Car model

Last updated
Chevrolet models sold in 1928. Chevrolet models 1928.jpg
Chevrolet models sold in 1928.

The model of a car is its design, in the context of the manufacturer's range or series of cars. Different models are distinguishable by technology, components, underpinnings, and/or style and appearance.

Contents

The methods used to categorise cars into models differ significantly between manufacturers. Frequently, several different body variants are offered, depending on market demand; and when completing their 'production lifespan', sufficiently successful models are usually followed by a new 'generation' of that model.

The name of a model (range or series) is almost always trademarked, so that competing manufacturers cannot also use it (unless the owner permits it, for an agreed licence fee).

A popular model can have a significantly valuable brand name, and manufacturers often take great care in fostering and maintaining the brand image of the models bearing the name, both in terms of key model characteristics, as well as the targeted market, and the expected or desired buyer's demographic.

Common characteristics

Ford Focus body styles: sedan, station wagon and hatchback Three body styles with pillars and boxes.png
Ford Focus body styles: sedan, station wagon and hatchback

Equipment, upholstery and exterior trim are usually determined by the trim level, the car model often defines the platform (which determines the engines, drivetrains and chassis options available), body styles and aesthetic theme. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Some models have only one body style (e.g. the Hyundai i20 hatchback), [5] while other models are produced in several body styles (e.g. the Audi A3, which has been produced in hatchback, sedan and convertible body styles). [6] In some cases, a manufacturer has marketed a body style as a separate model, such as the Volkswagen Jetta and the BMW 4 Series, which are based on the Volkswagen Golf and BMW 3 Series platforms respectively. [7] [8]

Some models have an only engine (or electric/hybrid powertrain) option available, while other models have multiple powertrains available. [9]

In North America, a model can also be called a nameplate. The Chevrolet Suburban is the oldest automobile nameplate in continuous production, dating to 1934, and the 1940-1996 Chrysler New Yorker was another long-running North American car nameplate. However, the term "nameplate" is also sometimes used to describe an entire brand, rather than a specific model. The Rolls-Royce Phantom is also a long-running model that has returned for 2003, having originally been introduced in 1925.

Country-specific model names

The same car model may be sold by the automaker in different countries under different model names. Examples include Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero, [10] [11] Mazda MX-5 / Miata, [12] Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit [13] and Ford Everest / Endeavour. [14] [15]

Model years

The model year (MY) is a manner of indicating the version of a car that has been produced and changed over multiple years.

Trim level

Beyond the standard equipment that is fitted to all vehicles for a model, additional features (such as the upholstery, interior equipment, safety features and exterior aerodynamic/styling upgrades) are often determined by the trim level of the vehicle. [16]

Many manufacturers also allow additional equipment to be added to a vehicle by purchasing individual options (such as alloy wheels) or 'packages' of bundled options (such as a "safety package" consisting of lane departure warning system, collision avoidance system and additional airbags).

Model code

Model codes (also known as chassis codes, codename, designation, or descriptor, among others) [17] [18] are designated to a vehicle to provide identification. [19] It provides information on its type, and to an extent its engine, transmission and body style. [20] [21] Some manufacturers include model codes on the vehicle identification plate alongside the vehicle identification number. Some manufacturers adopted development codes as model codes. [22] Model codes can be used to find the correct parts for the vehicle. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Station wagon</span> Auto body-style with its roof extended rearward

A station wagon or estate car, is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door, instead of a trunk/boot lid. The body style transforms a standard three-box design into a two-box design—to include an A, B, and C-pillar, as well as a D-pillar. Station wagons can flexibly reconfigure their interior volume via fold-down rear seats to prioritize either passenger or cargo volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatchback</span> Car body configuration with a rear door

A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to the main interior of the car as a cargo area rather than just to a separated trunk. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second-row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coupe</span> Car body style

A coupe or coupé is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and two doors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot hatch</span> Faster version of a mass-produced hatchback car

A hot hatch is a fast version of a hatchback car. The term originated in the mid-1980s; however, faster factory versions of hatchbacks have been produced since the 1970s. A front-mounted engine that uses petrol for fuel, together with front-wheel drive, is the most common powertrain layout, however all-wheel drive has become more commonly used since around 2010. Most hot hatches are of European or Asian origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebadging</span> Changing badges of the same car

In the automotive industry, rebadging is a form of market segmentation used by automobile manufacturers around the world. To allow for product differentiation without designing or engineering a new model or brand, a manufacturer creates a distinct automobile by applying a new "badge" or trademark to an existing product line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fastback</span> Type of styling to rear car bodywork

A fastback is an automotive styling feature, defined by the rear of the car having a single slope from the roof to the tail. The kammback is a type of fastback style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Capri</span> Motor vehicle

Capri is a nameplate marketed by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company on three distinct series of automobiles between 1970 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Courier</span> Motor vehicle

Ford Courier is a model nameplate used by Ford since the early 1950s. The Courier moniker has been used on a variety of vehicles all around the world since it was first used in North America for a sedan delivery. The Courier nameplate was also used by Ford for a series of compact pickup trucks and would also see use by Ford of Europe denoting a Fiesta-based panel van. Ford Brazil used the nameplate for a Fiesta-based coupe utility pickup marketed across Latin America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda3</span> Automobile manufactured by the Mazda Motor Corporation

The Mazda3 is a compact car manufactured by Mazda. It was first introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model, replacing the Familia/323/Protegé in the C-segment.

