All types of car bodies. Car body types

The car body is the most basic and at the same time the most expensive element of it. Depending on the design, all cars are divided into two types: with and with load-bearing body. In the first type, the body is a carrier system, and in the second - separate element car.

Almost all modern passenger cars have a load-bearing body.

As part of the body, a passenger car has an engine compartment, a passenger compartment and a trunk. They are attached to the structure itself or to the subframe chassis, transmission, optional equipment, electronics and machine engine. Most often, metal, aluminum acts as a material for a car body, less often - special types polymer materials.

In the case of a car frame structure, the frame acts as the main load-bearing element. All the main elements are installed on the frame: the car body, chassis and engine. Modern passenger cars mobiles the body is always the load-bearing element, and in the case of trucks, buses and SUVs, the main load-bearing element is the frame.

Body classification

Currently, there is a generally accepted classification of the bodies of all cars according to their characteristics:

• loading;
• The main purpose;
• design;
• layout.

According to the degree of loading, there are three types of bodies:

• bearing - can take the entire load on itself;
• semi-bearing - in this case most of the load is perceived by the frame;
• unloaded - takes on the load from the weight of passengers and the cargo being transported.

Typology of bodies by purpose and layout

The layout divides the body into the following types:

• single-volume - cargo, passengers and motor are in the same volume;
• two-volume - the engine is in the engine compartment, passengers with cargo are placed in the cabin;
• three-volume - the engine is located in the engine compartment, the cargo is in the trunk, and the passengers are in the cabin.

Let's now take a closer look at the classification of three-volume bodies by layout. The main feature of the three-volume body is the sequential arrangement of the engine compartment, trunk and interior. This category, in turn, is divided into sedan, coupe, crossover, convertible and other body types.

Sedan

In the line of models of each automaker cars there are sedans. These types of bodies, having a classic layout, are still the most popular among buyers. And this despite the fact that they are not the most functional. Such cars have four doors, a hard top and two rows of seats. The trunk and engine compartment are separated from the main cabin. A sedan, like an SUV or crossover, can have all-wheel drive.

coupe

Graceful forms and often sporty appearance make these cars very attractive. But cramped cabin, which can be equipped with only one row of seats, and two doors instead of four make them very impractical. As a rule, this body type is equipped with powerful motors and has a low suspension.

Cabriolet

The convertible is very similar to the coupe in all respects. Most often, this type of body has a soft roof. A convertible can have either two rows of seats or four, but there are always two doors. As in a coupe, it is more convenient to ride in a convertible together - passengers in the back row will be uncomfortable.

Roadster

A very rare type of car in our area. The roadster has a soft top and one row of seats. As a rule, they have a low rigid suspension, powerful engines and a cramped interior. This type of car can be had as a hobby or a second (third) car, but not as a main passenger car.

Limousine

The limousine has a very long base, is equipped with at least two rows of seats and is distinguished increased level comfort. The driver of the limousine is separated from the passengers by a partition. This type of body can be made on the basis of both a conventional sedan and an SUV. A limousine is used either by very wealthy people, or they are rented for some kind of celebration. A limousine is usually driven by a professional driver.

Pickup

A pickup truck is similar in shape to an SUV, only instead of a trunk it has an open cargo body separated from the cabin by a rigid partition. Excellent cross together with the ability to transport bulky goods make them truly universal cars. Such machines are in great demand among the inhabitants of rural areas.

Two-volume

In a car with a two-volume body, the interior is in the same volume as the trunk. The trunk is most often very large and is made in the form of a door with glass. The most common two-volume cars are the liftback, station wagon, SUV, hatchback and crossover.

station wagon

Station wagon - the most versatile and sold type of car in Europe. The wagon usually has five doors. By transforming the cabin, the already considerable volume of the trunk can be increased. All you need to do is fold down the rear seats. Most station wagons are made in the USA. The main advantage of these cars is a large trunk. Like the crossover, the station wagon can have all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance. Such machines are sometimes called station wagons. off-road.

hatchback

Today, this type of car is becoming more and more popular. This type of body combines the large trunk volume of a station wagon and attractive appearance. hatchback usually more compact than a sedan and station wagon, but at the same time its trunk volume is comparable to the latter. The back door of such a machine has a slight slope. Like the station wagon, the hatchback can fold the rear row of seats in order to get a flat floor along with a seriously increased trunk volume. A hatchback is a great option for a car for every day, it has a compact size and at the same time is functional; can transport loads and look attractive.

liftback

- a cross between a hatchback and a sedan. Usually a liftback is the size of a sedan, but its trunk lid, along with the glass, rises like a hatchback. This feature makes the car much more functional than a sedan.

