Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any. Subjectivity refers to a subject's perspective particularly feelings beliefs and desires Not all car types are common in all countries and names for the same vehicle can differ by region. Furthermore, some descriptions may be interpreted differently in different places. Broadly speaking, there are a set of classifications which are widely understood in North America, and another set which are somewhat understood in English-speaking contexts in Europe. Some terms borrowed from non-English languages may have different meanings when used in their native language.
Contents |
Classification systems
The following are the most commonly used classifications. Where applicable, the equivalent Euro NCAP classifications are shown. The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP is a European Car safety performance assessment programme founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Car rental companies often use the ACRISS Car Classification Code. The ACRISS Car Classification Code is a code used by many Car rental companies including Avis, Budget, Alamo, Europcar and The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has another set of classification rules based on interior passenger and cargo volumes. [1] A similar set of classes is used by the Canadian EPA. [2] In Australia, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries publishes its own classifications. [3]
Microcar
Straddling the boundary between car and motorbike, these vehicles have engines under 1. Phonology North American English regional phonology In many ways compared to English English, North American English is conservative in its Phonology. British English or UK English ( BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP is a European Car safety performance assessment programme founded in 1997 by the Transport Research A microcar is an extremely small Automobile, popularly referred to as Cyclecars in the 1910s and 1920s and Bubblecars in the 1950s and 1960s many of which A microcar is an extremely small Automobile, popularly referred to as Cyclecars in the 1910s and 1920s and Bubblecars in the 1950s and 1960s many of which For the modified American sedans also called "bubbles" see Hi-Riser (automobile. Aixam - Mega is a French automobile manufacturer based in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie. The smart fortwo is a rear-engined two-seater It was first shown at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. A city car (or urban car) is a small moderately powered Automobile intended for use in Urban areas It is comparable in size and features to a A city car (or urban car) is a small moderately powered Automobile intended for use in Urban areas It is comparable in size and features to a "Fiat 500" can also refer to the former Fiat 500 "Topolino", Fiat 500 or Fiat Cinquecento (500 The Renault Twingo is a City car built by French automaker Renault, first presented at the Paris Motor Show in September 1992 and sold in A subcompact car is an Automobile in a North American Vehicle size class, encompassing vehicles smaller than Compact cars According to the A supermini is a British Car classification term that describes Automobiles larger than a City car but smaller than a Small family car. A supermini is a British Car classification term that describes Automobiles larger than a City car but smaller than a Small family car. The Hyundai Accent (sold in some regions as the Verna and until 2000 in Australia as the Excel) is a Subcompact car produced by Hyundai The Opel Corsa is a supermini that has been produced by General Motors' European Subsidiary Opel since 1982 and has also been sold under a variety A compact (North America small family (European or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini A compact (North America small family (European or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini A compact (North America small family (European or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini This is the article about the European and worldwide Ford Focus The Volkswagen Golf or VW Golf ( Mk1 and Mk5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Mk1 badged as Volkswagen A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A large family car is a European classification of cars which are larger than a Small family car and smaller than an Executive car A large family car is a European classification of cars which are larger than a Small family car and smaller than an Executive car The Opel Vectra is a Large family car produced primarily by Adam Opel GmbH (commonly known as "Opel" the German subsidiary of General The Volkswagen Passat is a Family car built by Volkswagen through six design generations since 1973 Compact executive car is a mainly British Car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than Executive cars. Compact executive car is a mainly British Car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than Executive cars. The Audi A4 is a Compact executive car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1994 The BMW 3 Series is a Entry-level luxury car / Compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975 The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a Compact executive car produced by the Mercedes Car Group division of Daimler AG. A full-size car is a Marketing term used in North America for an Automobile larger than a Mid-size car. Executive car is a British term that refers to a car's size and is used to describe an Automobile larger than a Large family car. Executive car is a British term that refers to a car's size and is used to describe an Automobile larger than a Large family car. The Chrysler 300 is a Full-size car designed by Haitian-Canadian Ralph Gilles. A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury &mdash that which is beyond strict necessity &mdash in exchange for increased cost to the buyer The Audi A6 is an Executive car produced by the German Automaker Audi. The BMW 5 Series is a Mid-size Luxury car / Executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972 E-Class redirects here For Chrysler 's rebadged version of the Dodge 600 sold from 1983-1984 see Chrysler E-Class. A full-size car is a Marketing term used in North America for an Automobile larger than a Mid-size car. Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury &mdash that which is beyond strict necessity &mdash in exchange for increased cost to the buyer Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury &mdash that which is beyond strict necessity &mdash in exchange for increased cost to the buyer The Audi A8 is a Full-size luxury Executive car built by the German automaker Audi, to replace the Audi V8 The BMW 7 Series is a line of Full-size Luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of the largest Sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Model details Compared to the fifth generation the "C6" gets an overhaul of the suspension geometry all new bodywork with exposed headlamps (for the first time since 1962 The Porsche 911 (pronounced as Nine Eleven, Neunelfer is a Sports car made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany A grand tourer ( Gran turismo) ( initialised GT) is a high-performance Automobile designed for long-distance driving The Jaguar XK series ( XK8 and XKR) is a Grand tourer produced by British carmaker Jaguar since 1996 The Maserati Quattroporte is a luxury four-door sedan made by Maserati of Italy. Supercar is a term generally used for a high-end Sports car, whose performance is highly superior to that of its contemporaries The Bugatti Veyron 164 is a mid-engine Sports car produced by Volkswagen Group subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS introduced in 2005 The Ferrari F50 was a mid-engined range-topping Sports car made by Ferrari. A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle The Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class is a Mid-size rear-wheel drive Coupé / Convertible. The Volkswagen Eos is a four-seater Retractable hardtop coupe convertible introduced in 2006 as the successor to the Volkswagen Cabrio. A roadster, also known as a spyder or spider, is a two-seater car traditionally without a roof (or with a detachable roof and no side or rear windows The Audi TT is a Sports car manufactured by Audi since 1998 in Győr, Hungary, now in its second generation &mdash and available as a 2+2 The BMW Z4 is a Rear-wheel drive Sports car by the German Automaker BMW, known as the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupe Generations and overview Now in its third generation the MX5's first generation the NA, sold over 400000 units from 1989 to 1997 &mdash with a Straight-4 A leisure activity vehicle (abbreviated LAV) is a small Van, generally related to a supermini or Subcompact car, with two or three seat The Peugeot Partner is a Van and Leisure activity vehicle made by the French car manufacturer Peugeot. The Škoda Roomster is a Leisure activity vehicle produced by the Czech Automaker Škoda Auto. Mini MPV (MPV stands for Multi-purpose vehicle, although the full name is rarely used is a Car classification used to describe superminis or The Opel Meriva is a Mini MPV based on the platform of the third generation Opel Corsa and sold under that name on all of the European markets with The fifth generation Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (VW Typ 1K) built on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35 platform was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in A Compact MPV is a Car classification used in Europe to describe Multi-purpose vehicle versions of Small family cars (sometimes also referred The Mazda Premacy is a Compact MPV built by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda since 1999 The Opel Zafira is a Compact MPV produced by KPK and Opel a General Motors subsidiary The Volkswagen Touran is a Compact MPV based on a vertically-stretched fifth generation Volkswagen Golf Mk5, and sold in A minivan, multi-purpose vehicle (abbreviated MPV) people-carrier, people-mover or multi-utility vehicle (shortened A minivan, multi-purpose vehicle (abbreviated MPV) people-carrier, people-mover or multi-utility vehicle (shortened See also the Ford Galaxie full-size car of the 1950s and 1960s For the Ford Galaxy built in Argentina in the 1990s see Volkswagen Passat. The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima (エスティマ in Japan and the Toyota Tarago in Australia is an MPV or Multi-purpose vehicle (known Mini SUV is a class of small Sport utility vehicles with a length under 4100 mm (165 in) The Suzuki SX4 is a Compact car developed by Japanese and Italian automakers Suzuki and Fiat and produced since 2006 The Toyota RAV4 (pronounced "rav-four" is a compact Crossover SUV built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Compact SUV is a class of small Sport utility vehicles with a length roughly between 4 The Audi Q5 is a compact crossover SUV to be released by German automaker Audi for the 2009 model year "Cr-V" redirects here It is also a shorthand referring to chromium-vanadium alloy Tool steels The Honda CR-V is a compact A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A