Classification of passenger cars by body type

Classification of passenger cars by body type

There are several classifications of passenger cars: by overall dimensions, engine capacity, and interior size. In our article we will look at the classification of passenger cars based on body type.

Despite the apparent simplicity of this classification, throughout the history of the automotive industry there has been confusion in terms and concepts.

In our opinion, the most obvious criterion by which cars should be positioned is spatial arrangement, the combination of three main car volumes: passenger compartment, luggage compartment and engine compartment.

Important parameters are also the number of doors, passenger seats, the presence of a central pillar and a roof.

So, in accordance with the design, bodies can be divided into 3 types: closed, open, combined.

Types of closed bodies

Closed bodies are bodies with a stationary roof. This group has 9 main types.

Sedan - a three-volume passenger body has seats in two or three rows, equipped with two, four or six side doors.

Coupe - the body can be two- or three-volume, has two side doors and seats in two rows, and the rear row can have both full and reduced seating dimensions.

Hardtop is a two- or three-volume passenger body that does not have a side B-pillar, equipped with two or four side doors (hardtop coupe or hardtop sedan), equipped with seats in two rows.

Fastback is a two-volume passenger body with a roof that slopes smoothly back. The trunk lid starts from the bottom line of the rear window. This type of body became most widespread in the thirties of the last century, and is practically not used today.

Combi (hatchback) is a cargo-passenger body with two volumes. The roof slopes smoothly back and has a large tailgate. The rear row seats and the shelf behind them, as a rule, easily fold, making it possible to increase the volume of the cargo compartment. A liftback is a type of hatchback, differing in the shape of the body in the rear. In this type, it has the same shape as a sedan, but is noticeably shorter.

A station wagon is a two-volume body for cargo and passenger transportation, which has a door in the rear wall and is equipped with a permanent cargo compartment, not separated by a partition from the passenger compartment.

Limousine - this three-volume body has four or six side doors and is equipped with a partition separating the front seats. If the layout of the passenger seats is three-row, the second row of seats is foldable or the seats are placed with their backs in the direction of travel.

A van is a two-volume cargo-passenger version with one or two rows of seats. There can be two or three side doors, one of which is designed to provide access to the cargo compartment. The cargo compartment has a stationary partition separating it from the driver's seat. The rear of the body is equipped with another door. The part of the body allocated for the cargo compartment can have a height greater than the height of the cabin.

A carriage is a cargo-passenger body with one volume. The center of the steering wheel in this type of body is usually located in front of the front axle of the car.

Open bodies

Passenger cars that do not have a roof or have a removable hard roof or folding top are called open cars. This group of bodies includes 4 types.

Barchetta is a passenger body with two side doors and one row of seats. In some models, side doors may be completely absent, and the windshield is either not installed or is of minimal height.

Roadster (spider) is a two-seater passenger body with a removable hard or folding top. There are also four-seater options (2 + 2).

A convertible is a passenger body with a folding top and roll-down side windows. Possible options: cabriolet limousine, equipped with a partition behind the front seats; fo-convertible, having a retractable pillar between the side windows.

Phaeton is a passenger body version with a folding top and removable side windows.

Combined bodies

If a car has a partially removable or partially folding top, it is called a combination vehicle. There are four types of combined bodies.

Brogam is a body for passengers, equipped with a folding or removable roof compartment above the first row of seats. Equipped with four or six side doors.

Lando - this passenger body has a folding or removable roof compartment above the rear seats. The option with smaller rear seats is called “landaulet” or “landaulet”.

Targa is a body similar in design to a coupe body, having a removable or folding roof compartment above the front row of seats.

A pickup truck is a cargo-passenger body that has an open platform for cargo with a hinged tailgate and a closed cabin for the driver and passengers.

This classification of passenger cars by body type is similar to the classification that was recommended by industry standards (OST) for basic definitions and terms relating to bodies, adopted in January 1985 and approved by order of the design department of the Ministry of Automotive Industry. The classification is simple and understandable, but does not claim to be universal, since in different countries the listed body types may have different names.

