Automobile Body Styles and Design

Automobile Body Styles

SUV's or Sports Utility Vehicles are often offered with four-wheel drive and are designed for both on and off-road use.  Some SUV's offer the passenger carrying capacity of a mini van or large sedan (6-7 people).

http://www.affordablerentacarandsales.com/suv-rental/

Coups are often the sportier variations of saloon cars, but instead of four doors they have two. Styles can vary for different manufacturers though, as some newer styles do have four doors. They are deigned for style and comfort.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/04/top-10-cheapest-coupes.html

Convertibles are cars with retractable roofs, and are typically made for warm climates. Most appeal to luxury car riders and performance car fans.

morguefile.com

Trucks are light-motor vehicles with open air storage compartments known as "beds".They are often available with two or four doors for the passenger compartments. 

http://www.bristoltruckrentals.com/vehicles/trucks/pickup-trucks/

Crossovers are a unique body type. With the height of a truck built on a a car like body, crossovers are typically less fuel consuming while still providing four-wheel drive. They are typically designed for light off-road riding

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-11-crossovers-and-suvs-with-the-best-highway-fuel-economy-for-2014.html

Automobile Design

Starting with the sketching phase, it typically takes three years to create and design a car. They call car designing problem solving because the designers have to design a car within an engineering restraints or criteria. They can't do whatever they want, they have to create something that is ascetically pleasing yet still meets that criteria. 

The feasibility stage is the largest part when it comes to designing a car. It is when they take the sketches that they really like, and evolve them into something that maintains the theme of those sketches, but then fits over top of the engineering car points. It is also where the most negotiation takes place, and everything (design, engineering and marketing) come together to get a car on the road. 

Although it definitely wouldn't be my first choice, or even in my top ten, car design would be an interesting job to have. It would be cool to create new designs and then have the public using them in their day to day life. I don't think I would ever seriously consider this as a career choice, but if it was the only job I could have, I wouldn't be completely disappointed.