Hatchback
A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door[1][2][3][4][5] that swings upward to provide access to the main interior of the car as a cargo area rather than just to a separated trunk. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second-row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume.
While early examples of the body configuration can be traced to the 1930s, the
Characteristics
The distinguishing feature of a hatchback is a rear door that opens upwards
3 door and 5 door terminology
When describing the body style, the hatch is often counted as a door, therefore a hatchback with two passenger doors is called a three-door and a hatchback with four passenger doors is called a five-door.[10][11]
Estates vs. liftbacks vs. notchbacks
Some hatchbacks are
An estate/wagon typically differs from a liftback or hatchback by being longer (therefore more likely to have a D-pillar). Other potential differences of a station wagon include:
- steeper rake at the rear (i.e. the rear door is more vertical)[6][10][22]
- a third row of seats
- rear suspension designed for increased load capacity or to minimize intrusion into the cargo area[10]
- the tailgate is more likely to be a multi-part design or extend down to the bumper
Liftback
"Liftback" is a term for hatchback models in which the rear cargo door or hatch is more horizontally angled than on an average hatchback, and as a result, the hatch is lifted more upwards than backward, to open.[12]
The term was first used by Toyota in 1973, to describe the Toyota Celica Liftback GT.[23][24]
Toyota called the new body style a Liftback, signifying that it was a three-door hatchback rather than a two-door coupe. With its sloping fastback roofline, the Celica Liftback was, if anything, even less habitable for rear-seat passengers than was the hardtop, but the hatchback roof and folding rear seat made the Liftback more versatile for quotidian chores or the sort of "active lifestyle" pastimes that so fascinate advertising copywriters.[25]
Later, Toyota needed to distinguish between two 5-door versions of the Toyota Corolla, one of which was a conventional 5-door hatchback with a nearly vertical rear hatch while the other one was a 5-door more horizontal hatch, for which the term Liftback was used.
History
History
The first production hatchback was made by Citroën in 1938: the (11CV) "Commerciale" version of their 1934–1957 Citroën Traction Avant series.[26][27] The initial target market was tradesmen who needed to carry bulky objects, like butchers, bakers, vintners, and grocers.[27] Before World War II, the tailgate had two pieces, a top section hinged from roof level and a bottom section hinged from below.[27] When production of the Commerciale resumed after the war, the tailgate became a one-piece design that was hinged from roof level, as per the design used on most hatchbacks since.[27][28]
In 1949, Kaiser-Frazer introduced the Vagabond and Traveler hatchbacks. These models were styled much like a typical 1940s sedan, fully retaining their three-box profile; however, they included a two-piece tailgate as per the first Citroën 11CV Commerciale.[29] The Vagabond and Traveler models also had folding rear seats and a shared volume for the passengers and cargo.[30] The design was neither fully a sedan nor a station wagon, but the folding rear seat provided for a large, 8-foot (2.4 m) long interior cargo area.[31] These Kaiser-Frazer models have been described as "America's First Hatchback".[32]
The British Motor Corporation (BMC) launched a 'Countryman' version of the Austin A40 Farina two‑box economy car in 1959. Just like its A30 and A35 Countryman predecessors, it was a very small estate car — but instead of regular, sideways opening rear doors, it had a horizontally split tailgate, having a top-hinged upper door and bottom-hinged lower door. The 1959 A40 Countryman differed from the 1958 A40 Farina saloon, in that the rear window was marginally smaller, to allow for a frame that could be lifted with roof-mounted hinges and side support struts so that the car now incorporated a horizontal-split two-piece tailgate. The lower panel was now flush with the floor and its bottom-mounted hinges were strengthened.[33]
Sports cars
In 1953,
In 1965, MG had Pininfarina modify the MGB roadster into a hatchback design called the MGB GT, becoming the first volume-production sports car with this type of body.[34]
Many
Mass market acceptance
In 1961, Renault introduced the Renault 4 as a moderately upscale alternative to the Citroën 2CV.[35][36] The Renault 4 was the first million-selling, mass-produced, compact two-box car with a steeply raked rear side, opened by a large, one-piece, lift-gate hatch.
During its production life cycle, Renault marketed the R4 calling it a small station wagon, just like Austin's series of small Countryman estate models from 1954 until 1968 – even after the term "hatchback" appeared around 1970. The company only offered one two-box body style. The Renault 4 continued in production through 1992, selling over 8 million cars.
In 1965, the R4 economy car was complemented by the D-segment Renault 16, the first volume production two-box, hatchback family car.[37] Its rear seats were adjustable, would fold down, or could be completely removed. The Renault 16 was successful in a market segment previously exclusively populated by notchback sedans and, despite making only one body style for 15 years, consumers purchased over 13⁄4 million R16s.
