Chapter 1 The Automobile 9
The crossover vehicle is a design mix. It is an
SUV built on a passenger car or station wagon
chassis. The crossover is about half as tall as a
minivan to lower its center of gravity for more
rollover stability when cornering rapidly. The
crossover also has a smaller frontal cross-section
for improved aerodynamics.
Sport-utility vehicles are often equipped with
four-wheel drive systems and have a high roofl ine
and fl oorpan. Because of the high fl oorpan, SUVs
have more ground clearance for off-road driving.
They provide the comfort of a passenger car, the inte-
rior space of a station wagon, and the durability of a
truck, Figure 1-8F. Since an SUV is very heavy, with
a complex heavy-duty four-wheel drive system, it is
not as fuel effi cient as other types of vehicles.
Common names for various automobile body
parts are shown in Figure 1-9. Note that a vehicle’s
Figure 1-8. Note the various vehicle body styles. (Porsche, Honda, Audi, Subaru)
A—Sedan
C—Hatchback
E—Minivan
B—Convertible
D—Station Wagon
F—Sport-Utility Vehicle