C-segment: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:40, 26 October 2014

Revision as of 15:03, 30 October 2014

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The '''C-segment''' includes only [[hatchback]], [[Sedan (automobile)|sedan]] and [[Station Wagon]] configurations — as the [[European Commission]] reserves the [[M-segment]] for [[Multi-Purpose Cars]] and [[J-segment]] for [[Sport Utility Cars]] (including [[Off-road Vehicles]]), [[Light Commercial Vehicles]], compact [[Sport Utility Vehicles]] ([[C-SUV]]s), compact [[Crossover Utility Vehicles]] ([[C-CUV]]s).

As the "segment" terminology became more common in the United States, in 2012 the New York Times described the differences, saying "today's small cars actually span three main segments in the global vehicle market. The tiny A-segment cars include the [[Chevy Spark]] and [[Smart Fortwo]]. They're extremely short and very light. Slightly larger are B-segment cars like the [[Ford Fiesta]] and [[Chevy Sonic]]. The A- and B-cars are known as subcompacts. In the C-segment — typically called compacts — are the largest of the small cars. Examples include the [[Toyota Corolla]], a perennial sales leader, as well as the [[Ford Focus]], [[Citroën C4]], [[Citroën DS4]], [[Chevy Cruze]], [[Honda Civic]], [[Hyundai Elantra]], [[Peugeot 308]] and [[Peugeot 408]] sedan, [[Renault Mégane]] and [[Renault Fluence]] or [[Volkswagen Golf]] and Jetta." <ref name="segment">{{cite web| title = Taking the ‘Cheap’ Out of the Small Car| publisher = The New York Times, September 9, 2012, Phil Patton| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/automobiles/taking-the-cheap-out-of-the-small-car.html?hpw}}</ref>

The modern C-segment market in Europe can be traced back to the launch of the [[Renault 6]], the first successful hatchback of this size, in 1968. The ''hatchback'' bodystyle was first introduced by [[Renault]] with the 1964 [[Renault 16]], awarded 1965 [[European Car of the Year|Car of the year in Europe]]. A review in the English ''Motoring Illustrated'' in May 1965 stated: "The Renault Sixteen can thus be described as a large family car but one that is neither a four door saloon and nor is it quite an estate. But, importantly, it is a little different."<ref name="Motoring Illustrated, May 1965">Motoring Illustrated, May 1965</ref> Even the later similar-sized cars like the [[Ford Escort (Europe)|Ford Escort]], [[Vauxhall Viva (1963–1979)|Vauxhall Viva]], [[Austin Allegro]] and [[Hillman Avenger]] were still only available as saloons or estates, as were most continental competitors. Yet, the ''hatchback'' bodystyle became progressively the most popular format in this sector of the European market from the middle of the 1960s till the early 1980s. Some carmakers later created the ''liftback'' bodystyle like the [[Peugeot 309]]. This change in the favoured bodystyle also saw front-wheel drive replace rear-wheel drive as the norm in the C-segment.

The 1964 [[Renault_8Renault 8#More_powerMore power|Renault R8 Gordini]] (and the 1967 Renault R8 S) is known as the first sportive compact car for a public consumption price.<ref>Auto Plus (Auto Bild group) n°1362, 10 to 17 of october 2014 - 1964 : "1964 : Renault 8 Gordini, the first 'GTi'".</ref>. The [[Renault_8Renault 8#More_powerMore power|Renault R8 Gordini]] offered a more powerful engine with speed to 180km180&nbsp;km/h and an innovative four-wheel disc brake system. Compact size cars often bring a performance more akin to that of a sports car than a family car. From the middle of the 1970, a dozen of year after the [[Renault_8Renault 8#More_powerMore power|Renault R8 Gordini]], a few rivals were launched. Popularity of this type of car multiplied across Europe during the 1980s, with offerings including the Ford Escort XR3i, [[Peugeot 309|Peugeot 309 GTi]], Vauxhall Astra/[[Opel Kadett]] GTE, [[Austin Maestro|MG Maestro]] and today the reference : the [[Mégane Renault Sport|Renault Mégane Renault Sport]].

== European Market in 2013<ref>{{cite web