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Car Models Timeline

Car Models List & Timeline

Hand-made database started in 2003, abandoned 2015

Download sample DOC (list)
Download sample XLS (timeline)

The original version of Car Models List in .DOC format, started in 2003. It dates back from the childhood hobby for writing book-style printer-friendly documents in Word (although I never printed it and I guess that nobody will do this).

What is the source of data?

The original databases I made for Europe (Car Models Encyclopedia, Car Models Database, Car Models & Engines Database) were made by entering data manually from AutoKatalog, a yearly publication made by Auto Motor und Sport, the leading German car magazine and one of the most reputable car magazines in the world. AutoKatalog is published yearly since 1957 in about 15-20 European countries.

Car sales statistics

I compiled this table in Excel sourcing data from CarSalesBase.com, a website I discovered in late 2016. I update yearly in February when sales figures for previous calendar year are published. Contains number of cars sold in United States, Europe, China, breakdown by make and model.

European Car of the Year

European Car of the Year

European Car of the Year, list of winners, 2nd and 3rd places for 1964-2016, plus 4th to 8th places for 2002-2015, showing number of points for each car model. Source of data: http://www.caroftheyear.org/previous-winners/, compiled in Excel for easy visualization.

Study: car evolution trends

Cars grow over years, as technology advance and more gadgets should be included under body, but in Europe since 1990s, the cars are growing crazy with about 10-20 cm per model change, which is exaggerate, based on technology evolution, 5 mm per year is enough. This non-natural grow causes companies to abandon large models and introduce new smaller models below existing models.

Car classification in Europe is not officially regulated, instead it is defined in relative size with other cars. Some brands do not follow the common class sizes, making cars with intermediate sizes, these are usually considered being part of the smaller class, causing further increase in size of car classes. Seems that all European companies wants to make a car bigger than competitor’s cars of same class.

Toyota lineup Japan

How many distinct car models are being produced in the world?

The answer of above question depends by how do you define “one model”.

Should we count BMW 3-Series as one model? Should we count each body type (compact, saloon, touring, coupe, cabrio)? Should we count each engine version (318i, 320i, 325i, 330i, 335i, 316d, 318d, 320d, 325d, 330d, 335d, M3, in case of 3-Series E90)? Should BMW M3 or BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo be counted as submodels of 3-Series or as separate models?

Car length evolution

Car Length Evolution

PDF chart with 640 most common car models from Europe since WW2 to present. Took 10 hours to write each car model at correct position in the chart, based by year of launch and length in millimeters, using AutoCAD then exported as PDF, useful for garage builders and students or hobbyists researching the car evolution.

Porsche 911 too many models

Carmakers produce too many models?

The number of models produced by each car manufacturer increased over years, modular platforms allow car markers to produce a large number of models with little cost, creating new niches to cater different types of buyers. But is this really necessary? How long this trend can continue until they realize that have too many models?

Dacia 500 Lastun

Smallest cars

I am concerned about car dimensions that grow over years, getting too big for our garages, I was always fascinated by small and basic cars, can such cars be produced in today world? This article shows the smallest cars with 4 seats.

Maybach

Biggest cars

If you are an architect and designing parking garages you may ask how big are the biggest cars. Biggest mass-produced cars are today in 5.1-5.3 meters range, such as Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS, Mercedes S-Class. But there are also few rare cars, longer than 6 meters, listed in this article.

Car body styles

Car body styles

Saloon / sedan, hatchback, liftback, estate / station wagon, coupe, cabriolet / convertible, targa top, hardtop, landaulet, town car, MPV / multi-purpose vehicle / minivan, off-road vehicle, SUV / sport utility vehicle, crossover, pickup, leisure activity vehicle

Car classification

Car classification in Europe is not officially regulated, instead, it is defined in relative size with other cars. Since 1990s, the cars in Europe are growing in length with about 10-20 cm per model change. Seems that all European companies wants to make a car bigger than competitor’s cars of same class, increasing car class standards with about 2 cm per year, which is exaggerate, based on technology evolution, 5 mm per year is enough.

License / terms of service

You are allowed to use database commercially in YOUR business or company, on your website, mobile app or other software development.
You are NOT allowed to redistribute / resell database to people outside your company or publish database on other websites.
If you are an individual, student, teacher, and not represent a commercial entity, keep database for YOUR personal use and not give it to anyone else.