16V: Four-cylinder engine with Four-valve technology (see Four-valve technology) 4Motion: VW-speak for four wheel drive
4WD: Four Wheel Drive - all four wheels are powered by the engine.


A/C: Air-conditioning

A-pillar: First roof set of pillars into which the windscreen sits.

A/W: Alloy Wheels- lightweight wheels, stronger than steel so easier to make into attractive designs.

ABS: Anti-lock Brake System - Instead of locking onto the brake-discs, the brake pads repeatedly and rapidly grab and release the discs. The wheels don’t lock and the driver maintains control under heavy braking.

Active Cruise Control: Uses radar to detect a car in front and slows down accordingly.

Active Headrests: Headrests which move to meet the occupants head in an accident, preventing whiplash.

Active suspension: Electronically monitored and controlled damping and springing, using a combination of air springs and struts that are fitted with hi-tech pumps and valves.

Airbags: Large canvas bags inflated by compressed gas in a fraction of a second in the event of an impact, to prevent over extension of the neck and impact injuries to the skull, chest, and torso. Can be located in the steering wheel boss, dashboard, below the steering column, seat sides, roof-rails, and even seat cushions.

Airmatic DC (Dual Control): Mercedes-speak for electronically controlled air suspension.

Air suspension: Coil springs are replaced by airbags, which can be adjusted to vary the ride quality and handling characteristics.

ASF: Audi Space Frame- refers to the way the aluminium chassis is constructed - extruded and cast rails bonded and riveted together.

ASC: Acceleration Skid Control- see Traction Control.

ASC+T: BMW-speak for combined stability control and traction control (See ESP and Traction Control).

ASM: Automatic Shift Manual- Mazda term: See Sequential Gearchange.

ASR: Fiat and Audi-speak for Traction Control..

Automatic transmission: oil-driven transmission that changes ratios itself by redirecting pressurised oil.

Automatic lights: light sensors which detect darkness and illuminate the headlamps.

Automatic wipers: See Rain Sensitive Wipers.

AWD: All Wheel Drive (same as four wheel drive)

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B-pillar: Second row of roof pillars where front seatbelts and rear doors are usually hung.

B-segment: Superminis, Fiesta-sized cars

Bhp: Brake Horse Power: A measurement of the ability of an engine to accelerate

Bluetooth: Short-distance wireless connection between electric components. Car phones will soon detect your mobile in your pocket and go hands-free without having to plug the phone into a cradle.

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C/L: Central locking: Locks and unlocks all doors at the same time.

C-pillar: Third row of roof pillars; final row on three door cars into which the rear windscreen sits.

C-Segment: The family class, cars of the size of the Ford Focus and VW Golf etc.

Cabrio: A hatchback or saloon with a soft-top in place of a roof.

CBC: Cornering Brake Control- see EBD

CC: Coupe Convertible- a car with a folding metal roof

Cc: Cylindrical Capacity-refers to the size of the cylinders-more cc’s equals bigger cylinders. Bigger cylinders take in more fuel which results in bigger explosions and more power.

CDi: Common-rail Diesel Injection (see common-rail)

City Car: See Sub-B-Segment

Convertible: Any car which can be converted into an open-top car

Common-rail: Highly efficient system of using an electric pump to pressurise diesel in a single tube, which then feeds all the cylinders using electronic valves.

Cruise Control: Electronic system which maintains a car’s speed without the driver having to touch the accelerator.

Curtain airbags: Airbags mounted above the side windows which drop down and inflate to protect the head from injury in side impacts.

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D5: Volvo’s five cylinder diesel engines
D-pillar: Fourth row of roof pillars, only found in four and five door cars, and estates. In cars with a third side window on each flank, a fourth pillar is needed.

D-segment: The large family class, referring to the Renault Laguna, Toyota Avensis etc.

Double wishbone: Two triangular mini-frames link wheel hub to car body, allowing uniform suspension travel and better wheel control.

Drive-by-wire: Electronic link between accelerator pedal and engine intake (throttle).

DSC: Dynamic Stability Control- See ESP
DSG: direct shift gearbox- Gearbox that has two electronic gear selectors and clutches. (essentially two three-speed gearboxes in the one casing) When the driver changes gear, one clutch engages while the other disengages for a rapid and smooth change. The unused gear selector then chooses the next gear, ready to engage quickly when the driver nudges the lever.