SUV

In my own way appearance SUV looks like a station wagon or crossover big size. His main feature- this is the presence of all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance. The main purpose off-road vehicles- driving along bad roads and directions. The SUV usually has a frame, while the crossover most often does not have a frame.

crossover

A crossover differs from an SUV in its smaller size and greater versatility. The crossover is a compromise between high level cross-country ability and comfort when driving on ordinary roads. Today, urban residents are increasingly buying to feel more confident on bad roads.

One-volume

One-volume car body type is not very common. The main representative of a one-volume body is a minivan. Compact vans and microvans are even less common.

Minivan

This type of car is designed to transport people. Very often they have three rows of seats and a side sliding door. This type of machine is characterized by large dimensions. Also, these body types are very popular with large families.

Compact vans and microvans

These types of cars are different from minivans compact size and more presentable. Like a crossover, a microvan and compact van can have all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance.

The classification of passenger cars by body type is based on overall dimensions and cannot claim to be unique. Despite the clear principles, confusion in the names exists.

The most obvious criterion for the classification of body types is the spatial composition, a combination of three volumes: the passenger compartment, engine and luggage compartment. The presence of a roof and a central pillar, the number of seats and doors are also important.

Types of body structures

Closed bodies are called bodies with a fixed roof. There are nine main types in this group.

	- three-volume passenger body with two or three rows of seats, two, four or six side doors.
	- two-volume or three-volume passenger body with two side doors and two rows of seats. The back row may have cramped seating dimensions.
	- a two-volume or three-volume passenger body without a central side pillar, with two (hardtop coupe) or four (hardtop sedan) side doors and two rows of seats.
	- a two-volume passenger body with a roof smoothly descending back. The trunk lid starts from the lower edge of the rear window. Bodies of this type were common in the thirties of the last century. Currently, they are practically not used.
	COMBI(hatchback) - a two-volume cargo-passenger body with a roof smoothly descending back and a large back door. The rear row of seats and the shelf behind them, as a rule, can be folded, increasing the usable volume of the cargo compartment. A liftback can be seen as a kind of hatchback, which differs in the shape of the rear end, made like a sedan, only much shorter.
	- a two-volume cargo-passenger body with a door in the rear wall of the body, having a permanent cargo space not separated from the passenger compartment by a stationary partition.
	- a three-volume passenger body with four to six side doors, having a partition behind the front row of seats. With a three-row interior layout, the second row of seats is either foldable or turned back in the direction of travel.
	- two-volume cargo-passenger body with one or two rows of seats. Side doors - two or three. One of them is for access cargo compartment separated from the driver's seat by a stationary partition. In the back of the body is another door. The part of the body reserved for the cargo space may be higher than the cab.
	SINGLE-VOLUME(wagon) - a one-volume cargo-passenger body. As a rule, the center of the steering wheel is in front of the front axle of the car.
	- a passenger body without a roof with one row of seats and two side doors. In some designs, side doors may be absent. Windshield it is performed with a minimum height, folding or may not be installed at all.
	ROADSTER(spider) - a passenger double body with a folding cab top. There are options with two rows of seats (2 + 2) and a removable hard top.

Passenger cars without a roof, with a folding top or a removable hard top are called open. This group includes four types of bodies.

	- a passenger body with a folding top and lowering side windows. Modifications are possible: cabriolet limousine - with a partition behind the first row of seats, cabriolet - with a retractable pillar between the side windows.
	- passenger body with folding top and removable side windows.
	- a passenger body with a folding or removable part of the roof over the front row of seats. Has four or six side doors.

Cars with a partially folding or partially removable top are called combined. These include four body types.

	- a passenger body with a folding or removable part of the roof over the rear row of seats. A smaller version with a back seat for two is called a landaulet.
	- a coupe-type passenger body with a folding or removable part of the roof over the first row of seats.
	PICKUP - a cargo-passenger body with a closed cabin for the driver and passengers and open platform for cargo. The cabin can be single or double row. cargo platform has a folding tailgate, soft or hard top.

The above classification by body type is understandable and quite simple, but cannot be considered universal, if only because in other countries these types of bodies may have their own names.

Car enthusiasts often speak in a language incomprehensible to an amateur. They have their own "troubles" and, as a rule, incomprehensible slang for many. And to be as if in another world among people, "excitedly" discussing the next automotive history or collectively problem solving someone's breakdown iron horse, cozy far away few.

Naturally, not everyone gets into the company of ardent car fans and not at every turn. But there are moments when people get lost in the seemingly very basics of automotive theory. We will conduct an educational program on one of these points.