Crossover &mdash variously called XUV or CUV, for crossover utility vehicle &mdash is a marketing term for a vehicle that derives from a car while borrowing The Audi allroad quattro is a Mid-size Executive car; an estate car/station wagon, produced by German automaker Audi since 2000 The BMW X3 is a compact Crossover SUV (BMW advertises it as an SAV or Sport Activity Vehicle produced by the German Automaker BMW A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A sport utility vehicle ( SUV) is a generic marketing description for a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a Station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis The BMW X5 is a Mid-size Crossover SUV sold by BMW since 1999 The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size unibody Sport utility vehicle produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. A full-size car is a Marketing term used in North America for an Automobile larger than a Mid-size car. A sport utility vehicle ( SUV) is a generic marketing description for a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a Station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis The Audi Q7 is a Full-size luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV produced by German automaker Audi The Cadillac Escalade is a Full-size luxury Sport utility vehicle (SUV sold by the General Motors luxury brand Cadillac The Chevrolet Suburban is a large Sport utility vehicle from Chevrolet. A microcar is an extremely small Automobile, popularly referred to as Cyclecars in the 1910s and 1920s and Bubblecars in the 1950s and 1960s many of which For the modified American sedans also called "bubbles" see Hi-Riser (automobile. 0 litre, typically seat only two passengers, and are sometimes unorthodox in construction. Some microcars are three-wheelers, while the majority have four wheels. Microcars were popular in post-war Europe, where their appearance led them to be called "Bubble cars". For the modified American sedans also called "bubbles" see Hi-Riser (automobile. A descendant of the traditional microcar is the modern Smart Fortwo. The smart fortwo is a rear-engined two-seater It was first shown at the 1998 Paris Motor Show.
Examples of microcars:
Hatchbacks, saloons (sedans) and estate cars (station wagons)
City car
A city car is a small automobile intended for use in urban areas. The Isetta was one of the most successful Microcars produced in the post- WWII years&mdasha time when cheap short-distance transportation was most needed The Messerschmitt KR175 Bubble car (1953–1955 was the first vehicle built by Messerschmitt under its 1952 agreement with Fritz Fend. The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass produced by Fuji Heavy Industries ' Subaru division Hatchback is a term designating an Automobile design containing a passenger cabin with an integrated Cargo space accessed from behind the vehicle by a single A station wagon (or simply wagon) in American, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand usage and an estate car (or just estate A city car (or urban car) is a small moderately powered Automobile intended for use in Urban areas It is comparable in size and features to a Kei car, K-car, or ( pronounced /keːdʑidoːɕa/ is a Japanese category of small Automobiles, including passenger cars Unlike microcars, a city car's greater speed, capacity and (in perception at least) occupant protection are safer in mixed traffic environments and weather conditions. While city cars can reach highway speeds, that is not their intended use. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve In Japan, city cars are called kei cars. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Kei car, K-car, or ( pronounced /keːdʑidoːɕa/ is a Japanese category of small Automobiles, including passenger cars Kei cars have to meet strict size and engine requirements: engines have a maximum displacement of 660 cm³ and the car's length must be under 3400 mm.
Examples of kei cars:
Examples of city cars:
Supermini / Subcompact car
This class is known as supermini in Europe, subcompact in North America. The Autozam AZ-1, known as the framecode PG6SA, is a mid-engined two-seat sports Kei car, designed and manufactured by Suzuki The Daihatsu Copen is a 2-door Roadster with an aluminium Retractable hardtop built by the Japanese car company Daihatsu. The Honda Beat is a mid-engined two-seat Roadster Kei car produced from in May 1991 to February 1996 "Cinquecento" (500 may also refer to the earlier Fiat 500 "Topolino", Fiat 500 or the modern Fiat Nuova 500. The Peugeot 107 is a City car produced by the French automaker Peugeot since summer 2005 The Toyota Aygo (pronounced goʊ Japanese romaji) is a City car sold since 2005 A supermini is a British Car classification term that describes Automobiles larger than a City car but smaller than a Small family car. A subcompact car is an Automobile in a North American Vehicle size class, encompassing vehicles smaller than Compact cars According to the Superminis have three, four or five doors and are designed to seat four passengers comfortably. Current supermini hatchbacks are approximately 3900 mm long, while saloons and estate cars are around 4200 mm long.
In Europe, the first superminis were the Fiat 500 of 1957 and the Austin Mini of 1959. "500" is also Fiat's model number for the earlier Fiat Topolino, later Fiat Cinquecento and current Fiat Nuova 500 The The Mini is a small car that was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC and its successors from 1959 until 2000 Today, superminis are some of the best selling vehicles in Europe.
