Why is it called a liftback when it's a hatchback?

[Yaris Revenge]

Yeah, also: the previously most common "hatchback" design functioned much more like a standard trunk that simply hinged above the rear window instead of below it. Today's designs tend to incorporate the entire rear section of the vehicle, well past the tail lights, so I think liftback is a better term.

Standard hatchback designs:




~YR

[WRBlue]

Originally Posted by Yaris Revenge

Yeah, also: the previously most common "hatchback" design functioned much more like a standard trunk that simply hinged above the rear window instead of below it. Today's designs tend to incorporate the entire rear section of the vehicle, well past the tail lights, so I think liftback is a better term.

Standard hatchback designs:

Thoes are all "fastbacks" - a slowly sloped, streamlined, sporty car. My DSM, fairlady, RX-7, and Supra were all fastbacks.
Where hatches have a more vertical rear, like a minivan or SUV. Technically minivans and SUVs are hatchbacks too.

But even more so, all fastbacks are hatchbacks, because fastbacks are thought of as a subset of hatches. But so not all hatches are fastbacks.