Source: http://www.vozhdenie-nn.ru/library/ustrojstvo-i-ekspluataciya/klassifikaciya-legkovyh-avtomobilej-po-tipu-kuzova

Car body: types, types of bodies, what models there are

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

The body of a passenger car includes an engine compartment, a passenger compartment and a trunk. The chassis, transmission, additional equipment, electronics and engine of the vehicle are attached to the structure itself or to the subframe. Most often, the material used for the car body is metal, aluminum, and less often – special types of polymer materials.

In the case of a frame car 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. In modern passenger cars, 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:

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

Typology of bodies by purpose and layout

• Bodies for transporting goods (trucks);
• for transporting people (buses, minivans);
• for transporting a small number of people and goods (passenger cars);
• bodies for special equipment.

The layout divides the body into the following types:

• single-volume - cargo, passengers and engine are in one volume;
• two-volume - the engine is located 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 consistent arrangement of the engine compartment, trunk and interior. This category, in turn, is divided into sedan, coupe, crossover, convertible and other body types.

Sedan

Every passenger car manufacturer has sedans in its model lineup. These types of bodies, having a classic layout, still remain the most popular among buyers.

And this despite the fact that they are not the most functional. Such cars have four doors, a hard roof 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

Sleek shapes and often sporty appearance make these cars very attractive. But the cramped interior, which can only be equipped with one row of seats, and two doors instead of four make them very impractical. As a rule, this body type is equipped with powerful engines 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 for two people to travel in a convertible – passengers in the back row will feel uncomfortable.

Roadster

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

Limousine

The limousine has a very long wheelbase, is equipped with at least two rows of seats and has an increased level of 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 regular sedan and an SUV. Limousines are used either by very wealthy people, or they are rented for a special occasion.

The limousine is usually driven by a professional driver.

Pickup

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

Double 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 shaped like a door with glass. The most common two-volume cars are liftback, station wagon, SUV, hatchback and crossover.

Station wagon

Station wagon is the most versatile and best-selling type of car in Europe. A station wagon most often has five doors. By transforming the interior, the already considerable trunk volume can be increased. To do this, just fold down the rear seats.

  Most cars with a station wagon layout are produced in the USA. The main advantage of these cars is the large trunk. Like a crossover, a station wagon can have all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance. Such vehicles are sometimes called all-terrain station wagons.

Hatchback

Today this type of car is becoming increasingly popular. This body type combines a large trunk volume of a station wagon and an attractive appearance. A hatchback is usually more compact than a sedan and station wagon, but its trunk volume is comparable to the latter.

The rear door of such a car has a slight slope. Like the station wagon, the hatchback can have the rear row of seats folded down to create a flat floor along with a significantly increased trunk volume.

A hatchback is an excellent option for a car for every day; it is compact in size and at the same time functional; can transport cargo and look attractive.

Liftback

A liftback is a cross between a hatchback and a sedan. Typically, a liftback is the same size as 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 appearance, the SUV is similar to a station wagon or large crossover. Its main feature is the presence of all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance. The main purpose of off-road vehicles is to drive on bad roads and directions. An SUV usually has a frame, while a crossover most often does not have a frame.

Crossover

A crossover differs from an SUV in its smaller size and greater versatility. The crossover represents a compromise between a high level of cross-country ability and comfort when driving on regular roads. Today, city dwellers are increasingly buying crossovers to feel more confident on bad roads.

Single-volume

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

Minivan

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

Compact vans and microvans

These types of passenger cars differ from minivans in their compact size and more presentable appearance. Like a crossover, a microvan and compact van can have all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance.

Source: http://AutoLirika.ru/teoriya/kuzov-avtomobilya.html

Classification of passenger car bodies

Passenger cars include cars carrying up to 8 passengers and weighing less than 3.5 tons. Passenger cars received another interesting division depending on the working volume of the engine cylinders. The unit of measurement is cubic centimeter or liter. From the name “liter” came the popular names – small car, minicar.