DSTC: Dynamic Stability and Traction Control system- Volvo speak for ESP and Traction Control (which prevents the wheels spinning on acceleration by applying the brakes or cutting engine power)
Durashift- Ford term: See Sequential Gearchange

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E/W: Electric Windows
EBA: Emergency Brake Assist- detects that the driver is performing an emergency stop and applies maximum boost to the brakes (drivers rarely stand on the brakes hard enough in an emergency)
EBD: electronic brake force distribution- Distributes the brake force to whichever wheels need it most to keep the car on its chosen path during emergency braking.

EDL: Electronic Differential Lock- Locks the differential so power goes to the driving wheel with the most traction. Useful in ice and in very wet weather.

EPS: Electronic Power Steering- uses an electric pump rather than a hydraulic pump, to help turn the steering wheel
Ergonomics: refers, in a car’s context, as to how easy it is to interact with a car’s dashboard and controls.

ESP: Electronic Stability Programme- Brakes individual wheels and cuts power to keep the car stable during extreme manoeuvres.

EURO NCAP: European National Car Assessment Program- independent organisation that crash-tests cars and rates them for passenger and pedestrian protection.

Ex-works: Not including inspection, delivery and number plates.

Executive cars: Large, image - intensive cars like the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series, etc.

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Flat-four: Engine configuration whereby two banks of two cylinders are laid out at 180 degrees to each other, allowing their piston connecting rods be joined to a common crankshaft -hence the term ‘flat’.

Flat-six: Engine configuration whereby two banks of three cylinders are laid out at 180 degrees to each other, allowing their piston connecting rods be joined to a common crankshaft -hence the term ‘flat’.

Four-C: Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept-active air suspension and advanced four wheel drive for maximum body control and traction.

Four-in-a-line: Most common engine configuration where four cylinders are arranged in a line, usually in an upright and transverse position relative the car.

Four-valve technology: Each cylinder requires intake and exhaust valves. Increase the number of valves, and the speed at which fuel can be inducted and exhaust expelled is also increased, making the engine spin faster, producing more power.

FPSH: Full (in this case, Peugeot) Service History
FSH: Full Service History
FWD: Front Wheel Drive

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GTi: Originally a VW name, it stands for Gran Tourismo Injection and is used to refer to sporty versions of family hatchbacks.

GPS: Global Positioning System, or satellite tracking.

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Haldex clutch: Mid-mounted electronically controlled clutch which controls the torque transfer between front and rear axles.

HBA: Hydraulic Brake Assist- see EBA
HDi: Peugeot/Citroen term for High-output, common-rail diesel engines.

HSA: Hill Start Assist-electrically operated handbrake that releases itself as soon as you pull away- particularly useful on hills

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ISOFIX: European standard child seat mounts.

i-VTEC- Second generation Honda variable valve timing.

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LATCH: US standard child seat mounts.

LCV: Light Commercial Vehicle
LHD: Left Hand Drive
Live axle: Solid, one piece rear axle housing the driveshafts, differential and braking systems
Longitudinally mounted engine: Engine is mounted lengthways in the engine bay
LSD: Limited Slip Differential – transfers power to opposite wheel when it detects the other is spinning
Luxury cars: Large, well equipped, comfortable cars- Mercedes S-Class, Lexus LS 430 etc.

LWB: Long Wheel base- extended distance between the front and rear axles

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MacPherson Struts: Hydraulic or gas-filled rams that sit in the centre of a coil spring, damping the spring’s compression and recoil.

MPV: Multi Person Vehicle- Cars designed to carry more than the usual five people.

MRRP: Manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price.

MSR: A Fiat feature, it prevents the wheels slipping (in icy or wet conditions) under lift-off braking. They refer to it as braking torque modulator, too.

Multi-link suspension: A sophisticated suspension system using several independent links to the wheel hub and body. Allows for precise suspension tuning and control.

MZR: Mazda name given to their new generation of four-cylinder petrol engines

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NCAP: See EURO NCAP
NHTSA: National Highway and Traffic Safety Association- US version of the National Safety Council.

NRA: National Roads Authority – government body set up to oversee road building and maintenance in Ireland.

NSC: National Safety Council – government body set up to promote general safety, but invariably involved in road safety.


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Oversteer: When the rear tyres of a car swing round like a pendulum. Rear-drive cars tend to oversteer (or go sideways) more easily.

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PAS: Power Assisted Steering.

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Quattro: Audi-speak for four wheel drive.

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Rain sensitive wipers: Wipers which respond to water on the windscreen
RHD: Right Hand Drive.

RWD: Rear Wheel Drive.

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S/R: Sunroof.

Sat Nav: Satellite Navigation, which uses a stored map and satellite tracking to guide you to your destination.

