1) The document explains different automobile body types including sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, coupes, convertibles, limousines, station wagons, vans, and roadsters. 2) Sedans are passenger cars with two rows of seats that provide good fuel economy and handling but less storage space than other vehicle types. Hatchbacks are similar to sedans but have a rear door that opens upward to increase cargo space. 3) SUVs prioritize size, comfort, and an adventurous ride with the ability to travel on- and off-road, making them suitable for large families or frequent cargo hauling.

1. AUTOMOBILE BODY TYPES
EXPLAINED
Prepared By:
Rajnish kumar (17BME141D)
28th Feb
2021

2. CAR BODY STYLES
Sedan
HatchBack
Sports Utility vehicles(SUVs)
Coupe
Convertible
Limousine
Station Wagon
Van
Jeep
Roadster
Phaeton
Grand Touring
Coach
Bus
Double-Decker Bus
Truck
Crew cab
Trax

3. SEDAN/SALOON:
o A sedan car or saloon car is a passenger car with two rows of seats and adequate passenger space in
the rear compartment for adult passengers.
o Sedans tend to provide better fuel economy, affordability, handling, and performance. New drivers
in particular favor the sedan over other body types for their safety and handling. If you are looking
for a practical, commuter car with space for passengers, a sedan is the classic choice.
o Since they are closer to the ground and have a lower center of gravity, they tend to perform better
around corners and sharp turns than larger vehicles such as SUVs. As a result, they are much less
prone to tipping and rolling over than trucks and SUVs. With less weight and a lower center of
gravity, it’s easier to move and better for the environment.

4. o The biggest downside of a sedan is the space. The sedan’s lower position gives it a tighter grip on the road, but
also a more awkward storage space. Instead of a large storage area with foldable seats, expect a relatively small
space tucked between the wheelbase. Head and leg room can also be an issue for some car buyers. If need a little
more space, check out the hatchback and crossover options.
o Some sedans available in the market are Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus
etc.
Notchback sedans [3]
(1962 Chevrolet Impala)
Fastback sedans [3]
(1941 Plymouth fastback
sedan) Two door sedan sedans [3]
(Opel Kadett B two-door sedan)
Contd..

5. HATCHBACK:
o Hatchbacks can be described as three door or five door cars that come with a rear door that swings
upward to increase a cargo area.
o There is a separate cabin for engine in these cars, while passenger and cargo areas are together.
Precisely, these body-types do not have an extra rear-end stuffed outside, and is also said to be the
two-box in dimension.
o Generally hatchbacks have rear seats that fold flat to increase cargo space. Not only the backseat fold
up, but the seat bottom in the backseat also folds up. Along with styling and spaciousness, their
resale value is excellent.
o Hatchbacks look like sedans, but they actually have a steeply raked hatchback that affords easier
accessibility to the cargo area and greater carrying capacity than a traditional trunk would.

6. Contd..
o Hatchbacks are popularly known to be reasonable economy cars but much faster and highly-capable
hot-hatchbacks though a bit expensive but are very popular amongst enthusiasts.
o Some popular hatchbaks in india :
Maruti Swift
Tata Tiago
Maruti Alto
Hyundai i20
Tata Altroz
Volkswagen polo

7. Sports Utility vehicles :
o The SUV (Sports Utility Vehicles) is a type of passenger vehicle which possess passenger-carrying and load-
pulling abilities with the efficiency of a pick-up truck. In some countries SUVs are known as off-roader or four-
wheel drive (4WD) or 4×4.
o It is a belief that SUVs are descendants of commercial and military vehicles such as the Jeep and Land Rover. The
squarish design in many SUVs is little bit due to the Jeep.
o Early SUVs were meant to be practical and a means to carry all (passengers or cargos). SUV uses a body on frame
design. That means, the body and frame are built separately and then placed together.
o By the end of the twentieth century, SUVs began to gain popularity. SUVs, large cabins, higher ride height, and
safety attract buyers towards them.
o These vehicles have a separate engine area, although passenger and luggage area are enclosed together.

8. Contd..
o SUVs prioritize size and comfort, and can provide a more adventurous ride than minivans or station
wagons. They are designed for both on and off-road use.
o To be precise, if one has a big family, or carry large loads of cargo usually, then the ideal vehicle to go
with is an SUV.
o Some of popular SUVs in india:
Toyota Fortuner
Tata Safari
Mahindra Scorpio
Hyundai Creta
Maruti Vitara Brezza

9. Coupe :
o A coupe, or French coupé, has two doors and a low, fixed roof, giving it a sporty feel. Up until the
1960s, convertibles were sometimes called drop-head coupes. Now, however, coupes refer exclusively
to fixed head models.
o Coupes are stylish cars best for singles or couples. Coupes and convertibles attract a similar kind of
buyer—someone who values style and experience just as much as utility and performance.
o Since space isn’t the priority, car designers can focus on muscle, stylish features, and performance.
o The doors tend to be wider and the roof lower. It is shorter than a sedan and may or may not have a back
seat. If there is back seating, it might be a little tighter than you may find comfortable.

