Our friends over at Sunday Times Driving have compiled a great list to attack the car acronyms and jargon!
So don't get all confused about the ACC and RPM's - check out this great guide to help you through it!
A
A-pillar: The
two vertical struts sitting either side of and supporting the windscreen. The
A-pillars are a critical part of the crash structure and increasingly house a
side airbags, so have widened over the years. Some A-pillars are split in two
in order to improve forward visibility. Behind the A-pillars are found
B-pillars, C-pillars and, in the
case of larger cars, D-pillars. Also known
as A-posts.
ABS: Antilock
Braking System – A computerised system that prevents the wheels from
locking during emergency braking, improving steering control and reducing
stopping distances.
ACC: Adaptive
Cruise Control – An advanced automatic vehicle speed management system that
monitors traffic ahead and reduces or increases the car’s speed based on the
flow of traffic. Also known as Intelligent Cruise Control. See also
Mercedes-Benz’s Distronic.
Airbag: A bag
designed to protect vehicle occupants from injury in the event of a vehicle
collision and which inflates on impact. Airbags can be found in the dashboard,
at knee level, in the sides of seats, in the doors and elsewhere, and typically
inflate with nitrogen gas at a speed of 1/20 of a second (faster than the blink
of an eye). They deflate immediately following inflation, absorbing the impact
as they do so.
Alcantara: A
suede-like material that is used mainly in premium vehicles. The grippy yet
soft touch nature suits premium sports cars in particular.
Alternator: Converts
mechanical energy from the engine into alternating electrical current for the
12-volt battery, which powers the vehicle’s electrical systems.
Appreciation: When a
vehicle’s value increases over time.
A/T: Automatic
transmission – A gearbox that shifts through gears automatically, doing away
with the need for a manual clutch and gearstick.
AWD: All-Wheel
Drive – When power is fed to all four wheels, otherwise known as four-wheel
drive or 4WD.
AWW: Automatic
Windscreen Wipers – Wipers that come on when an infrared optical sensor mounted
on the windscreen detects changing levels of light reflected by the glass as a
result of rain water. The system adjusts the wiper speed in response to the
level of water.
B
B-pillar: The vertical struts running from the roof to the
waist-line of a vehicle, between the front and rear side windows. Provides
strength to the mid-section of the vehicle.
BHP: Brake Horsepower – The measure of an engine’s
horsepower output before frictional losses caused by components such as the
gearbox, alternator and differential. Previously, a brake was used to load the
engine and its power measured. Today, a dynamometer is used instead.
C
C-pillar: The third strut running from the roof to the
waistline of a vehicle, after the A-pillar and B-pillar. On saloons and coupés,
the C-pillar is the final such post and supports the rear window.
Coupé: A two-door car with a fixed roof, which is often
shorter and more steeply angled at the rear than its saloon equivalent, giving
them a sporty look. Coupés often have limited space and headroom for rear
passengers.
CO2: Carbon Dioxide – an exhaust emission, measured in
grams produced per kilometre (g/km) driven. CO2 emissions are also the basis
for vehicle tax, with higher emitting vehicles penalised.
Crankcase: The bottom of the engine housing the crankshaft,
which is driven by the pistons attached to it via connecting rods.
Crossover: A type of SUV based on a car platform.
Cruise
Control: An automated system that keeps the car at a constant speed set by the
driver. (See also ACC.)
Cut and
Shut: An accident
damaged car that has been repaired by fusing one or more vehicles together.
Cylinder: The part of the engine between the crankcase and
the cylinder head in which the piston moves, and in which the compression and
ignition of the fuel mixture takes place. There are various cylinder
arrangements – three, four or six in line, six or eight in a V-shape, a
W-shaped arrangement composed of two V-banks and two banks of three cylinders
horizontally opposed in a so-called ‘boxer’ format.
Cylinder
head: The machined
component that sits on top of the cylinder block, closing it to create the
combustion chambers. It is important that there is good sealing between it and
the block.
D
D-pillar: Found on larger cars, such as SUVs and estates, the D-pillars are the vertical (or near vertical)
struts found either side of and support the rear window.
Dampers: Suspension components that depress the impact
energy of the car rising and falling as it travels. Also known as ‘shock
absorbers’.
DDI: Direct Diesel Injection – A diesel engine that
sprays atomised fuel directly into the combustion chamber of each cylinder,
improving performance and fuel economy.
