The configuration of a car body is typically determined by the layout of the engine, passenger and luggage compartments, which can be shared or separately articulated. A key design feature is the car's roof-supporting pillars, designated from front to rear of the car as A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar and D-pillar.
A one-box design, the Renault Twingo (1998–2000)
A three-box coupé, the Fiat 124
A three-box hatchback, the European Ford Escort
A three-box sedan/saloon, the Renault Dauphine
The pillars on a car with permanent roof body style are the vertical or nearly vertical supports of its window area or greenhouse—designated respectively as the A, B, C and D-pillar, moving from front to rear, in profile view.
Typical pillar configurations of a sedan (three box) and station wagon (two box) from the same model range