Editing Car classification (section)

== North American market segments ==
Several other segment descriptions, listed below, are used in North America. Cars from these segments may also be sold in other countries. However, the usage of the terms is mostly specific to North America.

=== Muscle car ===
[[File:1970 AMC The Machine 2-door muscle car in RWB trim by lake.JPG|thumb|right|1970 [[AMC Rebel#The Machine|AMC The Machine]]<ref>{{cite web|author=((Auto Editors of ''Consumer Guide'')) |title=1970 AMC Rebel Machine |date=12 January 2007 |website=HowStuffWorks.com |url= https://musclecars.howstuffworks.com/classic-muscle-cars/1970-amc-rebel-machine.htm |access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McClurg |first=Bob |title=Red, White & Fast: 1970 AMC Rebel Machine |url= https://www.motortrend.com/articles/red-white-and-fast-1970-amc-rebel-machine/ |work=Motor Trend (Hot Rod) |date=31 July 2015 |access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref>]]
{{main|Muscle car}}

Muscle car is an American term for high-performance cars, usually rear-wheel drive and fitted with a large and powerful V8 engine. The term originated for the 1960s and early 1970s special editions of mass-production cars which were designed for drag racing.

Examples of muscle cars:
* [[Ford Torino]]
* [[Plymouth Road Runner]]
* [[Pontiac GTO]]
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=== Pony car ===
[[File:1966 Ford Mustang T-5 car.JPG|thumb|right |[[Ford Mustang#First generation (1965–1973)|Ford Mustang]] (1965–1973)]]
{{main|Pony car}}

Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the [[Ford Mustang]] in 1964. It broke all post-World War II automobile sales records, "creating the 'pony car' craze soon adopted by competitors." The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.

Examples of pony cars:
* [[AMC Javelin]]
* [[Chevrolet Camaro]]
* [[Dodge Challenger]]
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=== Personal luxury car ===
[[File:1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Landau.jpg|thumb|1977 [[Chevrolet Monte Carlo]]]]
{{main|Personal luxury car}}

A personal luxury car is a North American market segment for premium [[coupé]] or [[convertible]] produced from 1952–2007. These two-door cars prioritized comfort, styling, and a high level of interior features.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gartman |first=David |title=Auto opium: a social history of American automobile design |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1994 |page=180 |isbn=978-0-415-10572-9 }}</ref> Not prioritizing maximum interior space, interior volumes are equivalent size to mid-size cars and are part of the [[D-segment]] in the European car classification, and exterior dimensions can exceed [[F-segment]].

Examples of personal luxury cars:
* [[Ford Thunderbird]]
* [[Cadillac Eldorado]]
* [[Chrysler Cordoba]]

=== Sport compact ===
[[File:DodgeSRT4.jpg|thumb|Dodge Neon SRT-4]]
{{main|Sport compact}}
A sporting version of an affordable compact car or a subcompact car. There is no precise definition and the description is applied for marketing purposes to a wide variety of models.

Cars began to be marketed as sport compacts in the mid-1980s when it was used for option packages on American-built coupes. Since then, it has also been used for standalone sports car models and cars imported from Europe and Asia.

The European equivalent is a hot hatch. However, sport compacts are not restricted to just hatchback body styles.

Examples of sport compact cars:
* [[Chevrolet Cavalier|Chevrolet Cavalier Z24]]
* [[Ford Probe]]
* [[Honda Civic Si]]