Depreciation: the proportion of a vehicle’s purchase price that
is lost over time.
Diesel
engine: An internal
combustion engine that runs on diesel fuel. Diesel engines do not use spark
plugs to ignite the fuel; instead the fuel is compressed in the cylinders until
it reaches a temperature hot enough for combustion. Diesel engines work at a
much higher compression than petrol engines, generate higher torque and use
less fuel.
Differential: A mechanical device that allows the driven wheels
of a car to turn at different speeds, splitting engine torque between the
wheels so that the outside wheel in a corner can rotate faster than the inside
wheel.
Displacement: See ‘CC’.
DOHC: Double Overhead Camshaft – An engine design with
two camshafts positioned at the top of the cylinder heads, one to operate the
intake valves and one to operate the exhaust valves. More powerful and
efficient than an engine with a single overhead camshaft.
DPF: Diesel Particulate Filter – Traps particulates in
a diesel-engine vehicle’s exhaust. Particles are then burned off at high
temperatures.
DRL: Daytime Running Lights - Lights designed to stay on at all times, in some cases they can lower your insurance costs so be sure to mention them when getting a quote.
Dry weight: The kerb weight of a vehicle, which excludes
occupants and cargo, with the further exclusion of consumables such as fuel,
oil and water.
DSC: Dynamic Stability Control – see Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) or Electronic Stability Program (ESP).
DSG: Direct-Shift Gearbox – Volkswagen Group’s
dual-clutch gearbox which dispenses with a conventional clutch pedal and allows
either full automatic operation or semi-manual control via the floor-mounted
selector and steering wheel paddles.
Dual Fuel: A car that will run on one or more fuel sources.
LPG/Petrol conversion is a common example.
E
E-REV: Extended-Range Electric Vehicle – a vehicle that
uses an electric motor for propulsion but also uses an internal combustion
engine to generate electrical power and maintain a minimum level of charge in
the battery when it gets low. Unlike a Plug-in Hybrid, an E-REV doesn’t use the
petrol/diesel engine to directly power the wheels. E-REVs are designed to
eliminate the ‘range anxiety’ associated with pure electric vehicles.
ESC: Electronic Stability Control – An electronic
program that applies the brakes to a specific wheel when a loss of steering
control is detected. Helps combat understeer and oversteer events to improve
safety. Also known as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) or Electronic Stability
Program (ESP).
ESP: Electronic Stability Program – see ESC.
Estate
cars: A car with an extended load space behind the rear seats, accessed by a
door at the rear. Known as “station wagons” in the United States.
EV: Electric Vehicle – A blanket term to describe any
type of vehicle that is primarily powered by an electric motor. Can include
Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (E-REVs), Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) and Hydrogen
Fuel Cell (HFC) vehicles.
F
FDSH: Full Dealer Service History – as FSH (see below)
but the service stamps have been acquired from a registered dealer.
FFV: Flexible Fuel Vehicles – a vehicle that is fuelled
by a blend of ethanol and petrol. FFV vehicles can also run on normal unleaded
petrol.
FSH: Full Service History – often seen in used car
adverts to denote a full log of regular maintenance and annual service stamps
from service outlets.
Fuel
Injection: A system by which atomised fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion
chamber of each cylinder of the engine.
FWD: Front Wheel Drive – When engine power and torque
is channelled to the front wheels only.
G
GPS: Global Positioning System – The network of
satellites that provides the location and time information used by a vehicle’s
Satellite Navigation (Sat Nav) system. (See also Sat Nav/Satellite Navigation.)
Gross
weight: The kerb weight of a vehicle or trailer plus the maximum load that
can be carried safely for use on the road, including occupants and cargo.
GT: Grand Tourer – A car that is designed for
long-distance driving. Usually used as a prefix or suffix on high-performance,
luxury vehicles.
H
Hatchback: A car with a boot lid that incorporates a large
section of the rear section of the car, including the rear window. Hatchbacks
offer easier access to the cargo (luggage) area.
HP: Horsepower – The measure of an engine’s work rate,
which is torque (twisting force) multiplied by speed (how fast it is spinning).
It’s a useful measure of how quickly a car can overcome issues like weight and
drag when moving. ‘Horse’ refers to the original measure which was based on a
comparison of the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses.
HPI Check: A used vehicle history checking service that
provides a report to determine if the car is stolen, accident damaged, written
off or clocked. (See Clocking.)
