Full-size car
A
full-size car is a term used in
North America for an
automobile larger than a
mid-size car, usually having a
wheelbase greater than 2.79 metres (110 inches). Another definition specifies greater than 120 ft³ (3300 L) of interior volume. The term first appeared in the early 1960's to define what also became known as "standard" size cars from the new compact and intermediate models then being introduced.
Due to the growing length of wheelbases among mid-size luxury sedan, however, the overall length of the vehicles has become another factor to take into account as well. Full-size cars should therefore also feature an overall length of more than 197 in (5000 mm).
A "large car," the equivalent class in
Australian terms, is often denoted by width. Therefore, the
Ford Falcon and
Holden Commodore are considered large cars in the Australian and
New Zealand markets. These cars are sometimes referred to as "family cars" in Australia. The term "large car" is also used by the American
EPA to denote full-size cars.
In
Europe, the terms "executive car" and "luxury car" may refer to cars of this size (which are mostly luxury cars), such as the
Audi A8,
BMW 7-Series,
Mercedes-Benz S-Class and
Jaguar XJ.
The sales of full-size vehicles in the United States declined after the early 1970s fuel crisis. By that time, full-size cars had grown to wheelbases of 121" to 127" (3.07 to 3.23 meters), and overall lengths of around 225" (5.73m). Though most cars throughout the 1970s remained full-sized, the GM vehicle downsizing of the late 1970s and consumer preference leaning more towards sporty automobiles caused sales to decline well into the 1990s. With the rise of the SUV, fewer and fewer customers whose preferences were still leaning toward full-size cars bought sedans.
It was not until significant gas price increases made SUV usage very expensive that full-size sedan sales recovered. This surge in sales was further fueled by the introduction of popular new models such as the Buick Lucerne, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum.
In Europe, full-size cars have only recently gained in popularity. During the 1980s, full-size cars were rare in Europe, but now they have become a common sight. In Germany, full-size cars make up 15% of the total number of cars (VDA annual report), roughly the same average as in the United States.
|
The Lincoln Town Car is currently the largest car made in the United States measuring 218" in length |
Current full-size cars
A * denotes a car with 6-passenger seating
*
Audi A8*
Bentley Arnage*
BMW 7 Series*
Buick Lucerne*
Cadillac DTS*
Chevrolet Impala*
Chrysler 300*
Dodge Charger*
Dodge Magnum*
Ford Crown Victoria*
Ford Falcon*
Ford Five Hundred*
Holden Commodore*
Hyundai Grandeur*
Infiniti Q45*
Lexus LS 430*
Lincoln Town Car*
Maybach 57 and 62*
Maserati Quattroporte*
Mercury Grand Marquis*
Mercedes-Benz S-Class*
Rolls Royce Phantom*
Toyota Century*
Toyota Aurion*
Toyota Avalon*
Volkswagen Phaeton*
Volvo S80Past full-size cars
*
Aston Martin Lagonda*
Bentley Brooklands*
Buick LeSabre*
Buick Park Avenue*
Buick Roadmaster*
Cadillac Brougham*
Cadillac Deville*
Chevrolet Caprice*
Chevrolet Impala*
Chrysler 300M*
Chrysler Concorde*
Chrysler Imperial*
Chrysler LHS*
Chrysler New Yorker*
Chrysler Newport*
Dodge Intrepid*
Eagle Vision*
Lexus LS 400*
Mitsubishi Diamante*
Oldsmobile Aurora*
Oldsmobile Delta 88*
Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight*
Pontiac Bonneville*
Pontiac Parisienne*
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph*
Rolls-Royce Silver Spur*
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow*
Car classification*
Vehicle size class*
Official US government car size class definitions