In Australia, motoring press tends to distinguish between a light car such as the Daihatsu Charade or early models of the Holden Barina, and slightly larger models such as the Ford Fiesta which is considered to be a small car. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Daihatsu Charade was a supermini sold from 1977 to 2000 Daihatsu considers the Charade a large "compact" car to differentiate it from other compacts The Holden Barina is an subcompact Automobile sold since 1985 by Holden, the Australian arm of General Motors (GM The Ford Fiesta is a Supermini car designed by Ford Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company As the general size of vehicles in this class has gradually increased, the category of light car has almost disappeared.
Examples of superminis / subcompact cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Superminis". The Ford Fiesta is a Supermini car designed by Ford Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company K10 (1982–1992 The original March (chassis name K10 was introduced in October 1982 as a challenger to the highly successful Honda City. The Volkswagen Polo is a Supermini car manufactured by Volkswagen. The Opel Corsa is a supermini that has been produced by General Motors' European Subsidiary Opel since 1982 and has also been sold under a variety
Small family car / Compact car
Small family/Compact cars refer to the longest hatchbacks and saloons and estate cars with similar size. A compact (North America small family (European or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini A compact (North America small family (European or c-segment car is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini They are approximately 4250 mm long in case of hatchbacks and 4500 mm in the case of saloons and estate cars . Compact cars have room for five adults and usually have engines between 1. 6 and 2. 2 liters. These are the most popular vehicles in most developed countries.
Examples of hatchback small family cars / compact cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Small Family Cars". The Audi A3 is an Entry-level luxury car / Small family car This is the article about the European and worldwide Ford Focus The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact / Compact cars produced by the Japanese Automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout The Volkswagen Golf or VW Golf ( Mk1 and Mk5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Mk1 badged as Volkswagen In Australia, this class is generally referred to as being Small-Medium sized cars.
Large family car / Mid-size car
Large family/Mid-size cars have room for five adults and a large trunk (boot). A large family car is a European classification of cars which are larger than a Small family car and smaller than an Executive car A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between Engines are more powerful than small family/compact cars and six-cylinder engines are more common than in smaller cars. Car sizes vary from region to region; in Europe, large family cars are rarely over 4700 mm long, while in North America and Australasia they may be well over 4800 mm. Australasia is a Region of Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and neighbouring Islands in the Pacific
Examples of large family cars / mid-size cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Large Family Cars". The Ford Taurus is an Automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. The Chevrolet Malibu (named after Malibu California) is a Mid-size car produced in the United States by General Motors. The Altima (pronounced ALL-teh-mah is a Mid-size car (formerly compact manufactured by the Japanese Automaker Nissan, and is arguably a continuation The Toyota Camry is a Mid-size car, formerly a Compact car manufactured by Toyota since 1980 The Volkswagen Passat is a Family car built by Volkswagen through six design generations since 1973 These are known in Australia as Medium sized cars.
Full-size car / Large car
This term is used most in North America and Australia where it refers to the largest saloons on the market. A full-size car is a Marketing term used in North America for an Automobile larger than a Mid-size car. Full-size cars may be well over 5000 mm long and are the roomiest vehicles.
Examples of full-size cars:
Compact executive car / Entry-level luxury car
These are luxurious equivalents to large family cars and compact cars. The Chrysler 300 is a Full-size car designed by Haitian-Canadian Ralph Gilles. The Dodge Charger, is a Rear-wheel drive Full-size Automobile built by Chrysler LLC for its North American Dodge brand The Ford Crown Victoria is the current model name Ford uses for the Rear-wheel drive full-size car first produced by the Ford Motor Company for The Toyota Avalon is a Full-size car produced by Toyota in the United States, and is the flagship sedan of Toyota in the United States, The Volkswagen Phaeton (pronounced "fay-ton" is a large luxury sedan manufactured by German car manufacturer Volkswagen. Compact executive car is a mainly British Car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than Executive cars. Powerful six- and eight-cylinder engines are common, but rear seat room and boot space are more reduced than in "non-luxury" models since the extra room is needed to accommodate the larger engine.
Examples of compact executive cars / entry-level luxury cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Large Family Cars". The Audi A4 is a Compact executive car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1994 The BMW 3 Series is a Entry-level luxury car / Compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975 The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a Compact executive car produced by the Mercedes Car Group division of Daimler AG. The X-Type is a Compact executive car produced by the British luxury Automaker Jaguar since 2001 The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP is a European Car safety performance assessment programme founded in 1997 by the Transport Research
Executive car / Mid-luxury car
An executive car or mid-luxury car is larger than a compact executive car / entry-level luxury car. Executive car is a British term that refers to a car's size and is used to describe an Automobile larger than a Large family car. They are usually very roomy, powerful and luxurious, making them more expensive than "standard" saloons.