The main purpose of a light car is to be a means of transportation for a wide range of people to transport passengers and small loads. This type of car is widespread. Large passenger cars include limousines or jeeps; in Soviet times, these were government-issued Chaikas and ZILs.

In this article we will talk about what classes passenger car bodies are divided into.

Minivan or UPV (high-capacity station wagon)

Single-volume cargo-passenger body class with two, three or four side doors, two or three rows of seats.

The rear part of the cabin, as a rule, is similar to a station wagon body, but has a greater number of transformations of seats and equipment. The minivan evolved from a van converted to carry passengers.

The minivan's capacity is up to 7 people, which does not require an additional D class driver's license. The luggage compartment is small but roomy.

There are several body classifications that can be considered as minivan subtypes:

— compact van; — microvan, or single-volume van;

— multivan — a minivan designed to transport not only passengers, but also various cargoes.

Cabriolet

A type of open three-volume passenger body with a retractable top and roll-down side windows. Modern convertibles have vinyl or canvas tops and typically have only two doors. Less commonly, the roof is made of metal.

Subtypes of convertibles:

Phaeton - a passenger body with a soft folding awning and with removable side windows Targa - a passenger body with a folding or removable part of the roof above the first row of seats.

Variations are possible in the roof design. For example, the so-called “T-shaped” roof - with a central, longitudinal beam dividing the removable part into two halves.

A hardtop convertible is a passenger body with a removable hardtop.

Coupe

A closed three-volume or two-volume passenger body with two or (less often) three doors (the third is located at the rear and combined with the trunk) and two rows of seats. The second row of seats may have limited seating dimensions.

Despite the fact that initially a “coupe” is a body type designed for two passengers, there are often cars with a 2+2 seating arrangement (in this case, the rear seats are intended exclusively for children) and even full-fledged four-seater designs.

Such body models are often used in sports cars. They are distinguished by high comfort for the driver and front passenger. However, having only two entry doors makes getting into the back seat difficult, if there is one at all.

The trunk of these models, as a rule, is slightly larger compared to a sedan, but not significantly.

Sometimes this body type is divided into subtypes:

— Sports coupe
— Executive coupe

Roadster

Passenger body with a folding top, two side doors and one or two rows of seats. The second row of seats has cramped seating dimensions (2+1 or 2+2 layout).

In some cases, these bodies can be equipped with a removable hard top. The roadster body is absolutely similar to the convertible body. However, there is one important difference: the Roadster is designed for a maximum of two passengers.

Naturally, a “roadster” is often much more compact than a “convertible”.

Landau

The passenger body of a passenger car with an opening part of the roof above the rear rows of seats.

Limousine

Closed three-volume passenger body of the highest class with four or six side doors, two or three rows of seats and a glass partition separating the passenger compartment from the driver's seat. With a three-row interior layout, the second row of seats is either folding or located with its back to the direction of travel.

Pickup

A cargo-passenger body with a closed cabin for the driver and passengers and an open side platform for cargo. The cabin can be equipped with two, three or four side doors and have one or two rows of seats in a 2+1, 2+2 or 2+3 configuration.

The cargo bed has a folding tailgate, soft or hard top. It is also possible to install passenger seats. is a modification of a passenger car or SUV (all-terrain vehicle) with a gross weight of up to 4.54 tons and a load capacity of up to 2.5 tons. If the body is equipped with a hard top, it turns into a van.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXxFLJ2PksA

Cars with this body class can be designed to transport both passengers and cargo in a specially designated compartment.

Currently, there are conditionally two main design schools of “pickup construction”: the European-Australian one, which involves the creation of a pickup truck based on a conventional passenger model with a monocoque body, and the American-Asian one, in which the pickup truck is based on a durable frame chassis, often unified with all-wheel drive SUVs (SUVs). .

Accordingly, in the first case, the pickup cab is simply the front part of the passenger car interior, and the base of the floor of the single-sided platform is reinforced with additional elements or mounted on a semi-frame welded to the cabin side members, or in the second case, the front part of the body of an SUV (SUV) is used.