10. Contd..
o Coupe customers sacrifice space for performance and aesthetics. Without kids or the need to haul
stuff, a coupe or convertible could be a great option. Convertibles and coupes are fun, great for
relationships, and you can sun tan on your commute.
o Some popular Coupes in india :
Ford Mustang
Porsche 911
Porsche 718 cayman
BMW M2 competition
Mercedes CLS
Mercedes CLS

11. Convertible :
o A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away, converting it from an
enclosed to an open-air vehicle.Generally it’s available in high end luxury vehicles.
o Electro mechanical devices are used for step by step folding of the roof lines.
o In earlier vehicles leather material were used. In modern vehicles the metal roof lines with design of
folding part by part and eventually rest on/in trunk part of the vehicle. Operating of a button is good
enough for folding or putting back the roof linings.
o There can be Hardtop,soft-top convertible cars, Targa-top or T-top convertibles.

12. Contd..
o Convertibles are more frequently used in cold countries wherein weather temperature is quite less and
also roads have lesser dusty conditions . It’s purely a preferred choice for persons with passion of
using stylish cars and the feel of air in hair when driving vehicle.
o In India also there are quite a number of convertible cars available and till date it’s the most demanded
design for the customers looking for modification in their cars.
o Some popular Convertibles in india :
Porsche 718
Boxster
BMW Z4
Porsche 911
Audi A3
Mini Cooper convertible

13. Roadsters:
o Roadsters are a sub-category of convertibles.
o Cars having no roofs at all are called roadsters and spyder but modern-day roadster and
spyder cars also have a foldable roof and hence the terms Convertibles, Cabriolets, Roadster
and Spyder are used similarly.
o The name usually only applies to two-seater sports cars with retractable roofs so the Mazda
MX-5 and Porsche Boxster are prime examples of the breed. Naturally, only the sportiest cars
come in this format so desirability is often very high.

14. Contd..
o Most issues with roadsters stem from their two-seat layout significantly limiting their practicality
compared to saloons and even coupes. Equally, roadsters typically fail to offer the same levels of
refinement and weather-proofing offered by hard-top cars – but, if you’re buying a sports car, you’re
unlikely to care.
o Some popular roadster in india :
Mazda MX-5
Porsche Boxster
Audi R8 Spyder
Noostalgia Jaguar XK 12

15. Limousine :
o A limousine , or limo for short, is a large luxury vehicle driven by a chauffeur with a partition between the
driver's compartment and the passenger's compartment.
o Limousines are often long-wheelbase vehicles, in order to provide extra legroom in the passenger compartment.
There will usually be occasional seats (in the U.S. called jump seats) at the front of the compartment (either
forward-facing, rear-facing or able to face either direction).
o The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder.
These are referred to as "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white in color.

16. Contd..
o As the most expensive form of automobile ground transportation, limousines are culturally associated
with extreme wealth or power, and are commonly cited as an example of conspicuous consumption.
o These are cars which are used for political progressions and by famous people for their shenanigans.

17. Station WAGON/estate :
o Station wagon, also known as an estate or only wagon, is a body style which has an interior that is
extended to the back, and comes usually with an extra seat or luggage compartment. Derived from a
horse-drawn vehicle, the wagon name is used for cars that display a sharp level of utility. These
vehicles were very popular among families during the 1950s through the ‘70s.
o An easy way to determine whether the car is a wagon or not is that the roof line of a wagon continues
past the rear doors. A wagon offers everything from all-wheel drive, a roomy interior, rugged off-
road ground clearance, abundant technology, to turbo-diesel torque and efficiency. Occasionally this
term is used to refer to passenger vans.

18. Contd…
o Some of the examples for Wagon Type are Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Mahindra Quanto, Tata
Indigo Marina, Old models like Tata Estate and so on. Even Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Nissan Evalia
can be classified under wagon category. The size varies but category is similar

19. VAN :
o Van is the name given to cars with main perspective of flexibility in utilizing the interior space. It has
options of varying number of seats and hence luggage space .Best Example are the Maruti Suzuki
Omni, Eeco.
o Despite the rising preference for crossovers (CUVs) and SUVs, vans and minivans are still the classic
family car choice. Sometimes called Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs), they are taller than station
wagons and offer spacious 3 row seating for 7 or more passengers.
o While you may be tempted by a modern-looking crossover, minivans tend to have more cargo space,
more ways to configure the interior, comfortable third row seats, easy access, and plenty of storage
cubbies.

