Glossary

Proportions
Getting started- side view
One box

Two box

Three box
 9 10
8 11
7 12
6
13
5
4 14

15

18
17 16
 roof line B-pillar
A-pillar C-pillar backlight
windscreen
cowl
trunk
hood
front lamp rear lamp

grille

rear
bumper
front bumper

fog

ground line
wheel tyre
 5
4
3 6

10 9
 Day light opening (DLO)
roof line
belt line flair

character line

feature line

front graphics

rear fascia
graphics

shoulder line light catcher

1

4
7
2
3 5 6
 height

ground clearance
departure
approach angle angle
front overhang wheelbase rear overhang
Beltline
Beltline
The position and inclination of the beltline not only
affects the appearance and proportion of a car, but
also its character and stance
Body Section
Feature line Crease line
Character Line
Boneline
Overhang
Shoulder and shoulder line Shutline
Stance
Pillars
Pillars fulfill a number of primary functions: they are important
structural members, doors are hinged off and/or close
on to them, they support the roof, 'cage' and protect the occupants,
and visually frame the windows..

B pillar C pillar
A pillar
D pillar
Tumble Home Rake Angle
B-Pillar

Strictly speaking, the B-pillars of most four

and five-door (and some two and three-door) C-Pillar, D-Pillar (rearmost pillars)
cars are not visible until their door or doors
are opened. What we refer to as B-pillars are
While an A-pillar might have elegance, and a B-pillar is
actually the adjacent uprights of the front and
largely plain, functional but anonymous, a C-pillar can
rear side window frames which sit over, and
have style. Some, like BMW's 'Hoffmeister kink' have
hide, the actual B-pillar. The real B-pillar is
become important marque signifiers. Strictly speaking,
invariably a hefty, vertical, structural member
for a car with 3 windows along the side (such as
that front doors latch on to and off which the
an estate car, SUV or MPV) the C-pillar is the third
rear doors are hinged. It will also
pillar - that is the rear door pillar. The rearmost pillar is
accommodate the upper front seat belt
therefore the D-pillar.
mountings.
Cab forward
Cant Rail
DLO
Doors
Crown Cheater Panel
DRG Di Noc
Wheel arch Fender (wing) Haunch
Hood
Shutline Joint lines
Proportions
 How to read a car?
Key references

roof line

belt line

wheel size

ground line
 Hard points

roof line

cowl position

belt line

ground line

overhang
Getting Started
7 steps- side view
Wheelbase
height
Overhangs
Sil
A-C pillar
DLO
Lamps