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A glossary of terms as relating to automotive design. Beltline: The line going from the hood which usually follows the bottom edge of the windows and continues to the trunk. Bling: (contemporary) See brightwork. May also refer to the strong use of jeweled lighting. Comes from the term Bling-bling . Brightwork: Anything reflective added to a car to enhance appearance. May also be called chrome. Cab: Short for cabin. The enclosed compartment of a vehicle which contains the driver and passengers. Cab back: The cab of the vehicle is moved to the rear of the vehicle. Cars such as a 1970's Corvette could be considered cab back design. Cab forward: The cab of the vehicle is pushed forward. This design aesthetic was popular with Chrysler in the late 1990s. Chrome: brightwork using chrome plating. Cladding: material (usually plastic) added to exterior of the car which isn't structurally necessary. May be functional to keep out dirt/debris as in underbody cladding, or may be cosmetic. Crossover: a new categorization used to describe a vehicle when there is confusion as to whether an automobile qualifies as a minivan, SUV, or wagon. Greenhouse: The windows of an automobile. Hood: (Bonnet in U.K.) The hatch covering the engine on vehicles when the engine is located foreward or aft of the passenger compartment. Overhang: The distance which the car extends beyond the wheelbase. Roadster: a two door, two seat convertible. Usually a variant of a sporty or sports car. Some roadsters may have a rear seat to help with DOT and insurance ratings, but such a seat is barely functional when grown adults are considered. Scoop: any inset or protusion that implies the intake of air. May be functional for cooling/ventilation or purely ornamental. Spoiler: A wing which is used to improve downforce. Some designs are more functional than others. SUV: Abbreviated form of sport utility vehicle. A truck in which the cab is fully extended to the rear where the bed would normally go. Track: The distance across the car between the base of the left and right wheels. (Like wheelbase, but side to side.) Trunk: (Boot in U.K.) Compartment for storage of cargo which is separate from the cab. Utility Vehicle: Not to be confused with SUV. This refers to a car where the cab has been shortened from the rear and the enclosed trunk is replaced with an open bed. The Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino are examples of utility vehicles. More recent examples of utility vehicles are the Holden Ute and Subaru Baja. Wagon: Any car where the cab is extended all the way to the rear instead of having separate trunk. Wedge: May be positive, negative or neutral. Refers to the shape of the car as seen in the side profile. If the front is lower than the rear, then it is wedge-positive. If the rear is lower it is wedge-negative. If the car appears level from front to rear, then it is wedge neutral. Wheel arch: The visible opening in the side of a car allowing access to the wheel. Wheelbase: The distance front to back measured from where the front and rear wheels meet the ground. Wheel well (or bucket): The enclosure or space for the wheel. |
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