Seatbelt pretensioners: A small pyrotechnic charge that pulls the seatbelt buckle towards the floor, clamping the seatbelt onto the occupant preventing unwanted forward movement in an accident
Selespeed- Fiat/Alfa term: See Sequential Gearchange
Semi-Automatic gearchange-See Sequential Gearchange
SensoDrive- Citroen term: See Sequential Gearchange
Sequential Gearchange- electro-hydraulically operated gearchange and clutch- the driver has no clutch pedal, just a lever or steering wheel mounted paddles to change gear. Can also be left in ‘Auto’ mode.

Side airbags: Usually seat mounted airbags designed to prevent hip and chest injuries in side impacts.

SIPS: Side impact protection System- including side impact bars and on later models, side bags and head bags.

Smart airbags: Airbags which know if there’s someone in the passenger seat, how heavy the occupants are and how severe the accident is. These factors are weighed up to determine the force of the airbag deployment or whether it employs at all.

SMG: BMW term standing for Sequential Manual Gearbox- See Sequential Gearchange
SRS: Supplementary Restraint System-technical name for airbags
Straight-six: Engine configuration where six cylinders are arranged in a line, usually in an upright and longitudinal position relative to the car
Sub-B segment: City cars, or the likes of the Fiat Seicento and Seat Arosa
Supermini: See B-Segment
SUV: American term: Sports Utility Vehicle, or simply put, a 4X4 or off-roader
SWB: Short Wheel base- truncated distance between the front and rear axles.

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TCS: Traction Control System- Prevents the wheels spinning on acceleration by applying the brakes and/or cutting engine power
TDCi: Ford-speak for Turbo Diesel Common-rail injection engines (see common-rail)
TDDI: Ford-speak for Turbo Diesel Direct Injection engines without common-rail
TDi PD: Turbo diesel direct injection, with VW’s high pressure, electronic injectors for each individual cylinder instead of one common rail.

Thermotronic: Mercedes name for four-zone climate control system
TSCV: tumble swirl control valve – a electronic valve used to create a swirling effect in the fuel air mix prior in injection, to improve combustion.

TDi: Turbo diesel (direct) injection- refers to the way air and fuel is injected into the cylinders
TDi: The red ‘i’ means it’s a high output engine, now 130 bhp
Torque: Abstract concept that refers to the twisting force of the engine. Different to power, which refers to the speed at which the engine can be made to accelerate.

Traction control- Prevents the wheels spinning on acceleration by applying the brakes or cutting engine power
Transversely mounted engine: Engine is mounted widthways in the engine bay
Twin cam: Valves are operated by camshafts, spinning bars with strategically located lobes. These lobes press down on the valves to open them at the appropriate time. Using two cams reduces resistance and increases the efficiency of the engine.

Two-stage airbags: See ‘Smart Airbags’

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Understeer: When a car tries to go straight on in a corner, an indication that the front tyres are out of grip.

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V6: Engine configuration whereby two banks of three cylinders are tilted away from each other to allow their piston connecting rods be joined to a common crankshaft -hence the ‘V’ name.

V8: Engine configuration whereby two banks of four cylinders are tilted away from each other to allow their piston connecting rods be joined to a common crankshaft -hence the ‘V’ name.

V12: Engine configuration whereby two banks of six cylinders are tilted away from each other to allow their piston connecting rods be joined to a common crankshaft -hence the ‘V’ name.

VDC: Fiat-speak for Stability Control (See ESP)
VIS: Variable intake system- adjustable air-intake ducting and variable timing on the intake valves allowing a higher torque at low revs, more power at high revs.

VTEC- Honda term for Variable valve timing allowing a higher torque at low revs, more power at high revs.

VSA- Honda-speak for ESP
VVT - Variable valve timing allowing higher torque at low revs, more power at high revs.

VVT-I – Toyota term: Variable valve timing with Intelligence (i.e. has more that just two timing stages), allowing a higher torque at low revs, more power at high revs.

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W8: New VW engine configuration where two V4 engines are joined on a common crank. W8 is currently a shortened W12.

W12: New VW engine configuration where two V6 engines are laid on their sides and joined on a common crank. Extremely compact and lightweight path to 12-cylinder refinement.

WHIPS: Whiplash and Head Injury Protections system: System of active headrests, advanced seat design, seatbelt pretensioners and airbags designed to minimise the injuries sustained by the head in an accident.

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Xenon lights: Bulbs filled Xenon gas, which burns whiter and brighter than conventional bulbs.

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