Sedan

A three-volume body with two or three rows of seats, two or four doors and a trunk structurally separated from the passenger compartment. This body model is typical for most passenger cars. The volume of the trunk and interior differs. Convenient for transporting passengers, but practically not intended for transporting cargo.

The rear window on a sedan is always rigidly fixed in the frame and does not rise, although the back of the rear seat can either be equipped with a hatch or recline to transport long items. In North America, this body style is often called a notchback.

A sedan without B-pillars, and sometimes with door glass without outer frames, is called a hardtop sedan.

A sedan with two doors is called a Tudor.

This body type is the most common among passenger car bodies.

Station wagon

A two-volume body with three or five doors with one or two rows of seats, having a permanent cargo space not separated from the passenger compartment by a stationary partition (the rear row of seats is folding). Passengers in the third row of seats can also sit either with their backs to the direction of travel, or in separate seats along the sides of the body.

Fastback

A two-volume passenger body with two or four side doors and a two-row seat arrangement. The roof slopes smoothly back, and in the trunk, isolated from the passenger compartment, there is a hatch opening from the lower edge of the rear window to the floor level (like most three-volume bodies).

Van

The body of a passenger car looks like a station wagon, but it lacks windows and side doors (for example, one of the “heel-heeled” modifications of the Moskvich-412).

Hatchback

A two-volume cargo-passenger body with two or four side doors and one cargo door in the rear of the body (the total number of doors is three or five). Two rows of seats. The second row and the shelf behind it can be folded or removed altogether, dramatically increasing the useful volume of the cargo space.

The trunk is typically smaller than sedans, but folding rear seats and a roof-to-bumper tailgate allow the hatchback to load and carry fairly bulky items. The roof slopes smoothly back, and there is a large luggage hatch in the rear wall.

It differs from a station wagon in its smaller trunk volume, and from a minivan in its lower height.

Source: https://v-mireauto.ru/klassifikaciya-kuzovov-legkovyx-avtomobilej/

Types of passenger car bodies

Cars can have many options and types of bodies. The classification is not always unambiguous; different specialists and car manufacturers may interpret the names below in different ways.

Classification of cars by body type: closed, open and number of volumes.

Closed bodies:

Sedan: the leader in prevalence in the world of automobile bodies, this body can be with two or four doors, sometimes a sedan can have five doors (including the trunk).

The sedan body is equipped with two rows of full-size seats, without a rear door.

Sedans have a subtype, the two-door sedan (Tudor), which differs from the coupe body in the presence of two rows of full rows of seats and a standard four-door sedan base.

Hardtop: a design option for many types of bodies, for example, sedan, coupe, station wagon. The main distinguishing feature is the absence of a central pillar and glass frames.

Station wagon: a cargo-passenger two-volume body, with five doors or less often with a three-door design, the body is made on the basis of a sedan with an additional door in the rear, the rear overhang is longer than that of a sedan or the same.

Hatchback: this two-volume cargo-passenger body is a relative of the station wagon, with three or five doors. The characteristic difference is the shorter length of the rear overhang, resulting in lower load capacity.

Coupe: a three-volume two-door body, with a clearly defined sporty silhouette, with one row of seats, or with rear seats, but less spacious. There are luxury versions of this body, in which the level of comfort is increased for both rear and front passengers.

Limousine: a closed-type passenger car body, considered the highest class, made on the basis of a sedan body. The wheelbase is extended and there is a partition behind the front seat. Do not confuse a limousine body with a long-wheelbase sedan without a partition.

This is a particularly small class bus, with more than 8 seats, a small diameter of wheels and a cabin height, up to 5 meters long.

Minivan: this body can be made in single-volume and double-volume versions.
In Russia, minivans have another name - a high-capacity station wagon.

Town car: a body with an increased roof height.

Combi: a two-volume body with a rear door, designed for transporting cargo and passengers. In Germany, the word combi is used for any car that has a door in the rear.

Liftback: Same as a hatchback, but with a longer rear overhang (like a sedan). It can have two or three volumes.