So, you must have heard a lot about the fact that there are sedan, hatchback, station wagon, cabriolet cars ... maybe you can name a couple more, but not everyone is able to describe them all with confidence and accuracy. And even if I'm wrong here, then I'm still almost sure that you won't be able to name 10 car body types. By the way, this is not at all surprising, because in life many of them we may not even meet. But it's still worth knowing that they exist.

Therefore, let's look at what types of car bodies exist today.

So, the classification of cars by body type.

1. Sedan.

One of the most popular types of closed body with two rows of seats. The trunk in such a car is structurally separated from the passenger compartment and does not have an opening door in the rear wall. The sedan can be found with both four doors and two (Volga; Zhiguli 1,3,5,7th models; Zaporozhets; Volkswagen Polo, Jetta; Peugeot 406, 607, BMW 3, 5, 7 series; Audi 80, A4, A6; Opel Vectra, etc.).

2. Station wagon.

If the body cover of the sedan is extended to its rear bumper, while making the hatch in its rear part openable, then the sedan will just turn out to be a station wagon, which is most often chosen by those who need large trunk or a place for the transportation of certain goods.

The station wagon most often has 2 rows of seats (VAZ-2102,2104), but sometimes you can also find 3 (Volga GAZ-24). At the same time, a car with this type of body (Volkswagen Passat, Golf; Opel Astra, Vectra; Citroen Khantia, Fort Escort; Peugeot 307, etc.) will be 10 percent more expensive than its sedan counterpart.

3. Van.

Outwardly, this body may resemble a station wagon, but at the same time it will lack side doors and windows (“Moskvich” -412 “heeled”; Volkswagen Transporter, Grafter, Cady; Peugeot Boxer; Ford Transit Custom, etc.).

4. Hatchback.

A car with this body will be able to cope with the tasks of a station wagon for transporting luggage, but at the same time it will remain smaller and more attractive.

The hatchback (Toyota Yaris; Opel Astra; Peugeot 206; Kia Kid, etc.) has an open rear hatch and a short rear overhang. It can be both three-door (VAZ-2108) and five-door (VAZ-2109). In this case, the rear hatch is taken into account as a door.

5. Coupe.

Coupe - closed body a car with 2 doors and two rows of seats (Honda Civic, Ford Mustang, Audi A5, Fiat Coupe, etc.). At the same time, the front row has a normal appearance, and the rear row, due to the falling roof, is decently narrow and, in practice, uncomfortable for an adult. For this, the coupe is often referred to as "2 + 2", i.e. two adults and two children.

I note that in such a car it is very convenient to just go to work, but without fellow travelers. And for a family, of course, it will be more comfortable to buy a car with a sedan or station wagon body type.

6. Phaeton.

Body type with two rows of seats, as well as a soft folding top in the absence of side windows. For travel to bad weather instead of the latter, celluloid sidewalls are fastened to the car.

With us, most likely, you will not be able to meet a similar car, but in the West at one time cars of this kind were very popular.

7. Roadster.

This type of car body is distinguished by one row of seats and a soft opening top. You can meet him (for example, Smart Roadster) only in a country with a hot climate.

8. Convertible.

It has an open view: the soft roof of the car easily folds back, while the windows and door frames remain motionless. Unlike the phaeton, this type of body has a supporting structure due to rigid door frames.

Examples of convertibles: Pobeda, Opel Cascada, Audi A3, BMW 2 and 4 series, Ford Mustang, etc.

9. Limousine.

This type of body, as a rule, have cars of the highest class. It is characterized by:

• a rigid partition between the driver and passengers,
• at least two rows of seats;
• and long design.

Examples: "Seagull" ZIS-110, Mercedes-Benz W100, etc.

10. Pickup.

A body having a cropped rear end designed to carry passengers and cargo. This is something similar either to a small truck, or to a large passenger car.

Examples: Nissan Navara, Titan, Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, etc.

11. Minivan.

Can be described as a "universal with increased capacity", which includes a maximum payload("Austin-mini", Volkswagen Multivan, Sharan, Caddy, Opel Meriva, Zafira, etc.).

The minivan has 3 rows of seats with a more upright position (than the same station wagon).

12. Crossover.

Body type, which includes in its characteristics a high seating position, high ground clearance and a high ceiling. Such cars (Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, BMW X5, Toyota Rav 4, etc.) usually have all-wheel drive, but they are not designed for difficult terrain. For this, the people call him "SUV".

13. Liftback.

The body type, which has a rear overhang, is about the same as a car with a sedan body type, but its rear hatch rises like a hatchback.

