Notchback

A notchback refers to a specific automotive body style characterized by a separate, clearly defined trunk that protrudes distinctly from the passenger compartment. This design, typically a two- or three-box configuration, features a rear window that is separate from the trunk lid, creating a horizontal "notch" where the rear window meets the trunk. Notchbacks contrast with fastbacks, hatchbacks, and other body styles that integrate the rear window and trunk or feature a sloping roofline. Often associated with sedans and coupes, they provide greater cargo security and potentially enhanced structural rigidity in the rear.

Notchback meaning with examples

• The classic Ford Mustang, in its early iterations, employed a stylish notchback design, making it an iconic representation of American automotive design. This classic styling emphasized a trunk which provided an enclosed cargo space, and a separate passenger cabin, a key differentiator.
• After years of producing hatchbacks and station wagons, the company reintroduced the notchback sedan, a strategic move to attract buyers who valued traditional aesthetics and the security a separate trunk offered, compared to other options.
• Collectors frequently seek out vintage notchback models, as their distinct styling, a separate trunk and the rear window, and their association with particular eras of automotive design makes them more sought after in the market.
• The designer chose to use the notchback to create an aesthetic effect: the angularity and the crisp lines of the separated trunk and rear window provided a sense of sophistication and balance for this new model.
• While the hatchback was initially popular, the new safety protocols and the public focus on security lead to a resurgence in the popularity of the notchback, as its separate trunk was considered more resistant to burglary.