20. CONTD..
o They may not be the sleekest or sexiest cars on the road, but what they lack in looks they make up for
in functionality. The boxy shape and square doors make it easy to haul any combination of cargo and
people. If you have a large family, this is a car designed for you.
o There is difference in the vehicles (particularly Van) used purely for commercial purpose and for the
one used for passenger purpose.Example for commercial usage vehicle are Tata Ace,Tata Venture etc.

21. CROSSOVER :
o Crossovers or Cross Utility Vehicles (CUV) are generally tall wagons and SUVs that are based on a car
platform for improved ride, comfort and fuel economy.
o They come with a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.
o The first proper attempt at a crossover vehicle was made by the Willys-Overland Jeepster.
o To attain a better foothold in the market, Willys builds a passenger car with the styling and roughness of
a Jeep. Though the car wasn’t a sales success, but it did introduce the basic principle of how a crossover
should be like.

22. CONTD…
o Like SUVs, crossover provides appealing qualities such as upright seating position, spacious interiors, great cargo
capacity, high ground clearance, smooth driving, better handling, improved fuel economy. So, in general language,
crossovers look like small SUVs, but they drive like regular cars. Their features are generally derived from
passenger cars, mostly from station wagons and hatchbacks. As crossover offers useful attributes of many vehicle
types, they are becoming popular among people.
o Some popular Crossovers in india :
Maruti S-cross
Honda WR-V
Maruti Ignis
Renault Kwid
Ford Freestyle

23. Grand Tourers :
o A Grand Tourer is usually just a big, posh coupe. They’re usually noticeably bigger and more expensive than
lesser models – the Bentley Continental GT is nearly as wide as a Range Rover and more expensive, too.
o These cars’ back seats tend to be a little more useable than your average coupe’s but still can’t quite match a full
saloon. They often get very powerful engines under the bonnet to provide plenty of power for overtaking and to
feel relaxed at high speeds, but this makes a marked dent in their fuel economy. Like roadsters, though, potential
buyers are unlikely to care.

24. PHAETON :
• The term phaeton had historically described a light, open four-wheeled carriage.
• A phaeton was a form of sporty open carriage popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth
century.
• A phaeton typically featured a minimal very lightly sprung body atop four extravagantly large
wheels.
• With open seating, it was both fast and dangerous, giving rise to its name, drawn from the mythical
Phaëton, son of Helios, who nearly set the Earth on fire while attempting to drive the chariot of the
Sun.
1897 Daimler Grafton Phaeton Cadillac phaeton carrying President Johnson, 1967

25. TRAX:
• The vehicles are of simple and durable construction, suited for the severe conditions
found in the Indian countryside. Typically, a multi-purpose vehicle/Multi Utility Vehicle
has two or three rows of seats which serve for 6 to 8 passengers. This is the most
important advantage of this vehicle. Also, the upright design style allows the interior
space to feel more spacious and roomier.
• Generally, these vehicles use unibody construction and thus are lightweight. Improved
construction and reduced weight result in better handling and fuel economy. A multi-
purpose vehicle can be either front wheel drive or rear wheel drive.
FORCE MOTORSTempo Trax Judo/Gurkha FORCE TOOFAN

26. Pickup Trucks :
o Pickup trucks command the road. They are big, rugged cars designed to perform big, rugged tasks.
Sitting high, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the road.
o Pickups are a great option for people who have a lot of stuff to haul around. With an open rear cargo
area known as a “bed,” you won’t be hindered by cabin height. Truck beds are also great for tailgating,
camping, stargazing, and creative modifications (mini pool, anyone?)
o Whether you are hauling a boat to Galveston or jump-starting a home service business, you’ll be able
to do it all with the right pickup truck. Keep in mind that you’ll probably be the first one to call on
moving day.

27. CREW CABS :
• Crew cabs are the largest of the cab sizes. They seat up to five or six people with two full
rows of seating.
• Not only do they offer the most room, but they usually have four front-hinging doors.
Crew cabs are also more expensive than regular and extended cab trucks.
• Trucks with individual seats in the front and a bench in the back hold five, while pickup
trucks with four individual seats hold four. Many manufacturers offer only one seating
design, while others include seat selection as a trim option.
Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab V10 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab

28. TRUCK :
• A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo.
• Made of a chassis, a cab, an area for placing cargo or equipment, axles, suspension and roadwheels , an engine and
a drivetrain. Pneumatic, hydraulic, water, and electrical systems may also be present. Many also tow one or
more trailers or semi-trailers.
• The "cab" is an enclosed space where the driver is seated. A "sleeper" is a compartment attached to or integral with
the cab where the driver can rest while not driving, sometimes seen in semi-trailer trucks.
• Commercial trucks can be very large and powerful and may be configured to be mounted with specialized
equipment, such as in the case of refuse trucks, fire trucks, concrete mixers, and suction excavators
Freightliner M2 dump truck Liebherr T 282B mining truck