Fastback: the body combines several types of bodies; the main feature is the shape of the roof, which has a sloping silhouette that smoothly turns into the trunk lid.

Open bodies:

Convertible: an open-type car body, can be made with two or four doors. Cars with a convertible body are equipped with a folding roof.

Roadster: a body with two seats, equipped with a soft folding roof.

Phaeton: a car body with four doors, equipped with a folding soft roof. The number of seats varies from 5 to 6.

Lando: a passenger car body with an opening top and a roof for the rear seats.

Brogam: the body of a passenger car, the roof of which has a folding or removable part on the front seats.

Targa: a type of passenger car body, a type of sports two-seater roadster.

Spider: car body with two doors. The difference from the Roadster is the narrower windshield.

Shooting brake: a type of car body for transporting hunters and equipment.

Types of cargo-passenger bodies:

Pickup: a car body with an open platform, a modification of a passenger car or SUV.

Van: a car body with a solid part of the body behind the cab, designed for transporting people and goods.

Types of bodies by number of volumes:

Classification of bodies by the number of volumes is a gradation according to the visual characteristics of volumes; one can distinguish: one, one and a half, two and three-volume bodies.

The number of external visual volumes is determined by clearly defined geometric shapes when looking at the car from the side.

For example, in a sedan-type body, three volumes can be distinguished, namely: the hood, the interior and the trunk.

Two-volume vehicles include a hatchback and a station wagon. The same hatchback can be classified as a one and a half volume vehicle, in the case of a weakly defined hood.

Source: http://class-car.ru/tip-kuzova

Classification of passenger cars

Modern passenger cars are usually classified according to two main “features”: size and body type.

table of dimensional classification of passenger cars.

A-class	“Especially small class” of cars – includes small-sized cars (“minicars”, “city cars”) intended for use in urban environments. The length of such cars, as a rule, does not exceed 3.8 m, the width no more than 1.6 m.
B-class	The “small class” of cars is very popular in Europe due to the optimal combination of “maneuverability in city traffic” and capacity. Dimensions of “class B” cars: length – 3.8 ~ 4.4 m, width 1.5 ~ 1.7 m.
C-class	“Small middle class” cars (aka “golf class”, the origin of this “literary name” is simple - the fact is that a typical representative of “class C” is the VW Golf, which has been a trendsetter in this class for several decades) . The length of C-class cars is 4.2 ~ 4.6 m, width is 1.6 ~ 1.75 m.
D-class	“Middle class” cars are cars for those who often make long trips and need additional comfort. "Class D" includes vehicles with a length of 4.6 ~ 4.8 m and a width of 1.7 ~ 1.8 m.
E-class	“Upper middle class” cars are something like a “transitional stage” between “middle class” cars and “executive cars”. Due to the fact that these cars have a high level of comfort and equipment, they are also called “business class”. The length of E-class cars usually falls within the range of 4.8 ~ 5.0 m, and the width is more than 1.8 m.
F-class	“Executive class” is the “flagship” of the model range of automakers, which combines the maximum: comfort, power and equipment (they are also called “cars for passengers”). The length of such cars, as a rule, is more than 5.0 meters, and the width is over 1.8 m.

Also, all cars, regardless of the “class”, are usually divided into “ budget ”, “ premium ” and, a very “blurred” segment, the “middle price range” (there is no need to explain on what principle “segmentation” occurs, this is clear from segment name).

cars by body type (category).

SUVs are cars designed for off-road driving (“a classic SUV” is “a frame, all-wheel drive with the ability to lock differentials and ground clearance >250 mm”). Today, the line between “SUV” and “crossover” is very blurred - the same model can be either an SUV or a crossover, depending on the level of equipment.

Pickups are utility vehicles with minimal cargo capacity and the comfort of a passenger car. Pickups are often created on the same platform as full-size SUVs (therefore, they are “part-time” SUVs, but there are also single-wheel drive models).

