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Combi coupé

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Combi coupé

Combi coupé is an automobile body style which combines the functionality of a hatchback with the appearance of a fastback. The term joins the European term "combi" (for an estate car / station wagon) with coupé.

The term was mainly used by Swedish manufacturer Saab, but also Chevrolet Chevette was marketed as combi-coupé.

As a liftback (in some instances a hatchback), the Combi Coupé incorporates a shared passenger and cargo space, with accessibility via both the passenger compartment and a rear third or fifth door; a fold-down rear seat often allows greater flexibility managing cargo. As a two-box design, the body style includes an A, B & C-pillar.

The term was coined by Björn Envall and first introduced with the 1974 Saab 99. Saab also discussed making a hatchback available for the Saab 96/Saab 95 model range and Envall created the prototype Saab 98. "Combi coupe" term was later applied to the Saab 900 model line-up. Saab's national competitor Volvo also made a prototype combi coupé.

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show Jason Castriota showed models that indicated that the Saab 9-3 would be available as a combi coupé. It was since then confirmed that the 9-3 would be available as a combi coupé, convertible and crossover.

References

Combi coupé Wikipedia