Hybrid: A vehicle that is powered by both a petrol engine
and battery-powered electric motors.
I
ICE: Internal Combustion Engine vehicle – abbreviation
increasingly used to differentiate vehicles purely powered by petrol, diesel or
other form of combustible fuels from electric or hybrid vehicles.
Independent
suspension: A suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move up
and down independently of the other.
Intercooler: A system that cools the hot gas that has been
compressed by either a turbocharger or supercharger before entering the engine,
increasing its density and therefore the engine’s power output.
ISOFIX: The international standard attachment for child
safety seats which permits a compliant seat to be fixed to anchor points on the
car rather than secured solely by the seatbelt.
i-VTEC: Intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift
Electronic Control – Honda’s variable valve control system that improves
efficiency at low engine revs and performance at high revs.
J
J-turn: A driving manoeuvre in which a car being driven
backwards is, without stopping, quickly turned almost about its axis so as to
continue in the same direction but facing forwards.
Jacked-up: A vehicle, typically a pick-up, the suspension of
which is altered so as to raise it high off the ground
K
Kerb weight: The weight of a vehicle or trailer including
fluids such as fuel, oil and water but excluding occupants and cargo. See also Dry weight and Gross weight.
KPH: Kilometres Per Hour – The number of kilometres a
vehicle can travel at a constant speed in one hour.
L
Leaf-spring
suspension: A simple form of suspension made up of a number of curved metal strips
clamped together.
LED: Light Emitting Diode – a type of light source that
requires less power to run than conventional filament bulbs and is often used
on modern cars for low-beam headlights, brake lights, indicators and daylight
running lights.
List price: refers to the cost of the car as it is driven
off the dealership forecourt. It starts with the retail cost of the
car from the factory to which are added any additional fees required to drive
the car away including taxes, insurance, delivery fees, etc.
Also known as the “On the road” price. Customers can almost always
negotiate downwards from the list price.
LSD: Limited Slip Differential – A standard differential
will split power to the driven wheels via the path of least resistance, meaning
if one wheel is off the ground or on a slippery surface it will be fed 100 per
cent of the power and the vehicle will go nowhere. A limited slip diff prevents
all the power being transmitted to the spinning wheel, instead allocating a
proportion of the power to the other driven wheels that have grip.
LPG: Liquid Petroleum Gas – A flammable mixture of
propane and butane that can be used as a vehicle fuel. It is considered a
‘greener’ alternative to petrol because less exhaust CO2 is produced. Also
known as Autogas or Auto Propane.
LWB: Long Wheelbase – A lengthened version of an
existing vehicle chassis, often available as an option for luxury saloons such
as the Mercedes Benz S-Class.
M
MacPherson
Strut: A type of
suspension in which a coil spring is positioned over a shock-absorbing strut.
The benefits are fewer parts and less weight than conventional suspension
systems.
Marque: The vehicle make, or brand (e.g. BMW, Mercedes,
Rolls-Royce).
Monocoque
chassis: The widely adopted structure of modern cars where the body supports the
car’s structural load, rather than relying on a separate chassis.
MPG: Miles Per Gallon – The number of miles a vehicle
can travel per gallon of fuel consumed. Officially expressed as urban (city),
extra urban (rural roads) and combined (a mix of city and rural).
MPH: Miles Per Hour – The number of miles a vehicle can
travel at a constant speed in one hour.
MPV: Multi-Purpose Vehicle – a vehicle based on a
family-car chassis and designed to provide maximum cabin space and versatility.
Also known as People Carriers (UK) and Minivans (USA).
Multi-link
suspension: A type of suspension using three or more lateral arms and one or more
longitudinal arms, allowing both good ride and handling but at the cost of
complexity and expense.
N
Naturally
aspirated: An engine in which the cylinders draw in the fuel mixture under
atmospheric pressure by the suction action of the pistons during induction,
rather than it being forced in by a turbocharger or supercharger.
Notchback: A car body style where the rear of the car is
short or the rear window is more upright than normal. Can apply to a saloon,
coupé or hatchback body style.
NVH: Noise, Vibration and Harshness – A measure of
the noise and vibration characteristics of vehicles as well as a
subjective measure of the quality of the ride. There are legal requirements
regarding exterior noise and interior vibration but car makers will spend a
great deal of time fine tuning the NVH of each new model to make it acceptable
to the brand and the vehicle’s class
O
Octane: A colourless, flammable hydrocarbon found in
petrol that reduces engine knock, when pockets of air/fuel mixture detonate
after the main combustion. High-octane petrol performs well in sporty, high
compression engines and reduces the risk of engine knock.