Minivans are family cars with increased capacity (both in terms of passengers and luggage - i.e., with special possibilities for transforming the interior space). Separately, it is worth mentioning compact vans - these are cars for those for whom a “regular minivan” is too much.

Sedans are typically four-door car models (but there are also “two-door sedans”), where the luggage compartment is structurally separated from the passenger compartment.

Hatchbacks are, one might say, a “compromise” between a sedan and a station wagon. A hatchback is usually shorter than a sedan (of the same model), but has greater luggage compartment capacity (thanks to the larger opening of the luggage compartment “door” and the ability to “convert” part of the passenger space into luggage space. There is also a similar body type - liftbacks ( The difference from hatchbacks is that the length is similar to a sedan, the profile outline resembles a sedan, but access to the luggage compartment is provided by a “fifth door” like a hatchback).

Station wagons are cargo-passenger versions of passenger cars (the station wagon roof is extended as far as possible to the rear clearance, and the “fifth door” provides a maximum opening for access to the luggage compartment; the maximum capacity of the station wagon is achieved thanks to the possibility of transforming the passenger part of the cabin).

Coupe - by definition, these are cars with a “short” wheelbase, two doors, two “full” seats in the first row and an optional second row of “2+2” seats (but if they are present, their space and comfort are very limited). Today, the term "coupe" in relation to a car is more often used for marketing purposes and/or to emphasize the sporty nature of the car.

Convertibles and roadsters are, respectively, four- and two-door cars with a reinforced body and a folding soft or hard top.

sports cars separately - these are, regardless of the type of body style, special modifications of “ordinary cars”, where the main emphasis is on achieving the best/maximum dynamic qualities and handling. A separate segment in a wide class of sports cars is “ supercars ” (these are not modifications of “regular cars”, but independent models with exceptional engine power (dynamics, maximum speed), exclusive equipment and, accordingly, price.

Source: https://auto.ironhorse.ru/car-classification

Types of vehicles: cars, trucks, SUVs, heavy vehicles:

No matter how many models and design features of cars there are, they can be divided into several groups, types or classes. We will talk further in the article about the exact characteristics by which this division occurs.

Car classification

Vehicles, depending on their purpose, can be divided into certain types:

• cars;
• buses;
• motorcycles;
• trailers;
• semi-trailers.

The main types of cars are cars and trucks. And the first of these include vehicles with no more than 9 seats, including the driver’s seat. They are designed to transport people and their luggage.

Cars in which goods are transported or special equipment is installed are called trucks.

In more detail, each of the groups of cars is divided by purpose, by overall dimensions, by design features (layout), body type, as well as by engine type and size.

Classification of trucks by purpose

According to their purpose, trucks are divided into three main groups:

1. General transport. These vehicles are designed to move cargo on public roads where there are restrictions on axle load.
2. Special vehicles. They have special equipment installed on a cargo chassis: truck cranes, concrete mixers, fire tanks, aerial platforms.
3. Specialized. These trucks are designed to transport certain types of cargo. Examples of them are container ships, dump trucks, and tanks.

Tipper trucks are the most common type of specialized cargo equipment. Bulk and bulk cargo are unloaded by tipping the platform with sides. These machines are divided into groups according to size and axle load.

Road dump trucks are utility, agricultural and construction trucks. Their carrying capacity can be from 1.5 to 45 tons.

Off-road trucks are mining dump trucks. Their task is to remove rock and building materials from quarries in which mineral resources are mined in open pits. These are the largest trucks. They can transport up to 400 tons of rock, but cannot travel on roads due to weight and size restrictions. They are delivered to the work site disassembled.

Classification of trucks by load capacity and layout

Trucks can be classified according to several criteria. The main feature by which these vehicles are divided into groups is their carrying capacity.

The number of axles is directly related to it, because the load of one axle on the road is regulated by law and should not exceed a certain value.

Therefore, the greater the mass of the cargo being transported, the more axles the truck should have.

The vehicle's carrying capacity is determined as follows:

• especially small if it can transport less than a ton of cargo;
• small – 1-2 t;
• average – 2-5 tons;
• large – 5 tons;
• especially big.