Examples of executive cars / mid-luxury cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Executive Cars". The Audi A6 is an Executive car produced by the German Automaker Audi. The BMW 5 Series is a Mid-size Luxury car / Executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972 The Jaguar XF is a Mid-size Luxury car / Sports sedan made by Jaguar Cars. The Lexus ES series is a family of Mid-size luxury sedans produced by the Lexus division of Toyota since 1989 E-Class redirects here For Chrysler 's rebadged version of the Dodge 600 sold from 1983-1984 see Chrysler E-Class.
Full-size car
A full-size car is typically a four-door saloon. These are the most powerful saloons, with eight and twelve-cylinder engines and have more equipment than smaller models.
Examples of full-size cars:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Executive Cars". The Audi A8 is a Full-size luxury Executive car built by the German automaker Audi, to replace the Audi V8 The BMW 7 Series is a line of Full-size Luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. The Lexus LS is a Full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a series of the largest Sedans produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The Jaguar XJ is a luxury sedan sold under the British Jaguar luxury marque
Sports cars and grand tourers
Hot hatch / sport compact
A hot hatch or sport compact is a high-performance small car, usually a hatchback, based on standard superminis or small family cars with improved performance, handling and styling. A hot hatch is an informal or slang term for a high-performance derivative of a three (or sometimes five -door Automobile. A sport compact is a high-performance version of a Compact car or a Subcompact car. Car handling and vehicle handling is a description of the way wheeled vehicles perform transverse to their direction of motion particularly during cornering and swerving Hot hatches are very popular in Europe, and orginated from the original Volkswagen Golf GTI. The Volkswagen Golf or VW Golf ( Mk1 and Mk5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Mk1 badged as Volkswagen In North America, sport compacts are usually sold as saloons or coupés rather than hatchbacks.
Examples of sport compacts:
Examples of hot hatches:
Sports saloon / sports sedan
These are high performance versions of saloons. The Dodge SRT-4 is a Turbocharged variant of the Neon introduced by DaimlerChrysler 's Street and Racing Technology ( SRT) in-house Scion tC is a Compact car introduced by Japanese automaker Toyota in 2004 as a Concept car under its recently introduced Scion brand name The Nissan Sentra is a Compact car made by Automaker Nissan Motors and is generally a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny The Subaru Impreza WRX STI (formerly STi, officially changed in 2006 is the highest standard-edition trim in the Subaru Impreza Compact car line The Citroën Saxo is a supermini produced by the French manufacturer Citroën (PSA from 1996 to 2003 The Dodge Caliber is a Compact car produced by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Group. The Honda Civic Type R is a high performance version of the popular Honda Civic. The Volkswagen Golf or VW Golf ( Mk1 and Mk5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Mk1 badged as Volkswagen A sports sedan or a sports saloon is a descriptive term applied to a sedan Automobile that is designed to look and feel "sporty" - offering the Sometimes originally homologated for production based motorsports (touring cars) and like regular saloons, seats four or five people. Homologation is a technical term derived from the Greek homologeo (ὁμολογέω for "to agree" which is generally used in English to signify Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct Auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars
Examples of sports saloons / sedans:
- Audi RS4
- Audi S8
- BMW M5
- Dodge Charger SRT-8
- Ford Mondeo ST200
- Mercedes C55 AMG
- Opel Vectra OPC & Vauxhall Vectra GSi, now called Vauxhall Vectra VXR
Sports car
This small lightweight class combines performance and handling. The Audi RS4 quattro is the top Tier and fastest performing version of the Audi A4 range (above the Audi S4) of cars. The Audi S8 quattro is a high-performance version of the German automaker Audi 's flagship vehicle, the Audi A8. The BMW M5 is an ultra performance version of the BMW 5-Series Automobile made by BMW Motorsport The Dodge Charger, is a Rear-wheel drive Full-size Automobile built by Chrysler LLC for its North American Dodge brand The Ford Mondeo is a Large family car sold by the Ford Motor Company in various markets throughout the world The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a Compact executive car produced by the Mercedes Car Group division of Daimler AG. The Opel Vectra is a Large family car produced primarily by Adam Opel GmbH (commonly known as "Opel" the German subsidiary of General A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Often inspired by racing vehicles, this class ranges from sporty vehicles such as the Mazda Miata/MX-5 to derivatives of true racing thoroughbreds such as the Lotus Elise. Generations and overview Now in its third generation the MX5's first generation the NA, sold over 400000 units from 1989 to 1997 &mdash with a Straight-4 Series 1 The design philosophy of Lotus is "Performance through light weight" first adopted by the founder of Lotus Colin Chapman.