Odometer: Device used to record mileage throughout a
vehicle’s lifetime. Also known as a ‘milometer’.
OTR: On The Road – Related to car prices,
this refers to the cost of the car as it is driven off the dealership
forecourt. It starts with the retail cost of the car from the factory
to which are added any additional fees required to drive the car away including
taxes, insurance, delivery fees, etc. Also known as the “List price”.
Customers can almost always negotiate downwards from the OTR price.
Oversteer: A condition in which, as the car corners the rear
wheels lose grip, provoking the possibility of a tail-out slide.
P
Petrol
engine: A type of internal combustion engine that uses petroleum fuel. The
petrol is mixed with air and ignited in cylinders, forcing down a piston whose
motion ultimately powers the vehicle’s wheels. On the piston’s upstroke, waste
gases are forced out of the cylinder and expelled through the exhaust system.
PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle – a type of Hybrid
vehicle with a larger on-board propulsion battery that gives better range in
pure electric power. The propulsion battery can be plugged into an electrical
supply and charged.
Pillars: The vertical or near-vertical struts that run from
the roof to the waist of a vehicle, increasing body strength. See A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar and D-pillar.
Platform: In manufacturing, refers to base components of a
car including its chassis, floorpan, suspension and steering system. A single
manufacturer can create a platform that is shared across a number of its own
models (e.g. a family car and an SUV could share the same underpinnings), and different
manufacturers can share platforms with each other (e.g. the Peugeot 108,
Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo all use the same platform). This helps reduce
costs through economies of scale.
Power
Steering: Steering that is aided by electric or hydraulic motors. This reduces
the effort required by the driver to turn the wheels, particularly at low
speed.
PS: An alternative measure of engine power output to
BHP, used primarily in Continental Europe. PS comes from the German word
‘Pferdestärke’, meaning ‘horse strength’). To convert PS to BHP, multiply the
PS figure by .986.
Privacy
Glass: An upmarket
term for tinted windows.
Q
Q Plate: Registration plates starting with a Q indicate the
vehicle was either not originally registered in the UK and proof of its age was
not available at time of registration, or that it was built using a large
number of off-the-shelf parts (e.g. kit cars).
R
Range: In reference to an electric vehicle (EV), the
distance you can travel on pure electric power before the battery requires a
charge.
Range
Anxiety: A term used to describe the fear of running out of battery charge while
driving a pure electric vehicle.
Regenerative
Braking: An energy recovery system used in most electric vehicles that can help
charge the battery while the car is slowing down. Typically the electric motor
acts as the generator, so power can flow both ways between it and the battery.
‘Regen’ helps extend range, while the process also helps slow the vehicle in a
similar way to engine braking in a conventional car.
Ringer: A car whose true identity has been disguised by
using a registration mark from another vehicle, typically one that has been
written off. Check all VINs on a used car (stamped into the bodywork, on the
chassis and behind the windscreen) if you are unsure of its history, and run an
HPI check.
Road Tax
Band: A vehicle’s
grouping according to the amount of annual tax that must be paid. In the UK,
bands range from ‘A’ (least tax payable) to ‘M’ (most tax payable) according to
the amount of exhaust CO2 produced.
RPM: Revolutions Per Minute – The number of times the
crankshaft of a motor turns through 360 degrees in one minute.
RWD: Rear Wheel Drive – Power from the engine is
sent to the rear wheels only.
S
Saloon: A car with three distinct sections; one central
compartment for passengers, one in front, typically to house the engine and
front wheels, and one behind, usually for cargo (known as a three-box
configuration). Saloon cars can come with two or four doors, and can come with
a boot that opens with a lid or with a hatchback.
Sat
Nav/Satellite Navigation: Mapping and guidance system that uses Global Positioning Satellites to
detect a car’s position and determine a route to a desired location.
Shock
Absorbers: See ‘Dampers’.
SUV: Sports Utility Vehicle – a tall-bodied
vehicle with some off-road capability but designed mainly to perform well on
roads. SUVs may have four-wheel drive, but may also be two-wheel drive, and
have varying degrees of off-road capability. Examples include BMW’s X5 and
Audi’s Q7. Within the catch-all term, SUV, can be found Crossover, a type of vehicle not built from the ground up as
an SUV but instead based on a car platform.
