Car glossary: specs and terms explained

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Acceleration 0–100 km/h: The 0–100 km/h time shows how many seconds a car needs to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph). It is the most common way to compare performance; anything under 6 seconds counts as quick for a road car.
All-wheel drive (AWD): All-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels automatically, usually through a centre differential or an electronically controlled clutch. It improves grip on wet or snowy roads; most AWD crossovers are not designed for serious off-road driving.
Automatic transmission: An automatic transmission changes gears by itself, without a clutch pedal. Classic automatics use a torque converter; dual-clutch gearboxes (DCT) pre-select the next gear for very fast shifts; CVTs use a belt or chain instead of fixed gears.

Battery capacity: Battery capacity is the amount of energy a traction battery can store, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A bigger battery usually gives more range but adds weight and takes longer to charge fully.
Battery electric vehicle (BEV): A battery electric vehicle is driven only by electric motors and gets all its energy from a rechargeable battery. It has no combustion engine and no tailpipe emissions.
Boot capacity: Boot (trunk) capacity is the luggage volume behind the rear seats, in litres or cubic feet. Manufacturers often give two figures: with the rear seats in place and with them folded down.

Car generation: A generation is a version of a model built on the same basic design for several years, usually six to eight. A new generation brings a new body and often a new platform; it is sometimes identified by a code such as E46 or XV70.
CO₂ emissions: CO₂ emissions show how many grams of carbon dioxide a car releases per kilometre driven (g/km). The figure is directly linked to fuel consumption and is used in many countries to calculate car tax.
Cylinder: A cylinder is the chamber in a piston engine where fuel and air burn and push the piston down. Car engines typically have three to twelve cylinders arranged in a line (inline), in a V or flat (boxer).

Drivetrain (drive type): The drivetrain describes which wheels receive the engine power: front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). It affects traction, handling, interior space and fuel consumption.

Electric range: Electric range is the distance an electric car or plug-in hybrid can travel on a fully charged battery, usually according to the WLTP or EPA test cycle. Real-world range drops in cold weather and at motorway speeds.
Engine displacement: Engine displacement is the total volume swept by all pistons inside the cylinders, given in cubic centimetres (cc) or litres. A 1,998 cc engine is usually called a 2.0-litre engine. Larger displacement often means more power and torque, but also higher fuel consumption.

Facelift: A facelift is a mid-life update of a generation: new bumpers, lights, interior details or engines, while the main body and platform stay the same.
Four-wheel drive (4WD): Four-wheel drive (4×4) is a system built for rough terrain: the driver can engage drive to both axles, often with a low-range transfer case and locking differentials. Classic off-roaders, pickups and military vehicles use 4WD.
Front-wheel drive (FWD): In a front-wheel-drive car the engine drives only the front wheels. FWD is compact, light and cheap to build, leaves more room for the cabin and gives good traction in rain and snow because the engine weight sits over the driven wheels.
Fuel consumption: Fuel consumption shows how much fuel a car uses to cover a distance. In Europe it is given in litres per 100 km (lower is better); in the US and UK it is miles per gallon (higher is better). Official figures come from test cycles such as WLTP or the older NEDC.
Fuel tank capacity: Fuel tank capacity is the volume of fuel the tank holds, in litres or gallons. Together with fuel consumption it sets how far a car can travel between fuel stops.

Height: Height is the distance from the ground to the highest point of the body, usually without roof rails. Taller cars such as SUVs and vans give a higher seating position and more headroom.
Hybrid (HEV): A hybrid combines a combustion engine with an electric motor and a small battery that is charged while driving and braking. It cannot be plugged in; its electric help mainly saves fuel in town.

Kerb weight: Kerb weight is the weight of a car ready to drive, with all fluids and usually a nearly full fuel tank, but without passengers or luggage. Lower weight helps acceleration, braking, handling and fuel consumption.
kW, PS and hp: Kilowatt (kW) is the official SI unit of power. Metric horsepower (PS) equals 0.7355 kW, so 100 kW is about 136 PS; mechanical horsepower (hp), used in the UK and US, equals 0.7457 kW, so 100 kW is about 134 hp.

Length: Length is the overall distance from the front bumper to the rear bumper, in millimetres (or inches). It decides how easy a car is to park and is the first figure used to place a car in a size class.

Manual transmission: A manual transmission is a gearbox where the driver selects gears with a lever and operates a clutch pedal. It is simple, light and durable, and gives the driver full control over gear changes.

Platform: A platform is the shared engineering base — floor pan, suspension mounting points and key components — used by several models. Sharing a platform lets manufacturers build different cars at lower cost.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV): A plug-in hybrid has a combustion engine plus a larger battery that can be charged from a socket. It can drive several dozen kilometres on electricity alone and then works as a normal hybrid.
Power output: Power output is the maximum amount of work an engine or electric motor can deliver per unit of time. In our catalog it is shown in kilowatts (kW) first, with metric horsepower (PS) or mechanical horsepower (hp) next to it. More power usually means quicker acceleration and a higher top speed.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD): In a rear-wheel-drive car the engine drives only the rear wheels. RWD gives balanced weight distribution and clean steering, which is why it is common in sports cars, large saloons, pickups and trucks.

SUV and crossover: An SUV (sport utility vehicle) is a tall car with high ground clearance and a high seating position. Traditional SUVs are built on a separate frame with 4WD; crossovers use a car-like monocoque body and often front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Top speed: Top speed is the highest speed a car can reach, as stated by the manufacturer, in km/h and mph. Some cars are electronically limited, often to 180, 210 or 250 km/h.
Torque: Torque is the twisting force an engine or electric motor produces, measured in newton-metres (Nm) or pound-feet (lb-ft). High torque at low revs makes a car feel strong when pulling away, overtaking, towing or climbing hills.
Transmission (gearbox): The transmission, or gearbox, transfers power from the engine to the driven wheels and changes the gear ratio so the engine works in its efficient speed range. Common types are manual, torque-converter automatic, dual-clutch (DCT) and continuously variable (CVT).
Turbocharger: A turbocharger uses exhaust gas to spin a turbine that pushes more air into the engine. More air lets the engine burn more fuel, so a small turbocharged engine can match the power and torque of a much larger naturally aspirated one.

Wheelbase: The wheelbase is the distance between the centres of the front and rear wheels. A longer wheelbase usually means more legroom in the back and a calmer ride at speed; a shorter one makes a car more agile.
Width: Width is the overall body width of a car in millimetres, usually measured without the door mirrors. Wider cars offer more shoulder room but are harder to fit in narrow streets and garages.