Modern hatchbacks
Unlike the Renault 4, which had a semi-integrated body, mounted on a platform chassis, and a front mid-mounted and longitudinally placed engine behind the front axle, the 1967 Simca 1100, which followed in the footsteps of the 1959 BMC Mini with front-wheel drive, a more space-efficient transverse engine layout, unitary bodywork, and independent suspension (features which became key design concepts used by almost every mass-market family car since) - and it was the first hatchback with these features.[38] The Simca 1100 also came in both three and five-door variants, and the hatchback models took a central position, traditionally taken up by saloons, in a full model line-up, completed by a station wagon, as well as panel van versions.
Also in 1967, Citroën released the Dyane, a redesigned 2CV with a large rear hatch, to compete with the Renault 4.
The Simca was closely followed by Mini's larger stablemate, the
In 1974, the
In 1976
Europe
Increasing demand for compact hatchbacks in Europe during the 1970s led to the release of models such as the Austin Ambassador, Austin Maestro, Fiat 127 and Renault 5. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the majority of superminis and compact cars had been updated or replaced with hatchback models.
Hatchbacks were the mainstay of manufacturers'
. There were also models in this market segment available only as a 5-door hatchback or a 4-door sedan, and models available only as a 5-door hatchback or a 5-door station wagon. Often the hatchback and the sedan shared the same wheelbase and the same overall length, and the full rear overhang length of a conventional sedan trunk was retained on the five-door hatchback version of the car.The 1989-2000
Audi and BMW introduced hatchbacks in 2009, but marketed them as "Sportback" (Audi) or "Gran Turismo"/"Gran Coupe" (BMW).
In the 2010s hatchback versions became available on luxury cars such as the
North America
In 1970, American Motors Corporation (AMC) released the first North American subcompact car since the 1953-1961 Nash Metropolitan, the AMC Gremlin.[42] Although the Gremlin has the appearance of a hatchback, it is frequently called a Kammback coupe instead,[43] with only its rear window being an upwards opening hatch, that gives access to the rear cargo space.[44] The Gremlin was based on the AMC Hornet, but its abrupt hatchback rear end cut the car's overall length from 179 to 161 inches (4,500 to 4,100 mm). AMC added a hatchback version to its larger compact-sized Hornet line for the 1973 model year.[45] The design and fold-down rear seat more than doubled cargo space and the Hornet was claimed to be the "first compact hatchback" manufactured by U.S. automaker.[46] The 1975 Pacer featured a rear door or hatchback.[47] A longer model with a wagon-type configuration was added in 1977 with its large rear "hatch" as one of the car's three doors, all having different sizes.[48] The 1979 AMC Spirit was available in two designs, a "sedan" with a rear lift up window and a semi-fastback "liftback" version.[49]
General Motors' first hatchback model was the Chevrolet Vega, introduced in September 1970. Over a million Vega hatchbacks were produced for the 1971–1977 model years accounting for about half of the Vega's total production.[50] The Vega hatchback was also rebadged and sold as the 1973–1977 Pontiac Astre, 1978 Chevrolet Monza S, 1975–1980 Buick Skyhawk, 1975–1980 Oldsmobile Starfire and 1977–1980 Pontiac Sunbird.
In 1974, the larger
Both AMC and GM offered a dealer accessory that turned their compact hatchback models into low-cost recreational vehicles.[51] An example is the Mini-Camper Kit for the AMC Hornet, a low-priced canvas tent that converted an open hatchback into a camping compartment with room for sleeping.[52][53] The "Mini-Camper" was a weatherproof covering that fitted over the roof section from the B-pillar back to the rear bumper that was easy to set up.[54]
Japan
The first Japanese hatchbacks were the 1972 Honda Civic, Nissan Sunny, and Nissan Cherry.[citation needed] The Civic and Cherry had front-wheel drive powertrains, which later became the common configuration for a hatchback. Along with the Honda Civic, other Japanese hatchback models included the Nissan Pulsar, Toyota Corolla, and Suzuki Swift.
Almost all Japanese Kei cars ("city cars") use a hatchback body style, to maximize cargo capacity given the overall vehicle size is limited by the regulations applicable to these vehicles. Kei cars include the Mitsubishi Minica, Honda Life, Suzuki Fronte, Subaru Vivio, and Daihatsu Mira.
USSR
The first Soviet hatchback was the rear-wheel drive
Brazil
In 2014, four of the top five selling models in Brazil were hatchbacks.[58] However, in the 1980s and 1990s, hatchbacks were less popular than sedans, leading manufacturers to develop compact sedan models for the Brazilian market, for example, the Fiat Premio and sedan versions of the Opel Corsa and Ford Fiesta.