Supercharger: Similar to a turbocharger but the compressor is
mechanically driven by the engine rather than being powered by the exhaust
gases. Superchargers do not suffer from ‘lag’ (the delay as a turbo’s turbine
‘spools up’) but do require a portion of the engine’s output to power them.
Suspension: The springs, wishbones, dampers and links that
attach a vehicle to its wheels. The main function of suspension is to provide a
car’s specific ride and handling characteristics. A luxury car’s suspension
will focus on isolating occupants from bad road surfaces while a sportscar’s
set up will favour flatter handling through corners
T
TCS: Traction Control System – an electronic system
that contains wheel spin by cutting engine power and/or applying brake pulses.
TFT: A type of advanced LCD (liquid-crystal
display) screen used to display information about the car’s functions and
controls. TFT (thin-film transistor) technology is standard on PC monitors
these days as it improves image quality over early “passive” LCD screens, which
could not keep up with fast-moving objects. TFT screens are, therefore, more
suitable for video and animated menus.
Torque: The twisting or turning force generated by a
motor, usually displayed as a peak figure in pounds per foot (lb ft) or Newton
Metres (NM) at a given number of revolutions per minute. Torque determines how
quickly power can be transferred to the wheels and is particularly useful as a
measure of acceleration.
Torque
steer: An
imbalance of driving force between the front wheels of a front-wheel-drive
vehicle that causes the car to pull to the left or right under heavy
acceleration. Can be an issue with powerful front-drive models.
Torsional
rigidity: The resistance of the vehicle’s body to twisting forces. The higher the
torsional rigidity, the less likely the vehicle is to flex while cornering or
travelling over bumps, which improves handling and NVH.
Transmission: Most often refers to the type of gearbox employed
by a vehicle, typically automatic (auto) or manual, although several types of
semi-automatic versions are available.
Trim level: The specification of the vehicle, including but
not limited to wheel type/size, materials used in the interior, bundled
technology, etc. The choices are often grouped together and priced from low
cost “entry-level” trim to a “range-topping” highest specification option. Trim
levels do not usual refer to the engine, rather a specific engine can be
specified for each trim level.
Turbocharger: A method of getting more air into the cylinders by
compressing it and blowing it in, increasing the engine’s power. The
atmospheric air is compressed via a turbine that is spun by exhaust gases from
the engine.
U
Understeer: A condition during cornering where the car tends
to push on in a straight line rather than following the arc of the corner.
V
Valves: Devices actuated by the camshaft that open and
close around the combustion chamber to allow the fuel mixture in and exhaust
gases out. High performance engines typically have four valves – two inlet and
two exhaust – per cylinder.
Vehicle
platform: The fundamental components that comprise a vehicle and which include the
floorpan – the basis of the monocoque chassis – front and rear axles a set
distance apart, the steering system, the type of front and rear suspensions and
the location and orientation of the engine and powertrain. The platform is often
shared between models and marques to provide substantial cost savings.
VIN: Vehicle Identification Number – a unique number,
usually 17 digits, given to each vehicle during the manufacturing process. VINs
can be used to identify vehicles so that their history can be checked (see HPI
Check).
VRM: Vehicle Registration Mark – the number plate.
W
Wankel
engine: A type of compact rotary engine in which, simply put, the combustion
process spins a triangular-shaped rotor inside an oval housing. Its main
benefit is delivering smooth power from a relatively small capacity at high
revs. However, with one or two exceptions, namely Mazda, it has not been
universally adopted by car makers who prefer the more traditional reciprocating
engine of cylinders and pistons.
Wheelbase: The distance between centre points of the front
and rear wheels.
X
Xenon: High-powered headlight bulbs that increase
intensity and brightness.
Y
Yugo: A once popular small car manufactured by Zastava, a
former Yugoslavian car maker, in the 1980s and based on the Fiat 127. Still a
common sight on roads in Serbia and Croatia
Z
ZiL lanes: Lanes on
some of Moscow’s major roads reserved exclusively for government officials and
named after the manufacturer of Russian-built armoured limousines. The term was
also used to describe the lanes on roads in London reserved for cars carrying
officials and athletes during the 2012 Olympic Games.
Sourced from Sunday Times Driving