<i>Automobile</i> (magazine) American automotive magazine

Automobile was an American automobile magazine published by the Motor Trend Group. A group of former employees of Car and Driver led by David E. Davis founded Automobile in 1986 with support from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, using the credo No Boring Cars.Automobile distinguished itself as more of a lifestyle magazine than the other automotive publications, an editorial theme that Davis greatly expanded upon from his tenure as the editor of Car and Driver, though it was a sister publication to Motor Trend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body-on-frame</span> Automobile construction method using a separate body on a structural frame

Body-on-frame, also known as ladder frame construction, is a common motor vehicle construction method, whereby a separate body or coach is mounted on a strong and relatively rigid vehicle frame or chassis that carries the powertrain and to which the wheels and their suspension, brakes, and steering are mounted. While this was the original method of building automobiles, body-on-frame construction is now used mainly for pickup trucks, large SUVs, and heavy trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Pajero Sport</span> Motor vehicle

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors using the Pajero nameplate since 1996 that has spanned over three generations and based on the Triton pickup truck. Mitsubishi has formerly used the Mitsubishi Challenger name in Japan and some international markets, but since the third generation, the Pajero Sport/Montero Sport/Shogun Sport was the name used instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Pajero</span> Motor vehicle

The Mitsubishi Pajero is a full-size SUV manufactured and marketed globally by Mitsubishi over four generations — introduced in 1981 and discontinued in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LA Auto Show</span> Annual US auto show

The Los Angeles Auto Show, also known as the LA Auto Show, is an auto show held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is open to the public for ten days, filling 760,000 square feet (71,000 m2) of exhibit space. Since 2006 the event is held in November or December.

The Manila International Auto Show is a yearly show for car buyers and enthusiasts alike to look, observe and learn more at the latest models and significant concepts from the Philippines’ premiere auto makers. It is the Philippines’ biggest motor show in terms of visitor count, cars on display, and exhibitors. The show was previously known as The Manila International Motor Show,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trim level (automobile)</span>

Trim levels are used by manufacturers to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features. The equipment and features fitted to a particular vehicle also depend on any options packages or individual options that the car was ordered with.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive industry in Thailand</span> Auto industry Thailand

As of 2019, the automotive industry in Thailand is the largest in Southeast Asia and the 10th largest in the world. The Thai industry has an annual output of more than two million vehicles, more than countries such as Belgium, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Czech Republic and Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Fiesta (fourth generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The Fiesta Mark IV was launched in October 1995 and became Britain's best-selling car from 1996 to 1998, when it was overtaken by the all-new Ford Focus, a replacement for the Ford Escort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive industry in the Philippines</span> Overview of the automotive industry in the Philippines

The automotive industry in the Philippines is the 9th largest in the Asia-Pacific region, with approximately 273.4 thousand vehicles sold in 2019. Most of the vehicles sold and built in the Philippines are from foreign brands. For the most part, the Philippines is dominated by Japanese automobile manufacturers like most of its ASEAN neighbors. The automobile production in the country is covered under the Philippine Motor Vehicle Development Program implemented by the Board of Investments. In addition, there are also a small number of independent firms who assemble and fabricate jeepneys and other similar vehicles, using surplus engines and drivetrain parts mostly from Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazda2</span> Japanese subcompact car

The Mazda2 is a subcompact/supermini (B-segment) car manufactured and marketed by Mazda since 2002, currently in its third generation. An entry-level model of the brand in markets outside Japan, the Mazda2 is positioned below the Mazda3. The Mazda2 has also been marketed as the Mazda Demio, while its direct predecessor was exported as the Mazda 121.

References

  1. "2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback – Driven Review". www.topspeed.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  2. "2017 Honda Civic Hatchback First Drive: Incremental Business or Next Big Thing". www.motortrend.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  3. "2019 Kia Cerato hatch styling revealed". www.whichcar.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  4. "Mazda to Unveil Updated Mazda6 Wagon at Geneva Motor Show". www.mazda.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. "HYUNDAI i20 models and generations timeline, specs and pictures (by year) - autoevolution". www.autoevolution.com. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  6. "2017 Audi A3 Hatchback". www.topspeed.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  7. "2019 Volkswagen Jetta Preview". www.thecarconnection.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  8. "2018 BMW 4 Series Convertible Review". www.topspeed.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  9. "2018 Ford Mustang". www.caranddriver.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  10. "Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero". www.hemmings.com.
  11. "Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero SUV Redesign Delayed, PHEV Possible". www.motortrend.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  12. "2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata may be getting 181 hp". www.autoblog.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  13. "2007 Volkswagen Rabbit". www.caranddriver.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  14. "Ford Endeavour facelift spied in Thailand". www.autocarindia.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  15. "2018 Ford Endeavour/2018 Ford Everest (facelift) spied testing for the first time". www.indianautosblog.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  16. "Trim levels 101: All about trims, styles, options and packages". www.edmunds.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  17. Georg, Kacher (2023-08-30). "All the BMW E, F and G codenames explained". CAR Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  18. "Finding vehicle details (Department of Transport and Main Roads)". sc-tmrwcmgr-cd.azurewebsites.net. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  19. Banditoy. "Banditoy". www.banditoy.ch. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  20. "Toyota-Tech.eu". www.toyota-tech.eu. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  21. "What are Toyota Model Code and Production Date?". www.toyotapartsdeal.com. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  22. "European Vehicle Development & Model Codes". Santa Ana Wheel. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  23. "How to Find Model Code and Chassis Number - BE FORWARD Auto Parts". autoparts.beforward.jp. Retrieved 2023-11-24.