Last Updated on: 7th September 2023, 12:45 am
A lot of automotive terminology exists, you have heard or read something related to a vehicle and wondered oh what does that mean.
This article is a complete A-Z list of all automotive-related terms and acronyms and what they mean.
A
- A4: 4-speed automatic transmission
- A5: 5-speed automatic transmission
- A6: 6-speed automatic transmission
- ABS: Anti-lock braking system
- AIR: Secondary Air Injection System
- AC: Alternating Current
- A/C: Air conditioning
- ADAS: Advanced Driving Autonomous Systems
- ADB: Adaptive Driving Beam
- AdvHEV: Hybrid vehicle
- AHC: Automatic height controller
- AMT: Automated manual transmission
- AFL: Adaptive front light
- AFS: Adaptive front-light system
- ATLS: Automated truck loading systems
- Autogas: LPG when used as a vehicle fuel
- AWD: All Wheel Drive
B
- Baro/BARO: Barometric pressure
C
- CKP: Crankshaft Position Sensor
- CMP: Camshaft Position Sensor
- CEL: Check Engine Light
- CAB 1493: California Assembly Bill 1493
- CARB: California Air Resources Board
- CCP: Coupled cam phasing
- CH4: Methane
- CNG: Compressed natural gas
- CO2: Carbon dioxide
- CO: Carbon monoxide
- CVVL: Continuous variable valve lift
- CVT: Continuously variable transmission
D
- DC: Direct current
- DEPS – Digital Engine Position Sensor
- DLC – Data Link Connector
- DIS – Distributor-less Ignition System
- DCP: Dual cam phasing
- DCT: Dual clutch transmission
- DTC: Diagnostic trouble code
- DeAct: Cylinder deactivation
- dHCCI: Diesel homogeneous charge compression ignition
- DMV: California Department of Motor Vehicles
- DOHC: Dual overhead cam
- DRL: Daytime Running Lights
- DSC: Dynamic stability control
- DVVL: Discrete variable valve lift
- DVVLd: Discrete variable valve lift, includes dual cam phasing
- DVVLi: Discrete variable valve lift, includes intake valve cam phasing
- DPF: Diesel particulate filter / differential pressure sensor
E
- eACC: Improved electric accessories
- EAT: Electronically assisted turbocharging
- ECT – Engine Coolant Temperature
- EEPROM – Electrically Eraseable Programmable Read Only Memory
- EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection
- EGR: Exhaust gas recirculation
- ehCVA: Electrohydraulic camless valve actuation
- emCVA: Electromagnetic camless valve actuation
- EHPS: Electrohydraulic power steering
- EPB: Electronic Parking Brake
- EPS: Electric power steering
- EVAP: Evaporative Emissions System
- ESC: Electronic stability control
- ESP: Electronic stability program
- EWP: Electric water pump
- EWP: Elevating work platform
F
- FDC: Fixed displacement compressor
- FWD: Front-wheel drive
- FTP: Federal test procedure
G
- g/mi: grams per mile
- GDI: Gasoline direct injection
- GDI-S: Stoichiometric gasoline direct injection
- GDI-L: Lean-burn gasoline direct injection
- gHCCI: Gasoline homogeneous charge compression ignition
- GHG: Greenhouse gas
- GT: Gran/Grand turismo
- GVW: Gross vehicle weight
- GVWR: Gross vehicle weight rating
- GWP: Global warming potential
- GPF: Gasoline particulate filter
H
- HAD: Highly Autonomous Driving
- HC: Hydrocarbons
- HEV: Hybrid-electric vehicle
- HFC: Hydrofluorocarbon
- hp: Horsepower
- HSDI: High-speed (diesel) direct injection
I
- ICP: Intake cam phaser
- IGN: Ignition
- ImpAlt: Improved efficiency alternator
- ISG: Integrated starter-generator system
- ISG-SS: Integrated starter-generator system with start-stop operation
L
- L4: In-line four-cylinder
- LDT: Light-duty truck
- LDT1: a light-duty truck with a loaded vehicle weight of up to 3750 pounds.
- LDT2: an LEV II light-duty truck with a loaded vehicle weight of 3751 pounds to a gross vehicle weight of 8500 pounds
- LED: Light Emitting Diode
- LEV: Low-emission vehicle
- LPG: Liquified petroleum gas
- LVW: Loaded vehicle weight
M
- MAC: Mobile air conditioning
- MDPV: Medium-duty passenger vehicle
- MDV: Medium-duty vehicle
- mg/mi: Milligrams per mile
- ModHEV: Moderate hybrid
- MIL: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
N
- NMOG: Non-methane organic gas
- N2O: Nitrous oxide
- NOx: Oxides of nitrogen
O
- OBD: On board diagnostics
P
- PB: Power brakes
- PC: passenger car
- PS: Power steering
R
- RPM: Revolutions Per Minute
- R-134a: Refrigerant 134a, tetrafluoroethane (C2H2F4)
- R-152a: Refrigerant 152a, difluoroethane (C2H4F2)
- RPE: Retail price equivalent
- RWD: Rear Wheel Drive
S
- SULEV: Super ultra low emission vehicle
- SUV: Sport utility vehicle
T
- TBI: Throttle body injection
- TCS: Traction control system
- TRR: Tire rolling resistance
- Turbo: Turbocharging
U
- ULEV: Ultra low emission vehicle
- ULEZ: Ultra low emission zone (UK)
V
- V6: V-formation six-cylinder
- V8: V-formation eight-cylinder
- VDC: Variable displacement compressor
- ZEV: Zero-emission vehicle
- VVT: Variable valve timing
Others
- 4WD: Four-wheel-drive
- 42V ISG: 42-volt integrated starter-generator system