The last group includes mining dump trucks, the carrying capacity of which is significantly higher than the limits established by weight restrictions on the roads.

Now, in connection with the development of international safety requirements by special commissions at the UN, there is a generally accepted classification of trucks. According to European standards, car classes, according to gross weight, look like this:

• N1 – up to 3.5 tons;
• N2 – from 3.5 to 12 tons;
• N3 – from 12 t.

In the USA, trucks are divided in more detail into eight classes based on gross weight.

Classification of trucks by body type

There is a very detailed classification of trucks by body type. The car body can be open, like a dump truck, or closed, like a container.

The first, both in terms of time of use and prevalence, is onboard. This is what they say when the space of the cargo platform is limited on four sides by sides that can be folded down if necessary.

If a fabric awning is stretched over the body on special removable ribs to protect the cargo from bad weather and prying eyes, then this is a tilt body.

An all-metal van with lockable doors can be installed instead. On its basis, isothermal bodies with thermal insulation protection are manufactured, allowing to protect cargo from sudden temperature changes.

An isothermal body with an air conditioning unit inside is already a refrigerator designed for transporting perishable goods over long distances. In turn, refrigerators are divided into 6 classes, depending on the temperature range.

A separate type of body is tanks. They can be steel or aluminum, vary in shape, size and number of sections inside, and have pumps and other additional equipment.

The loading platform is specially equipped for car carriers transporting several cars, as well as for container ships and timber carriers.

Tractors as a separate type of freight transport

Truck tractors are also trucks designed for transporting semi-trailers and trailers. Instead of a body, they are equipped with a special saddle for quickly changing the trailer set. In Australia, with its vast expanses, there are couplings of five trailers with a total weight of more than 100 tons.

Car types vary in layout. Thus, American truck tractors are made according to the classic layout - hood. Europeans place the engine under the cab, increasing the useful length of the road train.

To tow particularly heavy loads, ballast tractors are used. They have a short body filled with ballast to increase traction weight.

Delivery trucks

Class N1, mentioned earlier, includes the so-called delivery trucks. Their carrying capacity is less than 2 tons. The layout is wagon or semi-bonnet. Car types vary in body shape.

Delivery trucks are equipped with an all-metal van with hinged rear doors and sliding front doors. By the way, pickup trucks, which are located on the border between trucks and cars, are a subtype of delivery trucks.

These are either modifications of passenger cars with a cargo platform instead of a trunk and rear seats, which are found on European roads, or special frame-type models with a cabin that can accommodate 2-3 or 5-6 people.

Russian delivery trucks are the Gazelle and Sobol families of the Gorky Automobile Plant. They produce pickups and vans from IzhAvto, UAZ and VAZinterService.

Classification of passenger cars by engine and drive type

Types of trucks are usually not separated by engine and fuel - there are many other criteria. But passenger cars can be divided into groups according to engine type:

Diesel engines are more technologically advanced, environmentally friendly and economical to operate, but are more expensive than gasoline ones. They are reliable, but demanding on fuel quality, especially in cold weather. Cars with gasoline engines accelerate faster and reach higher speeds.

The main classes of cars according to the domestic classification are determined depending on the engine volume in cubic centimeters or liters as extra small, small, medium and large. The latter is divided into business class and luxury class cars. The domestic automobile industry produced only government “Chaikas” and “ZiLs” in the large class with an engine capacity of more than 3.5 liters.

Mini-cars with an engine capacity of just over one liter (Oka VAZ-1111) belong to a particularly small class.

Small class - cars with an engine from 1.1 to 1.8 liters - these are all other domestic passenger cars, with the exception of the Volga, which belonged and still belongs to the middle class (1.8-3.5 liters).

Vehicle types can also be determined by the type of drive:

• rear-wheel drive, with driving rear wheels;
• front-wheel drive, with a driven front pair of wheels;
• all-wheel drive.

The first Russian front-wheel drive passenger car was the VAZ-2108, and the all-wheel drive, without the ability to disable this function, was the Niva.

Classification of passenger cars by body type

Body type is the most common criterion by which passenger cars are distinguished. It is classified by the combination of three volumes (passenger compartment, luggage compartment and engine) and by design features.

Depending on the presence of a roof, passenger cars are divided into closed (sedan, coupe, hardtop, fastback, hatchback, station wagon, limousine), open, with an opening or removable roof (convertible, chaise, brogue), as well as cars with a partially folding or removable top (landau, targa and pickup).

The most common:

• a sedan with a three-volume body, two or three rows of seats, there can be two, four or six side doors;

• a coupe with two or three volumes, two doors and two rows of seats (the rear one can be cramped);
• hatchback with a two-volume body and a large rear door. Due to the rear seats, the luggage compartment here can be significantly increased;
• station wagon, with a body not divided by a stationary partition into passenger and luggage compartments, and a door at the rear. A variation is the minivan with a higher suspension;
• a limousine, the body of which has a partition behind the front seats;
• a convertible in which the roof is folded and the side windows are lowered (in the phaeton the windows are removed).

Types of passenger cars

Leading foreign automobile publications divide passenger cars into four types based on functionality.

1. General purpose vehicles that are designed to travel on paved roads. The basic models of this type are a three-volume (sedan) and two-volume (hatchback) body. On their basis, coupes, station wagons, convertibles and even pickups and vans are created. As a rule, these cars are designed for 4-5 seats, their overall height is from 1.3 to 1.47 m.
2. All-terrain station wagons (English abbreviation APV). These are cars with a capacity of up to 7 people and a large luggage compartment. The height of these cars is up to 1.85 m. The power unit, steering and suspension are borrowed from general purpose cars. Prominent representatives of this type are Chrysler Voyager, Renault Espace, Chevrolet Lumina APV.
3. Off-road vehicles or, in other words, jeeps and SUVs with high ground clearance of up to 0.2 m, all-wheel drive, short overhangs and a base. Overall height due to the high seating position of passengers is up to 2 m.
4. Sports cars with a powerful engine, often two-seaters with a very low seating position and a roof height of no more than 1.33 m.

Classification of passenger cars by overall dimensions

In Europe, there are only 4 groups of cars by body type and six by size.

Mini cars belong to class A (extra small). These little ones, with a small trunk, are nimble and economical, convenient for traveling and parking in big cities (Smart, for example).

Small class B is a hatchback car body with two or four doors of small dimensions. For example, Hyundai Getz or Ford Fusion.

The small medium C, in honor of the founder of this intermediate class, the VW Golf, is also called the “golf class”. This also includes Renault Megane and Opel Astra.

The middle class D includes cars with an optimal balance of size, comfort and price - Ford Mondeo, Opel Vectra or the more expensive Jaguar X-type.

The upper middle E includes business class cars with a high level of comfort and quite impressive dimensions, for example, Nissan Maxima, Audi A6, Peugeot 607.

The highest F class includes luxury cars - executive cars like the Rolls-Royce Phantom or sports cars like the Jaguar XJ.

Body type is the criterion by which passenger cars that are not included in the classes are divided into coupes/convertibles (small, sporty, stylish Ferrari or Opel Speedster), SUVs (multi-purpose front-wheel drive passenger or utility vehicles Volvo XC70, Nissan Patrol, Ford Expedition), minivans/UPVs (with up to nine seats, like Nissan Quest or Renault Kangoo) and crossovers.

Types of cars and their classification according to various criteria is a rich topic, with many interpretations and interpretations. Purpose, engine type, design features, comfort, price and many other criteria unite vehicles into groups that differ in different countries.

Even the division into cars and trucks (it would seem that it would be simpler) is arbitrary. After all, the more cars there are, and the more manufacturers try to satisfy consumer demands, the more complex the classification becomes.

Source: https://BusinessMan.ru/new-tipy-avtomobilej-legkovye-gruzovye-vnedorozhniki-tyazhelaya-avtomobilnaya-texnika.html