Examples of sports cars:
Grand tourer
Larger, more powerful and heavier than sports cars, these vehicles typically have a FR layout and seating for four passengers (2+2). The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953 The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat mid-engined, Rear wheel drive Sports car produced by Toyota from 1984 until July 2007 when production stopped in The Porsche 911 (pronounced as Nine Eleven, Neunelfer is a Sports car made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany A grand tourer ( Gran turismo) ( initialised GT) is a high-performance Automobile designed for long-distance driving The term 2+2 (pronounced "two plus two" is a phrase used to describe the configuration of a car with seating for two passengers in the front These are more expensive than sports cars but not expensive as supercars. Some grand tourers are hand-built.
Examples of grand tourers:
Supercar
Supercars are ultra-high performance cars, typically very expensive, luxurious and exceptionally fast. The Aston Martin DB9 is a Grand tourer launched by Aston Martin in 2004 The Audi A5 is a luxury Coupé produced by the German automobile manufacturer Audi. The Lexus GS is a series of Mid-size luxury Sports sedans / Executive cars sold by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota The Maserati Coupé and Spyder are Grand tourers ref name="RoadandTrack1"> produced by Italian automaker Maserati from 2002 to 2007 Mark I (1979-1981 1979 In 1978 Toyota began production of the Mark I Supra in Japan, as the Toyota Celica XX. The Jaguar XK series ( XK8 and XKR) is a Grand tourer produced by British carmaker Jaguar since 1996 Supercar is a term generally used for a high-end Sports car, whose performance is highly superior to that of its contemporaries Supercars typically contain cutting-edge technology and are usually assembled by hand. They may also be halo cars, for either their own marque, or a related marque within a larger automotive group. A halo vehicle, or halo model, is a Automotive industry marketing term for an automobile/car or other Motor vehicle, designed and
Examples of supercars:
- Bugatti Veyron
- Ferrari Enzo
- Lamborghini Gallardo
- Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
- Porsche Carrera GT
- Aston Martin DBS V12
Muscle car
The Muscle car term was coined in United States. The Bugatti Veyron 164 is a mid-engine Sports car produced by Volkswagen Group subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS introduced in 2005 The Enzo Ferrari is a 12-cylinder mid-engine Berlinetta named after the company's founder Enzo Ferrari. Overview The Gallardo was designed as a competitor to the Ferrari 360, and now competes with its replacement the Ferrari F430. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is an Anglo - German Sports car jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, built in The Porsche Carrera GT is a mid-engined Sports car that was manufactured by Porsche in Leipzig Design The Carrera GT is powered The modern Aston Martin DBS is a high performance sports car from the UK manufacturer Aston Martin. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Classic muscle cars appeared in the mid-1960s and disappeared because of the 1973 energy crisis and the EPA's stringent air pollution regulations. Muscle cars became popular in Australia during the 1980s. These cars shoe-horned giant engines into mid-sized cars straight from the factory. Handling took a backseat to straight-line acceleration.
Examples of American muscle cars:
Examples of Australian muscle cars:
Convertible
A car that features a flexibly operating roof for open or enclosed mode driving. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Chevrolet Camaro is a " Pony car " made in North America by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon Dodge Challenger is the name of three different Automobile models marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC since 1970 The Ford Falcon is a Full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960 The Monaro is an Automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced See also Chrysler Valiant The Chrysler Valiant Charger was an Automobile produced by Chrysler Australia from 1971 to 1978 A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle Also known as a cabriolet or roadster.
