Facelift (automotive)
As a facelift (short Mopf ) visual and technical revisions to a vehicle model are referred to in the automotive and motorcycle industry. If, during a facelift to in addition to technical changes, the outer appearance of a vehicle is changed, one also speaks of a facelift. Car manufacturers use each most own terms, such as LCI for Life Cycle Impulse (BMW) or GP for Large product upgrading (Volkswagen ).
Overview
Facelift, will face technical details of a vehicle changes, find some manufacturers place annually, other manufacturers have technical facelift to indefinite time points in the current series production incorporated. It is customary to perform a facelift about half of the planned production time of a model is. Typically, such a facelift new available engine variants, additional equipment options, as well as visual changes, most of which relate to details like the headlights and the bumper. Supposedly there are some already in the introduction of a new car model, the plans for future optical facelift. In contrast to the model change, in which a completely new car comes on the market, a vehicle according to the model of care remains largely the same, but has changes in detail.
As part of the facelift, the new, equipped with improved model is often offered as a model of next year. Find the model of care instead of, for example, in the autumn of the year N, the vehicle is often offered as a model N 1. Find the facelift in the spring of M instead, the term M / II according to the manufacturer 's use.
The purpose of these measures is often the feigning of a new model and the associated pulse on the sales figures. Car out of the facelift are therefore usually advertised as new models. Uncritical media follow this characteristic style and describe the facelift also as a new development.
Delineation inaccuracies
What is a facelift, and a new model, however, what is already, in the end a matter of interpretation. Partial extensive facelifts and greater recourse to carry-over parts such as soil groups create a gray area. So true in the medial consensus Mercedes- Benz Series 222 (S- Class of 2013 ) as a new model, although it uses the floor pan and the type approval of its predecessor, which was released in the same year facelift of the 212 series ( E-Class ) but actually only as a facelift, although the changes were very extensive. Both were marketed as a new model.
Planning and control of the facelift
The facelift is often performed with the change of the model year of a vehicle .. This has advantages for the creation of sales materials, since the model year is also noted in the registration documents (see VIN or vehicle identification number ). In addition, the production planning and control is facilitated because the various technical changes that occur over time, not individually, but bundled into production and thus the supply and logistics can be controlled to the new and Entfallteile targeted.
Examples
Facelift facelift without
The Mercedes -Benz W 123 was outwardly changed little during its ten -year production period. The model enhancements were mainly technical in nature.
During the construction period, among other newly developed engines, revised interior and new features were used. The external appearance changed substantially in that were installed to the start of production for the top models available vehicle parts, such as broadband halogen headlights, from September 1982, in the small motorized versions.
Minor facelift
The BMW 5 Series has been subtly revised look and technology in the summer of 2000. The front headlights were replaced by headlamps with halo ring and round indicators, also slightly changed the taillights. All bumpers received a paint in body color (except for the M package and M5). The chrome bezel as well as the shape of the BMW kidney were also changed. The design of the front bumper was changed and designed around the fog lights instead of rectangular. From a technical perspective, among other newly developed engines were offered from now on.
Extensive facelift
The Ford Scorpio was equipped in autumn 1994 for model year 1995 with a completely redesigned body fittings. The hatchback accounted for completely. The changes concerned the vehicle front ( headlights, fenders, hood, bumper, grille, etc.). In the saloon and the boot area also has been completely redesigned, which was not the case with the combination (tournament ).
Because of the same in much of art is the Scorpio '95 but still basically just a modernized Scorpio '92.
The same goes for the VW Golf VI, which is largely identical to the VW Golf V.
Facelift in conversion of vehicle brand
In the history of the automotive industry, it happens that a car manufacturer is taken over by another. In such cases, models of the acquired manufacturer were often recorded under small changes in the manufacturer of the receiving program in the past. An example from the commercial vehicle industry is the Magirus- Deutz MK series. As part of the integration of Magirus- Deutz in the Iveco Group from 1975 to 1983 was the MK series of Magirus- Deutz, which had in 1980 received another grille, 1983 subjected to a further facelift in which the turn signal instead of the now bumper made of metal, made of plastic migrated. At the same time the interior was redesigned and changed the brand name to Iveco. The change happened very careful of " Magirus- Deutz " about " Iveco Magirus " and " Iveco Magirus " ultimately only " Iveco" to slowly bring the regular customers to the new brand.