India
Hatchbacks are the highest-selling car body style in India.
Australia
There has only been one hatchback model produced in Australia, the 1976-1980 Holden Torana hatchback, produced across the LX and UC generations. Up until recent years, buyers in Australia have preferred the station wagon body style, with the big three Australian manufacturers; Holden, Ford Australia, and Chrysler Australia all producing station wagon models of their sedan models. Australia started moving to hatchbacks partially in the mid-1990s with relatively cheap offerings from Hyundai and Honda. Australia now sells mostly hatchbacks, after the last domestic-built wagon, the Holden Commodore Sportwagon ceased production in October 2017.
See also
References
- ^ "hatchback - definition". American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Fifth ed.). 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ a b ""Hatchback"". Merriam-Webster. n.d. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "hatchback". dictionary.com. n.d. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ "hatchback". ldoceonline.com. n.d. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "hatchback". Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4018-4831-6. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
Liftback or Hatchback: The distinguishing feature of this vehicle is its luggage compartment, which is an extension of the passenger compartment. Access to the luggage compartment is gained through an upward opening hatch-type door. A car of this design can be a three or five door model, the third or fifth door is the rear hatch. Station Wagon: A station wagon is characterized by its roof which extends straight back, allowing a spacious interior luggage compartment in the rear. The rear door, which can be opened numerous ways depending on the model, provides access to the luggage compartment. Station wagons come in two and four-door models and have space for up to nine passengers.
- ^ "2018 Hyundai Elantra GT - Driven". topspeed.com. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Hatchback vs Wagon: What's the Difference Here?". wheelscene.com. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Hatchback buying info". edmunds.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7487-8082-2. Retrieved 27 March 2023 – via Google Books.
The estate body, also known as station wagons in some countries, has the roofline extended to the rear of the body to enlarge its internal capacity. Folding the rear seats down gives a large floor area for the carriage of luggage or goods. Stronger suspension springs are fitted at the rear to support the extra load. Hatchback: The hatchback is generally based on a saloon body but with the boot or trunk area blended into the centre section of the body. The hatchback is therefore halfway between a saloon and estate car. This type of body is very popular due to its versatility and style. Although some hatchbacks are in fact saloon bodies with the boot or trunk effectively removed (usually the smaller cars), many hatchbacks retain the full length of the saloon but the roofline extends down to the rear of the vehicle. As with the saloon bodies, a hatchback can have two or four passenger doors, however, there is a tendency to refer to hatchbacks as three or five doors because the rear compartment lid (or tailgate) is also referred to as a door on the hatchback bodies. As with the estate, the rear seats fold down to give a flat floor for the transportation of luggage or other objects. When the tailgate is closed, the luggage compartment is usually covered with a parcel shelf.
- ^ "What is a Hatchback?". Kelley Blue Book. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-387-74243-4. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
A hatchback car is called a liftback when the opening area is very sloped and is lifted up to open.
- ^ "Car Design Glossary – Part 2: One-Box (Monospace or Monovolume)". Car Design News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
A three or five-door hatchback (no separate trunk compartment) is a 'two-box' car.
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- ISBN 978-0-87341-133-2. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ ""fastback"". Merriam-Webster. n.d. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Words That Rhyme with fastback". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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- ^ Litwin, Matt (January 2010). "1949-1950 Kaiser Traveler and Vagabond". Hemmings Classic Car. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
it was innovative Kaiser that gets full credit for an automotive first with its Traveler and Vagabond hatchback sedans
- ^ "Simca 1100 (1967 - 1982)". United Kingdom: Honest John. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
at the cutting edge when it was launched, offering front wheel drive allied with hatchback versatility
- ^ Neil, Dan (28 April 2002). "The Hatchback Is Back (but Nobody Uses the H-Word)". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- ^ Fets, Jim (3 December 2010). "Collectible Classic: 1976-1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback". Automobile Magazine (U.S.). Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Fluhrer, David (15 March 2013). "In the Garage: 1977 Toyota Celica GT". Newsday. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
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- ^ Strohl, Daniel (23 January 2011). "SIA Flashback – 1949 Kaiser Traveler: America's First Hatchback". Hemmings. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "New Estate Car". The Times. No. 54596. 20 October 1959. p. 16.
- ^ Martin, Keith (1 May 2003). "1967 MGB-GT Coupe". Sports Car Market. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
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- ^ h-body.org
- ^ "The Hatchback Hutch offered econo-camping across the compact fleet". Hagerty. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
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- ^ Moncur, Laura (3 August 2015). "AMC Hornet Camping Tent". Starling Travel. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
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External links
- The dictionary definition of hatchback at Wiktionary
- Media related to Hatchbacks at Wikimedia Commons
- Media related to Liftbacks at Wikimedia Commons