Examples of convertibles:
- Audi TT-R
- Honda S2000
- Lexus SC
- Mercedes-Benz SLK
- Porsche Boxster
- Toyota Camry Solara
- Volkswagen Eos
- Volvo C70
- Jaguar XK
Off-roaders
Off-road vehicles, or "off-roaders" are sometimes referred to as "four wheel drives", "four by fours", or 4x4s — this sometimes happens colloquially in cases where certain models or even an entire range does not possess four-wheel drive. The Audi TT is a Sports car manufactured by Audi since 1998 in Győr, Hungary, now in its second generation &mdash and available as a 2+2 The Honda S2000 is a Roadster manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. The Lexus SC series is a personal luxury Coupé sold by Lexus. The SLK is a compact Roadster manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in two generations R170 and R171, since 1997 986 The styling of the Boxster is due to former "Style Porsche" department head Harm Lagaay. This page is about the automobile manufactured by Toyota For other uses see Solara (disambiguation The Toyota Camry Solara, also more commonly known as the The Volkswagen Eos is a four-seater Retractable hardtop coupe convertible introduced in 2006 as the successor to the Volkswagen Cabrio. The Volvo C70 is a two-door manufactured by Volvo Cars in two generations the first from model years 1997-2002 as Coupé and from 1997-2005 as a softop The Jaguar XK series ( XK8 and XKR) is a Grand tourer produced by British carmaker Jaguar since 1996 Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4x4 ("four by four" is a four-wheeled Vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four Wheels to Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4x4 ("four by four" is a four-wheeled Vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four Wheels to
Sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicles are off-road vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis, four-wheel drive and true off-road capability. A sport utility vehicle ( SUV) is a generic marketing description for a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a Station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of Vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or Gravel surface Body-on-frame is an Automobile construction technology Mounting a separate body to a rigid frame which supports the Drivetrain was the original method of building A chassis (plural "chassis" (ˈʃæːsiː ˈtʃæːsiː consists of a framework that supports an inanimate object analogous to an Animal 's SUVs can be troublesome in accidents. Crash incompatibility, crash compatibility, vehicle incompatibility, and vehicle compatibility are terms in the Automobile Crash testing A high center of gravity means SUVs rollover more easily than automobiles.
Examples of SUVs:
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Large Off-Roaders". The Audi Q7 is a Full-size luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV produced by German automaker Audi The BMW X5 is a Mid-size Crossover SUV sold by BMW since 1999 The Chevrolet Tahoe (and very similar GMC Yukon) is a Full-size SUV from General Motors. The Discovery is a Four wheel drive on-road and off-road vehicle from the British car maker Land Rover. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size unibody Sport utility vehicle produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler.
Crossover SUV
Crossover SUVs have a monocoque construction and lower ground clearance than SUVs. A Crossover &mdash variously called XUV or CUV, for crossover utility vehicle &mdash is a marketing term for a vehicle that derives from a car while borrowing Monocoque, from the French for single ( mono) and shell ( coque) is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external Some of them have traction control and adjustable suspension to improve off-road capabilities. A traction control system ( TCS) also known as Anti-Slip Regulation ( ASR) on current production Vehicles are typically (but not necessarily They may be styled similar to conventional "off-roaders", or may be styled similar to an estate car or wagon.
Examples of crossover SUVs
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Small Off-Roaders". The Audi allroad quattro is a Mid-size Executive car; an estate car/station wagon, produced by German automaker Audi since 2000 The Chevrolet Equinox is a Mid-size Crossover SUV from Chevrolet, introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year The Edge is a premium Mid-size Crossover SUV (CUV manufactured by Ford, based on the Ford CD3 platform &mdash and marketed in slightly The Toyota RAV4 (pronounced "rav-four" is a compact Crossover SUV built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Ford Kuga is compact Crossover SUV to be produced by Ford Europe.
Multi-purpose vehicles / Minivans
Also known as "people carriers", this class of cars resembles tall estate cars. A minivan, multi-purpose vehicle (abbreviated MPV) people-carrier, people-mover or multi-utility vehicle (shortened Larger MPVs may have seating for up to eight passengers. (Beyond that size, similar vehicles tend to be derived from vans (see below) and in Europe are called minibuses. "Microbus" redirects here For the Volkswagen Microbus see Volkswagen Type 2. )
Being taller than a family car improves visibility for the driver (while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access for the elderly or disabled. Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the Average life span of Human beings and thus the end of the human life cycle. They also offer more seats and increased load capacity than hatchbacks or estate cars.
