A vehicle sun roof device comprising: a panel for covering an opening in a roof of the vehicle, the panel including front and rear end sections, and being tiltable to raise the rear end section from a closed position to at least one venting position, and a drive system for tilting the panel comprising: a force-applying mechanism (15, 15a, 15b) for tilting the panel by selectively applying an upward force or a downward force to the rear end section of the panel to raise or lower, respectively, the rear end section relative to the front end section, a support (12, 12a, 12b) comprising at least a first shoe disposed on the roof adjacent the front end section of the panel and including an upwardly facing support surface and a downwardly facing support surface, a bracket fixed to the panel and extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, the bracket including an upwardly facing bearing surface and a downwardly facing bearing surface (11c") arranged to slidably engage the downwardly facing support surface and the upwardly facing support surface, respectively, for defining a virtual pivot axis for the panel as the panel tilts, characterized by a pin-and-slot connection (11b, 12c) between the first shoe and the bracket for guiding the bracket as it tilts, and wherein the location of the virtual pivot axis remains stationary as the panel tilts. a panel for covering an opening in a roof of the vehicle, the panel including front and rear end sections, and being tiltable to raise the rear end section from a closed position to at least one venting position, and a drive system for tilting the panel comprising: a force-applying mechanism (15, 15a, 15b) for tilting the panel by selectively applying an upward force or a downward force to the rear end section of the panel to raise or lower, respectively, the rear end section relative to the front end section, a support (12, 12a, 12b) comprising at least a first shoe disposed on the roof adjacent the front end section of the panel and including an upwardly facing support surface and a downwardly facing support surface, a bracket fixed to the panel and extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, the bracket including an upwardly facing bearing surface and a downwardly facing bearing surface (11c") arranged to slidably engage the downwardly facing support surface and the upwardly facing support surface, respectively, for defining a virtual pivot axis for the panel as the panel tilts, characterized by a pin-and-slot connection (11b, 12c) between the first shoe and the bracket for guiding the bracket as it tilts, and wherein the location of the virtual pivot axis remains stationary as the panel tilts. a force-applying mechanism (15, 15a, 15b) for tilting the panel by selectively applying an upward force or a downward force to the rear end section of the panel to raise or lower, respectively, the rear end section relative to the front end section, a support (12, 12a, 12b) comprising at least a first shoe disposed on the roof adjacent the front end section of the panel and including an upwardly facing support surface and a downwardly facing support surface, a bracket fixed to the panel and extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, the bracket including an upwardly facing bearing surface and a downwardly facing bearing surface (11c") arranged to slidably engage the downwardly facing support surface and the upwardly facing support surface, respectively, for defining a virtual pivot axis for the panel as the panel tilts, characterized by a pin-and-slot connection (11b, 12c) between the first shoe and the bracket for guiding the bracket as it tilts, and wherein the location of the virtual pivot axis remains stationary as the panel tilts.