Facelift (automotive)
An automotive facelift (also known as mid-generational refresh, minor model change or minor model update, life cycle impulse) comprises changes to a car, truck or bus's styling during its production run – including, to highly variable degree, new sheetmetal, interior design elements or mechanical changes[2] – allowing a carmaker to freshen a model without complete redesign. Cars are generally facelifted around 3 years in their production cycle.[3] One of the first car models to be facelifted may be the Ford Model T.[4]
Laurance Yap, Editor, Canadian Driver[1]
A facelift retains the basic styling and platform of the car,[5] with aesthetic alterations, e.g., changes to the front fascia (grille, headlights), taillights, bumpers, instrument panel and center console, and various body or interior trim accessories. Mechanical changes may or may not occur concurrently with the facelift (e.g., changes to the engine, suspension or transmission).
A facelift may include a change to the vehicle's name; such was the case when Ford renamed their Five Hundred model to be their Ford Taurus in 2008. The facelifts of the Citroën DS3, DS4 and DS5 even changed the brand under which these models were marketed from Citroën to DS.
Examples
![](../I/Citro%C3%ABn_C5_Is_165953.jpg.webp)
See also
References
- "Review: Audi A4". Canadian Driver, August 31, 2005, Laurance Yap.
- "Definition: Facelift". About.com, Aaron Gold.
- Delphi VIII Forecast And Analysis Of The North American Automotive Industry. 1996.
- "What is a car facelift? Can they save me money?". carwow.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- "2010 Ford Fusion Review". Edmunds.com.