Examples: Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Yaris, Citroen C5, Fiat Stilo, Opel Astra, etc.

14. Fastback.

This is the so-called "mixture" of body types. The fastback has a sloping roof, a rear hatch similar to a hatchback, but without a door in the rear wall and with a fixed rear window.

Examples: Fort Mustang Fastback, Honda Civic Fastback, etc.

Passenger cars are represented by a wide range of model range, differing in price, purpose, comfort class and other parameters. The characteristics of the car and the requirements for it leave a serious imprint on the types of car bodies. The body of the machine determines its appearance and acts as the main supporting structure, therefore, depending on the requirements, the appearance of the part also changes.

In some model lines the main supporting structure is the chassis and frame.

The body is the main part that determines:

• appearance;
• volume (for both passengers and cargo);
• number of passengers;
• aerodynamic performance.

The detail largely determines the further layout, and as a result, the behavior of the car on the road. Therefore, the most common classification of passenger cars by body type.

There are 3 main types of car bodies:

1. single volume.
2. two-volume.
3. three-volume.

The number of volumes of the part - separate blocks.

Three-volume

They are characterized by a distinct engine compartment And luggage compartment. The advantage is easy access to parts, which made the design classic. However, it offers little room for change. Popular types of three-volume models are as follows:

• convertible, roadster, brogue and targa.

Sedan

Distinctive features of the body structure of a sedan car are a clearly protruding luggage and engine compartment, 4 doors and 2 rows of seats. The height of the roof of the entire cabin is the same. There is no liftgate on the back of the car. This arrangement is convenient for the transport of passengers, which made it popular. Many manufacturers divide the sedan into subclasses. One of these is the class of elongated machine (marking L). Typically, elongated parts are found in business class sedans. These include town cars - sedans with an increased roof height.

There are also two-door sedans. Distinctive feature cars - the presence of two rows of seats, for example - "Zaporozhets".

coupe

Feature - two elongated doors. Usually the car body is equipped with two seats, but in some cases rear end equipped with two additional passenger seats. Unlike a two-door sedan, these seats are uncomfortable and not designed for long trips. The shape of the roof of the coupe is always sloping, with a slope back, which improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the car.

Cars of this type are sports class, so they are represented mainly by high price category. They come with an engine high power, reinforced suspension and low ground clearance for improved driving performance. These machines are very elegant, which also adds prestige to them.

Open top car

Such cars are especially popular in countries with a hot climate. A car without a roof is an original and prestigious solution. These classes also include models with a folding roof. These types of devices include:

• landau;
• phaeton;
• roadster;
• brougham.

The cabriolet body is a classic type of car without a roof or with a folding device. It is designed on the basis of the "Coupe", less often - the "Sedan", has a frame structure of this type. Most often, this class of cars is equipped with a soft folding roof.

Phaeton body class - a car with a folding soft roof. The difference from a convertible is the complete absence of a frame structure above the cabin. Due to this, the windows of the side doors in such machines are removable. Phaetons are the most open cars. Classic phaetons - government cars without a roof with three rows of seats, intended primarily for parades. Currently, types on an extended wheelbase without a roof are not available.

The word "phaeton" in the automotive industry also focuses on the luxury of the car and the increased space inside the car. Thus, the Volkswagen Phaeton, launched in 2002, is a classic sedan in terms of body type.

The body of the roadster is open, on a shortened base with two doors. Such cars are also distinguished by collapsible side windows or their complete absence, a soft roof. A roadster without a roof is called a spider. Historically roadsters other than the main ones comfortable seats, were completed with an additional folding, popularly called "Teschin's place". Modern roadsters are often represented by sports cars, among which is the Lada Revolution.

A kind of roadster, equipped with a rigid arc behind the seats, is called a targa. Cars also have removable side windows and no side windows. frame structures, but more often they are equipped with a rigid removable or collapsible roof.

Pickup

Pickup trucks are three-volume. The main features of the models are open trunk. They are designed not only for driving, but also for transporting a large amount of cargo.

Pickup trucks were originally distributed in North America among farmers and ordinary people, later spread throughout Europe and around the world. A modern pickup truck is a comfortable car based on an SUV. There are both two-door and four-door cars with a comfortable cabin.

The pickup features are:

• high power;
• high permeability;
• large engine size;
• spacious, comfortable cabin.

Limousine

This type of machine is designed for executive class and is distinguished by an increased level of comfort, the body type is based on the concept of a sedan. The design of the limousine is a passenger car on an extended base with a mandatory partition between the driver and passengers. It is completed with 2 or even 3 rows of seats, 4 doors. It is the rigid partition that distinguishes this class from the elongated sedan.

