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Full-size vehicles

A full-size car is term a 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.

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.

Decline and renaissance

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", and overall lengths of around 225". Though most cars throughout the 1970s remianed 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 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.

List of full-size cars

The Lincoln Town Car is currently the largest car made in the United States measuring 218" in length

Current full-size cars

Audi A8
Bentley Arnage
BMW 7 Series
Buick Lucerne
Cadillac DTS
Chevrolet Impala
Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Dodge Magnum
Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Five Hundred
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 Avalon
Volkswagen Phaeton

Past full-size cars

Aston Martin Lagonda
Bentley Brooklands
Buick LeSabre
Buick Park Avenue
Buick Roadmaster
Cadillac Deville
Chevrolet Caprice
Chrysler 300M
Chrysler Concorde
Chrysler LHS
Dodge Intrepid
Eagle Vision
Mitsubishi Diamante
Oldsmobile Aurora
Pontiac Bonneville
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

See also

• Car classification
• Vehicle size class

External link

• Official US government car size class definitions

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