first and second extruded side rails and the idler integrated roof track of the third and fourth extruded side rails are connected such that the moveable roof panel is moveable therebetween.

A method of manufacturing a panoramic vehicle roof module assembly comprising:

• extruding a first side rail having a plurality of integrated tracks formed therein in a single extrusion;
• providing a first cross member;
• providing a second cross member;
• mounting the first side rail to the first cross member and the second cross member;
• extruding a second side rail having a plurality of integrated tracks formed therein in a single extrusion;
• mounting the second side rail to the first cross member and the second cross member;
• extruding a third side rail having at least one integrated track formed therein in a single extrusion;
• extruding a fourth side rail having at least one integrated track formed therein in a single extrusion;
• mounting the third side rail to fit within one of the first side rail and the second side rail;
• mounting the fourth side rail to fit within the other of the first side rail and the second side rail;
• providing a third cross member;
• mounting the third cross member to the third side rail and the fourth side rail;
• providing a first generally transparent roof panel;
• mounting the first generally transparent roof panel to the first side rail and the second side rail for movement between the first cross member and the second cross member;
• providing a second generally transparent roof panel;
• and
• mounting the second generally transparent roof panel to the third side rail and the fourth side rail between the second cross member and the third cross member.