Classic limousines were created on the basis of a sedan, however, now there are also cars based on SUVs. Limousines are quite rare, which is why they are even more spectacular.

Two-volume

Bodies of this type are distinguished by a separate separate engine and passenger compartment. The cargo part of the car is merged into one space with the passenger. This allows you to increase the cargo area or interior without increasing the length of the wheelbase. Finding the passenger and cargo parts of the car in the same space gives auto designers more room to maneuver. Popular types of two-volume models include:

• hatchback;
• crossover;

station wagon

The station wagon body is a cargo-passenger type car. This type of car got its name due to its multi-purpose use. Combi cars have 3 or 5 doors, 2 rows of seats with a large volume. In most models, the rear seats fold down, increasing the trunk to a huge size. At the beginning of the new century, station wagons are market leaders, overtaking sedans in sales.

One of the station wagon subtypes are shooting break bodies. These are two-door premium cars with a straight roof, developed on the basis of sports cars.

hatchback

The hatchback body style resembles a station wagon, but differs by a sloping roof. These cars are often referred to as fastbacks. Hatchbacks are often made as light vehicles with large trunk. They are great for urban conditions, they do an excellent job of transporting passengers and goods. Available as 3 or 5 door cars. Examples domestic hatchbacks are VAZ-2108 and VAZ-2109.

liftback

The liftback body is a middle option between a hatchback and a sedan. In appearance, the body resembles a sedan or coupe, but is structurally more similar to a hatchback. The trunk of such a car is opened with a hatch, leans back with the rear window. between trunk and rear seats soft barriers are installed. If necessary, they are removed, after which the machine is ready for transportation of oversized cargo.

SUV

Auto this class similar to generalists, but have big size and high ground clearance. Distinctive feature a powerful frame protrudes, making the case more durable. These cars are designed for off-road driving, so they have high traffic. Almost all of them have powerful engine And all-wheel drive, sometimes with a differential lock. Popularly, SUVs, and sometimes other cars similar in external characteristics are called jeeps.

The creators of off-road vehicles came to the conclusion that reducing the weight of the car can increase its driving performance. So there was an SUV without a body - a buggy.

crossover

This type of body is quite similar to an SUV, but much lighter. Cars of this class are a hybrid between a station wagon and an SUV: a variant of a city car adapted for off-road driving. It also has high ground clearance, but does not have frames and locks. More different from SUV high class comfort, while the permeability is an order of magnitude lower.

A variety of crossovers is the SUV class. This is an enlarged station wagon with a high seating position, characterized by high ground clearance and ground clearance. Such types have a simplified all-wheel drive. SUV (like most crossovers) is a hybrid of station wagon and SUV.

Van

This body is fully adapted for the carriage of goods. Vans are a transitional option between cars and trucks. Equipped with an extensive high cargo compartment with a large tailgate, no windows. In some cases they are executed as deep modernization car body devices ("Moskvich" -412 "pie"), but more often as a separate structure. Part of modern vans - monocab cars. Some of them have a specific purpose, for example, contain special devices, medical equipment or refrigerator.

One-volume

bodywork of this type have no protruding parts and represent an all-metal construction. Motor and luggage compartments merged with the interior of the car into one block. Most buses belong to this class. Among passenger cars, they are represented by the youngest classes:

• compact van.

Minivan

The body of the minivan is a one-volume structure with a length of at least 4.5 meters. This car combines the comfort of a station wagon with the capacity of a van. Large volume allows you to place the third row of seats and makes them ideal family cars. In terms of body type, a minivan resembles a minibus, with the difference that it can accommodate no more than 8 seats.

compact van

A compact van is a smaller version of a minivan. Often accommodates 3 rows of seats. At the same time, it differs in a smaller interior and trunk volume, but wins in maneuverability.

Microvan

This variety is often referred to as a hatchback. For the most part, the characteristics of the cars are similar to single-volume cars in this class. A distinctive feature is the high height of the passenger part, which provides comfort to those in the cabin, which is especially pleasant on long trips.

Trucks

body type truck byvyet two-volume (KAMAZ) or three-volume (KRAZ). However, this is not a defining feature. The main gradation of bodies is the type of cargo department. They are divided into:

• airborne;
• dump trucks;
• scows;
• tented;
• tanks;
• platforms;
• bodies for special purposes.

The boundaries between classes of cars are gradually blurred. There are more and more models of cars on the market that combine the characteristics of certain classes. This makes it possible to create universal cars meeting the needs of drivers and passengers.