29. Contd…
Some popular pickup trucks are :
Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Tata Xenon
Mahindra Imperio
Mahindra Scorpio Getaway
Mahindra Bolero Camper

30. COACH BUSES :
o A coach is a bus used for longer-distance service, in contrast to transit buses that are typically used
within a single metropolitan region. Often used for touring, intercity and international bus service,
coaches are also used for private charter for various purposes.
o Deriving the name from horse-drawn carriages and stagecoaches that carried passengers, luggage, and
mail, modern motor coaches are almost always high-floor buses, with a separate luggage hold
mounted below the passenger compartment.

31. CONTD…
o In contrast to transit buses, motor coaches typically feature forward-facing seating, with no provision
for standing. Other accommodations may include on-board restrooms, televisions, and overhead
luggage space.
o Characteristics of coaches include:
Comfortable seats that may include a folding table, armrests, and recliner. Comfort is considered to be
an important feature in coaches.
Luggage racks above the seats where passengers can access their carry-on baggage during the journey
Baggage holds, accessed from outside the vehicle, often under the main floor or at the rear, where
passengers' luggage can be stowed away from the seating area
Passenger service units, mounted overhead, on which personal reading lights and air conditioning ducts
can be controlled and used by individual passengers with little disturbance to other passengers
On-board rest rooms fitted with chemical toilets, hand basins and hand sanitizer.
On some coaches, on-board entertainment including movies may be shown to passengers
On-board refreshment service or vending machines
Wheelchair accommodation, possibly including a wheelchair lift for access
Curtains, useful on overnight services

32. SINGLE DECKER BUS :
o A single-decker bus or single-decker is a bus that has a single deck for passengers. Normally the use of the term
single-decker refers to a standard two-axle rigid bus, in direct contrast to the use of the term double-decker bus,
which is essentially a bus with two passengers decks and a staircase. These types of single-deckers may feature
one or more doors, and varying internal combustion engine positions.
o With their origins in van chassis, minibuses are not usually considered single-deckers, although modern minibus
designs blur this distinction. Midibuses can also be regarded as both included with and separate from standard
single-deckers, in terms of full-size length and vehicle weights, although again design developments have seen this
distinction blurred. Some coach-style buses that do not have underfloor luggage space can also be correctly termed
as single-deckers, with some sharing standard bus chassis designs, such as the Volvo B10M, with a different body
style applied.

33. DOUBLE DECKER BUSES :
o A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. Early double-deckers put the driver in a
separate cab. Passenger access was via an open platform at the rear, and a bus conductor would collect
fares.
o Modern double-deckers have a main entrance door at the front, and the driver takes fares, thus halving
the number of bus workers aboard, but slowing the boarding process. The rear open platform, popular
with passengers, was abandoned for safety reasons, as there was a risk of passengers falling when
running and jumping onto the bus.

34. CONTD..
o Double-deckers are primarily for commuter transport but open-top models are used as sight-seeing
buses for tourists. William Gladstone, speaking of London's double-deck horse drawn omnibuses, once
observed that "the best way to see London is from the top of a bus". By Japanese law, vehicles are
confined to maximum 3.8 metres (12 ft 6 in) height and 12.0 metres (39 ft 4 in) length. Japanese
double-decker buses are mainly used for inter-city highway buses (i.e., motor coaches), city tours, and
charter buses.
o Double-decker buses may be more popular with passengers due to the better view, and to cyclists who
may be at risk due to the unpredictable swing of an articulated bus's tail. Articulated buses normally
offer more standing room while double-decker buses may sometimes (not always) offer more seats.
Articulated buses have less dwell time because of the extra doors, while double-decker buses offer less
chances for fare dodgers since there are fewer or no unmanned doors.

35. ADD A FOOTER
35
REFERENCES
1. https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/g26100588/car-types/
2. https://www.autosimple.com/blog/car-body-styles/
3. https://info.japanesecartrade.com/content-item/237-classification-of-cars-on-
the-basis-of-body-type
4. https://www.cartrade.com/blog/2013/auto-guides/different-car-body-
types-494.html
5. https://gomechanic.in/blog/car-body-types-explained/
6. https://www.carwow.co.uk/guides/choosing/car-body-types-guide-0631

36. Thank You!
RAJNISH KUMAR
Phone
8160938703
Email
Rajnish.kmc17@sot.pdpu.ac.in