Leaving the roof rack on your car can be costly. A study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows an increase in aerodynamic drag, which can raise energy consumption by up to 3% on every journey – reducing fuel efficiency and electric driving range.
A study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory highlights that a large share of the total energy impact from roof racks comes from vehicles driving with unloaded racks – and that reducing this behaviour offers the greatest potential for improvement.
– Roof racks are designed for occasional use, but in practice they often become permanent. If removing them takes time or effort, people simply leave them on. With rising fuel prices and increasing focus on electric driving range, even small efficiencylosses can have a noticeable impact, says Younick Portal, Head of R&D at Mont Blanc Group.
Industry standards recommend removing roof racks when not in use to reduce drag, noise and unnecessary energy consumption. Yet this advice is rarely followed in everyday driving.
– In reality, we know that roof racks often stay on the car far longer than they are used, a behaviour often tied to roof racks being complicated to both unmount as well as store at home. That’s why we developed the Mont Blanc Xplore, a roof rack designed to be mounted and removed in seconds using our unique Easy Go™ patended single lever connection system, says Younick Portal.
The Mont Blanc Xplore was developed and designed to be one of the most intuitive and quick-mounted roof racks on the market. As energy efficiency becomes an increasingly important factor for drivers – both in terms of fuel consumption and electric range – the Xplore stands out as a more relevant solution than ever. Following extensive testing in the years since its initial launch, Xplore now fits over 200 vehicle models, making the smart, patented connection system accessible to a significantly broader range of drivers.
– A roof rack should be part of the journey. Not part of the car. And that means it should be easy to remove in everyday commuting to save both the environment and fuel consumption. That’s the whole philosophy behind the Xplore, and I’m proud to introduce it to a growing number of conscious drivers who value both great design and effortless everyday usability, says Regina Abduramanovski, CEO at Mont Blanc Group.
Younick Portal
Global R&D Manager, Mont Blanc Group
+33 78 604 25 78
[email protected]
Regina Abduramanovski
CEO, Mont Blanc Group
+46 70 648 23 90
[email protected]
Founded in 1947, Mont Blanc Group is a leading European manufacturer of transport solutions such as roof racks, roof boxes, and bike carriers. With a strong market presence and a long history of innovation, we strive to facilitate transport and storage for our customers. Mont Blanc Group is owned by Accent Equity, a leading player in the Nordic investment market.