Examples of mini MPVs:
Examples of compact MPVs:
Both categories are equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Small MPVs". The Daihatsu Pyzar, sold in some export markets as the Daihatsu Gran Move, was a Mini MPV manufactured by the Japanese Automaker Daihatsu The Hyundai Matrix (sold in South Korea as the Lavita and in Australia as the Elantra Lavita) is a MPV sold by the Hyundai The Nissan Note ( Kana:日産・ノートis a Mini MPV produced by the Japanese manufacturer Nissan. The Opel Meriva is a Mini MPV based on the platform of the third generation Opel Corsa and sold under that name on all of the European markets with The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a typically American " Retro "-styled Station wagon or Hatchback built by Chrysler, launched in 2000 as an For the earlier Fiat 600-based Multipla produced between 1956 and 1965 see Fiat 600. The Ford C-Max is a Compact MPV produced by Ford in Saarlouis for the European market since 2003 The Volkswagen Touran is a Compact MPV based on a vertically-stretched fifth generation Volkswagen Golf Mk5, and sold in
Examples of large MPVs / minivans:
- Chrysler Voyager
- Dodge Caravan
- Ford Galaxy
- Honda Odyssey
- Nissan Quest
- Toyota Sienna
- Volkswagen Sharan
This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "MPVs". The Chrysler Voyager is a Minivan marketed by Chrysler LLC. In the United States, the Chrysler Voyager was produced from 2000 to 2003 as part of the See also the Ford Galaxie full-size car of the 1950s and 1960s For the Ford Galaxy built in Argentina in the 1990s see Volkswagen Passat. The Honda Odyssey is a Minivan, or "large MPV" produced by the Japanese automaker Honda since 1994 The Nissan Quest is a Minivan produced by Nissan since 1993 There have been three generations of this model Not to be confused with Toyota Sienta. The Toyota Sienna is a family Minivan currently manufactured in the United States by the The Volkswagen Sharan is a Large MPV produced by the German Automaker Volkswagen since 1995
Van, camper, RV, minibus etc.
In some countries, the term "van" can refer to a small panel van based on a passenger car design (often the estate model / station wagon); it also refers to light trucks, which themselves are sometimes based on SUVs or MPVs. A van is a kind of vehicle used for Transporting goods or groups of people (But note that those retaining seats and windows, while being larger and more utilitarian than MPVs, may be called "minibuses". "Microbus" redirects here For the Volkswagen Microbus see Volkswagen Type 2. ) The term is also used in the term "camper van" (or just "camper") — equivalent to a North American recreational vehicle (RV). In North American English the term recreational vehicle, and its acronym RV, are generally used to refer to an enclosed piece of equipment dually used as both
In the United States, the term "van" refers to vehicles that, like European minibuses, are even larger than large MPVs and are rarely seen being driven for domestic purposes — except for "conversion vans". The United States of America —commonly referred to as the These possess extremely large interior space and are often more intended for hauling cargo than people. Most vans use body-on-frame construction and are thus suitable for extensive modification and coachwork, known as conversion. Conversion vans are often quite luxurious, boasting comfortable seats, soft rides, built-in support for electronics such as television sets, and other amenities. The more elaborate conversion vans straddle the line between cars and recreational vehicles.
Examples of North American "vans":
Examples of European "vans":
See also
- ACRISS Car Classification Code
- Automobile
- Car safety and road safety
- Car body style
- List of recent automobile models by type
- Vehicle size class
- Truck classification
References
- ^ How are vehicle size classes defined? FuelEconomy. The Dodge Ram Van was a Full-size Van marketed under the Dodge brand by the Chrysler Corporation and later DaimlerChrysler The Ford E-Series, formerly known as the "Econoline" or "Club Wagon" is a line of full-size Vans (both cargo and passenger and truck The Ford Transit is a range of Panel vans minibuses and pickup trucks produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe. Volkswagen Transporter is a reference to the following range of Volkswagen Motor vehicles T1 Volkswagen Type 2, generation T1 The Fiat Ducato is a large Van produced by Fiat. ????. -->The Fiat Ducato is the same van as the Citroën Jumper The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a delivery Van, Chassis cab and Minibus built by Daimler AG in Düsseldorf, Germany and The ACRISS Car Classification Code is a code used by many Car rental companies including Avis, Budget, Alamo, Europcar and Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only Vehicle size classes are a way of classifying cars The common North American parlance is word-based while English-speaking European writers also use words to describe car sizes Commercial truck classification in the United States is done based on the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. gov, part of the U. S. Department of Energy
- ^ CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999 Canada Gazette
- ^ VFACTS Motor Vehicle Classifications and Definitions Australian FCAI - Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
External links
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic