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CAR BODY STYLE AND WORK

Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production, while others are of historical interest only. These styles are largely independent of a car’s classification in terms of price, size and intended broad market; the same car model might be available in multiple body styles (model ranges). For some of the following terms, especially relating to four-wheel drive / SUV models and minivan / MPV models, the distinction between body style and classification is particularly narrow.


In automotive engineering, the bodywork of an automobile is the structure which protects: the occupants, any other payload, and the mechanical components. In vehicles with a separate frame or chassis, the term bodywork is normally applied to only the non-structural panels, including doors and other movable panels, but it may also be used more generally to include the structural components which support the mechanical components.

The first automobiles were designs adapted in large part from horse-drawn carriages and had body-on-frame construction with a wooden frame and wooden or metal body panels. Wooden-framed motor vehicles remained in production until the middle of the 20th century. A steel chassis or ladder frame replaced the wooden one. This form of body-on-frame construction is still common for commercial vehicles.

Monocoque or unibody is a construction, in which the chassis is part of an integrated with the metal body. It provides support to all the mechanical components, as well as protection for the vehicle occupants. Although there is no separate complete frame or chassis, many monocoque/unibody designs now often include sub frames. Steel monocoque construction is the most common form of car bodywork, although aluminum and carbon fiber may also be used. Modern cars may also use polycarbonates.

Less common types include tube frame and space frame designs used for high-performance cars. There have also been various hybrids (Volkswagen Beetle had a chassis, consisting of the floor pan, door sills and central tunnel). Non-structural body panels have been made of wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass and several more exotic materials.

There are several common car body styles:

ENCLOSED: OPEN or PARTLY ENCLOSED:
Sedan, known as a Saloon Roadster
Hardtop Convertible
Coupe Cabriolet
Limousine  
REAR DOOR DESIGNS: OTHER:
Station wagon or Estate car   Sport utility vehicle (SUV), also known as a Coupe Utility or Ute
Hatchback  
Lift back  

 

1. Are the following statements true or false? Correct the false ones.

a) There are many different body styles of car.

b) The same car model might be manufactured only in one body style.

c) The distinction between body style and classification is rather narrow.

d) The term bodywork is used to define only the non-structural panels.

e) There are 4 main types of bodywork and a lot of hybrids.



f) Tube frame and space frame designs are used for high-performance cars.

 

 

2. Make sure that you know how to pronounce and translate these terms:

Body style, production, intended broad market, car model, model ranges, four-wheel drive, bodywork, payload, mechanical components, separate frame or chassis, non-structural panels, movable panels, structural and mechanical components, body-on-frame construction, wooden-framed motor vehicles, ladder frame, monocoque or unibody construction, vehicle occupants, sub frames, tube frame and space frame designs, high-performance cars, fiberglass.


Date: 2015-12-17; view: 965


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