Car model

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For scale models of automobiles, see Model car.

A car model is a particular brand of vehicle sold under a marque. From an engineering point of view, a particular car model is usually defined and/or constrained by the use of a particular car chassis/bodywork combination or the same monocoque.

This engineering frame may have derivatives, giving rise to more than one body style for a particular car model. For example, the same car model can be offered as a four-door sedan, a two-door coupe, a station wagon, or even as a folding-roof convertible, all derived from the same engineering body frame. An example of this is the BMW 3-series.

Also, the same car model can be offered with different mechanical internals, such as a choice of several engine sizes, automatic or manual transmissions, different suspension, braking or steering systems, etc., all of these options considered fairly interchangeable on that specific body frame. It is common for any specific car model to carry additional badges or letterings to announce the mechanical option(s) incorporated on it.

However, when the same engineering body frame is sold under a different marque or by a partner automaker, it usually becomes, from a commercial point of view, a different car model.

Sometimes the marketing department may give each body style variant its own trade name, creating as many car models as body variants, even though they may share a large parts commonality and the engineering department may continue to consider them all part of the same project. An example of this is the Volkswagen Gol / Voyage / Parati / Saveiro. Conversely, the marketing department may advertise a car model as a convenient derivative of some popular car, when in fact they may be completely different engineering projects with almost no parts commonality.

The same car model may be sold by the automaker in different countries under different names. An example of this is the Mitsubishi Pajero / Montero.

In any given market, the same car model may be available in multiple model ranges or trim levels (having the same body style, but different equipment packages.) It is common for any specific car model to carry additional badges or letterings to announce its trim level. For example, the Renault Scénic includes entry-level trim (badged Renault Scénic Authentique), the next model up (additional badge: Expression), mid-range trim (Dynamique) and luxury trim (Privilège). Another example will be Toyota Camry's trim levels: CE (Classic Edition), LE (Luxury Edition), SE (Sport/Special Edition), XLE (Extra Luxury Edition), and plus limited and anniversary editions.

A particular trim package may define special edition and limited edition models which have limited production, special badges, unique color schemes, special equipment packages, designer brand names, and sometimes called collector's editions because of the rarity and high resale value. For example, the Ford F Series has an extensive line of special and limited edition models: the F150 has the Lariat, 4x4 Off-Road, King Ranch, STX, Eddie Bauer, Harley Davidson, SVT, Lighting, Chip Foose, NASCAR, Anniversary, Sport, Chrome, Texas, Platinum, Hurricane, Heritage, Jack Roush, Limited, and many other editions.

Offering an array of body styles, mechanical specifications and trim levels allow manufacturers to target the same car model to different market niches. For example, the cheap, basic-trim-level, three-door variant of some popular car may be right for the student on a budget, while the station wagon with comfort package may suit the needs of an elder lady, and the very expensive, high-performance, semi-racing variant may catch the eye of the sportier-minded executive with a fat wallet, all of the three variants having arisen from the same project and carrying the same commercial name. An example of this is the Ford Focus.

A car model may be further subdivided into model years, all cars from a particular model year sharing approximatelly the same characteristics (given the same trim level, body style, engine option, etc.) but sometimes with slight differences from others of a different model year. In this context, a facelift may be used to slighly update the looks of an aging car model without a major engineering revision, giving way to a so-called "second series" of that particular model, and sometimes becoming the opportunity for a marketing re-launch of the same car.

Many times a manufacturer decides to completely redesign the car, but with the aim of offering the new model to the same specific public or in the same market niche, keeping it similarly priced and marketed against its usual competitors from other manufacturers. The car is usually considered a different model by the engineering department, carrying a different model designator, but, for marketing reasons, it is offered to the consumers with the same old, traditional, familiar name. An example of this is the Toyota Corolla.

Total production run for a given car is usually calculated regarding the engineering project name or designator. The marketing department may advertise figures for a continuous-production tradename instead, divided in so-called "generations". However, for government or sport regulatory purposes, each body-style/mechanical-configuration combination may be counted as a different model.