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Glossary of Automotive Terminology

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Glossary of automotive, recreational vehicle and motorcycle terminology.

Energy Absorbing Steering Column

A steering column which absorbs most of the energy caused by impact. The metal on the column (the shaft) is designed to compress or collapse in an accident. This lessens the amount of energy transferred to the driver, thereby greatly reducing possible injuries in an accident. Read More »

Federal Side Impact Standard

Effective with the 1997 model year, all passenger cars are required to comply with Standard 214, side impact protection, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations. Simply put, the entire structure, floor to roof, of all cars must be now be reinforced according to strict regulations. Interestingly, this standard does not yet apply to light trucks (minivans, compact pickups, ... Read More »

Hublock

In 4-wheel-drive vehicles, it is inefficient to have the front wheels connected when not needed. Most older vehicles required a person to get out and manually switch each front hub. Now these hubs can be changed remotely with a switch inside the vehicle. Read More »

Lean Mixture

The condition that exists when the ratio of fuel to air is very low. A lean mixture can contribute to efficient burning of the fuel, resulting in improved gas mileage and low emissions. Read More »

Passive Safety Features

Those incorporated into the structural design of the car. Those which the driver cannot control. For example, crumple zones, bumpers, side intrusion beams and roll-over bars. Read More »

Power Train

Also referred to as the Drive Train. Those components that power the car including the engine, drive shaft, transmission and drive axle. Read More »

Screamer

Slang for a high-performance car, possibly due to the reaction of passengers with an over-enthusiastic driver. Read More »