| ABS |
Antilock Braking System |
Prevents the wheels of a car locking up and skidding under heavy braking so control and steering is maintained |
| A/C |
Air-conditioning |
Absorbs heat and blows refrigerated air into the cabin of the car, cooling it to below the ambient air temperature |
| ACC |
Active Cruise Control |
Using a front-mounted RADAR, ACC detects slower vehicles ahead and will maintain a relative driving speed to ensure a safe following distance. |
| AFM |
Active Fuel Management |
Also known as MDS (Multi Displacement System) or VCM (Variable Cylinder Management). During light operation the car’s engine can shut off cylinders so less fuel is used. |
| ATC |
Active Traction Control |
Used primarily in off road 4×4 applications ATC (also often referred as A-Trac) brakes spinning wheels and diverts torque to other wheels to gain traction in slippery surfaces. |
| AWD |
All Wheel Drive |
Popular terminology for permanent four-wheel drive systems. Vehicle can distribute power to all four wheels rather than just to the front or rear vehicle wheels only. |
| BHP |
Brake Horse Power |
The measure of a car engine’s horsepower before the rest of the vehicle’s drive train. The metric equivalent is Kilowatts (kW). 1 BHP = 0.745kW. |
| CRD |
Common Rail Diesel |
A single, highly pressurized fuel line supplies diesel to all cylinders allowing for finer control over fuel use. Vastly reduces diesel engine’s noise and improves fuel economy. |
| CVT |
Constant Velocity Transmission |
A continuously variable transmission is an automatic transmission that can vary drive ratios seamlessly using an internal belt and cone arrangement. |
| DAC |
Downhill Assist Control |
A safety feature intended for off-road use. The vehicle’s ABS and throttle control systems to maintain a gradual, more controlled decent on steep or slippery off-road surfaces. |
| DOHC |
Double Overhead Camshaft |
A now very common vehicle engine design that places two camshafts (one to operate inlet valves, one to operate exhaust valves) mounted above the cylinder head. |
| DSG |
Direct Shift Gearbox |
A computer controlled manual gearbox that pre selects additional gears to the current driven gear. No clutch pedal is required and the next gear can be engaged very rapidly. |
| EBD |
Electronic Brake Distribution |
Electronically controls and distributes appropriate brake pressure to all brakes dependant on load and braking force. Replaces traditional mechanical brake proportioning valve. |
| ECU |
Electronic Control Unit |
An ECU is an electronic “brain” which controls a system in a car, such as the engine management system, transmission or body electrics. |
| EDC |
Electronic Damper Control |
An ECU-controlled wheel suspension system that adjusts the shock absorbers and regulates damper forces electronically adapting to changing road, load or driving conditions. |
| EFI |
Electronic Fuel Injection |
EFI systems replace carburetors as fitted to older vehicles. The electronically controlled fuel injectors deliver fuel more efficiently, improving economy, emissions and drivability. |
| EGR |
Exhaust Gas Recirculation |
A proportion of car exhaust gasses are redirected back into the car’s engine to help burn fuel more efficiently and significantly reduce harmful emissions. |
| ELR |
Emergency Locking Retractor |
Seatbelts which are always unlocked except in emergency situations such as rapid deceleration, rapid acceleration or hard cornering vehicle manoeuvres. |
| ESP |
Electronic Stability Program |
Dramatically helps in correcting vehicle instability during uncontrollable under or over steer situations by measuring lateral acceleration at the car’s centre of gravity. Also Known as VSA, DSC, ESC |
| FSi |
Fuel Straified Injection |
Also known as DI (Direct Injection) or GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection). Petrol is injected at high pressure directly into the car’s combustion chamber; the air fuel mixture can run far leaner than conventional EFI systems so is more efficient. |
| FWD |
Front Wheel Drive |
A car’s engine power is delivered through the front wheels. Is more common today than Rear Wheel Drive. |
| GVW |
Gross Vehicle Weight |
The maximum recommended weight for a vehicle, including: the weight of the vehicle itself, fuel and other fluids, passengers, and all cargo. |
| HAC |
Hill Assist Control |
A safety feature intended for off-road use. Helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward or slipping sideways when performing hill start on steep or slippery gradients. |
| HID |
High Intensity Discharge |
High Intensity Discharge lighting technology uses electric inducers to provide an arc inside a gas-filled bulb, enhancing night driving. Only trained technicians should maintain the system. |
| kW |
Kilowatt |
The metric equivalent of Brake Horsepower. Used to measure the energy output of a vehicle’s engine. |
| LED |
Light Emitting Diode |
LED’s are semiconductors that emit light when an electric current is applied. Increasingly popular in vehicle lighting as they have a much quicker response time and last longer. |
| LHD |
Left Hand Drive |
The steering wheel and controls on the left hand side of cars driven on the right hand side of the road in countries such as the USA. |
| LPG |
Liquid Petroleum Gas |
LPG is a popular alternative fuel to petrol or diesel. The cost per liter is less than petrol but it is less fuel efficient. |
| LSD |
Limited Slip Differential |
A limited Slip Differential allows two driving wheels to operate in unison when one breaks traction. It provides improved control and traction in slippery conditions. |
| LWB |
Long Wheel Base |
Front and rear axles are further apart therefore the body or cargo deck of a commercial vehicle will be longer than other model variations. |
| NM |
Newtonmetre |
Measurement of a vehicle’s engine torque. Torque is the turning force of the car’s engine. |
| OEM |
Original Equipment Manufacturer |
Manufacturer/supplier of components fitted to a new car at the time of manufacture. |
| PAS |
Power Assisted Steering |
A system designed to reduce the effort required to steer the vehicle, particularly at low parking speeds. Can be Hydraulic, Electric or a combination of both. |
| PDC |
Park Distance Control |
An audible warning device that alerts the driver when their car is getting close to other cars or objects when parking |
| RHD |
Right Hand Drive |
The steering wheel and controls on the right hand side of cars driven on the left hand side of the road in countries such as New Zealand. |
| RPM |
Revolutions Per Minute |
How fast the car’s engine is turning i.e. how many times the crankshaft rotates in one minute |
| RWD |
Rear Wheel Drive |
A car’s engine power is delivered through the rear wheels. Less common today than FWD. |
| SAT-NAV |
Satellite Navigation System |
Also known as GPS (Global Positioning System). GPS technology interfaces with mapping software either built to provide spoken, turn by turn instructions to drivers. |
| SWB |
Short Wheel Base |
Front and rear axles are closer together therefore the body or cargo deck of a commercial vehicle will be shorter |
| SRS |
Supplementary Restraint System |
Designed to be used in conjunction with seatbelts, SRS refers to a vehicle’s airbag system. A car’s airbags are designed to reduce occupant injury in the event of a car crash and are deployed when the SRS sensors detect a predetermined level of impact force. |
| TDi |
Turbo Diesel Injection |
Most modern diesel engines are now fitted with turbochargers to maximize performance. |
| VGT |
Variable Geometry Turbo |
This system varies airflow angle across a car engine’s turbo blades providing optimum power delivery across a broader rev range. Now commonplace in modern diesel vehicle engines. |
| VIN |
Vehicle Identification Number |
A Unique 17 digit number, for each individual car, that can indentify date of manufacture, manufacturing plant and standards etc. |
| VVT |
Variable Valve Timing |
VVT systems advance or retard camshaft timing to optimizing vehicle engine efficiency, performance and exhaust emissions. |
