Abbreviations- Automobile Terms
- ABC Active body control (Mercedes-Benz)
- ABS Anti-Blockier-System (German) – anti-lock braking system
- ABDC After bottom dead centre (engine timing)
- AC Alternating current A/C Air-conditioning
- ACL Automatic chassis lubrication (commercial vehicles)
- ACT Air charge temperature A/F Air/fuel ratio AIR Air injection reactor (emission control)
- ALB Anti-lock brakes (Honda)
- ARCS Active roll control system (Citroen)
- ASD Automatic slip-control differential
- ASF Audi space frame (aluminium body construction)
- ASR Antriebs-Schlupf-Regelung (German) – anti-slip regulation or traction control
- ATC Automatic temperature control
- ATDC After top dead centre (engine timing)
- ATF Automatic transmission fluid
- AWD All-wheel drive (also 4WD)
- AWS All-wheel steering (also 4WS)
- BAS Brake assist system
- BBDC Before bottom dead centre (engine timing)
- BDC Bottom dead centre (engine timing)
- BEV Battery-electric vehicle
- BHP Brake horsepower
- BMEP Brake mean effective pressure
- BOFT Bearing oil film thickness
- BSFC Brake-specific fuel consumption
- BTDC Before top dead centre (engine timing)
- CAD Computer aided design
- CAFE Corporate average fuel economy (American)
- CAG Computer aided gearshift (Scania)
- CATS Computer active technology suspension (Jaguar)
- CB Contact breaker
- CBE Cab behind engine (commercial vehicles)
- Cd Coefficient of drag (vehicle aerodynamics)
- CD Capacity discharge (ignition system)
- CFC Chlorofluorocarbon (refrigerant)
- CGI Compact graphite iron
- CI Compression ignition (diesel engines)
- CN Cetane number (diesel fuel ignition rating)
- CNG Compressed natural gas (fuels)
- CO Carbon monoxide (emission control)
- CO2 Carbon dioxide (global warming)
- COE Cab over engine (commercial vehicles)
- CP Centre of pressure (vehicle aerodynamics)
- CR Compression ratio (engine)
- CRS Common rail system (diesel fuel injection)
- CTX Continuously variable transaxle (Ford)
- CV Constant velocity (universal joints)
- CVT Continuously variable transmission
- Cw Coefficient of drag (German) – vehicle aerodynamics
- Cx Coefficient of drag (French) – vehicle aerodynamics
- DC Direct current
- DERV Diesel engine road vehicles (fuel)
- DI Direct injection
- DIS Direct ignition system (no distributor)
- DISI Direct injection spark ignition
- DOHC Double overhead camshafts
- DRP Dynamic rear proportioning (brakes)
- DSC Dynamic stability control
- DSG Direct shift gearbox (Volkswagen group)
- DWB Double-wishbone suspension
- EBA Emergency brake assist
- EBFD Electronic brake force distribution
- EBS Electronic braking system (air brakes)
- ECI Electronically controlled injection
- ECM Electronic control module
- ECS Evaporative control system (fuel system); electronically controlled suspension
- ECT Engine coolant temperature
- ECU Electronic control unit
- EDC Electronic diesel control
- EFI Electronic fuel injection
- EGR Exhaust gas recirculation (emission control)
- ELV End-of-life vehicle (materials recycling)
- EMS Engine management system
- EP Extreme pressure (lubricants)
- EPAS Electrical power-assisted steering (NSK-RHP)
- EPHS Electrically powered hydraulic steering (TRW)
- EPS Electric power steering
- ESP Electronic stability programme
- ETC Electronic traction control
- ETS Enhanced traction system (General Motors)
- EUI Electronic unit injector (Lucas Diesel)
- EVC Exhaust valve closed (engine timing)
- EVO Exhaust valve open (engine timing)
- FCEV Fuel cell electric vehicle
- FHP Friction horsepower
- FWD Front-wheel drive
- GCW Gross combination weight (articulated vehicles)
- GCWR Gross combined weight rating (vehicle and trailer)
- GDI Gasoline direct injection (Mitsubishi)
- GRP Glass-reinforced plastics
- GTW Gross train weight (drawbar vehicles)
- GV Governor valve (automatic transmissions)
- GVW Gross vehicle weight (rigid vehicles)
- GVWR Gross vehicle weight rating
- GWP Greenhouse warming potential (refrigerants)
- HC Hydrocarbons (emission control)
- HDC Hill descent control (ABS system)
- HEV Hybrid-electric vehicle
- HFC Hydrofluorocarbon (refrigerant)
- HGV Heavy goods vehicle HT High tension
- HUCR Highest useful compression ratio
- HVAC Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
- IFS Independent front suspension
- IHP Indicated horsepower
- INJ Injection (timing mark)
- IOE Inlet over exhaust (obsolete valve layout)
- IPM Integrated power module (hybrid electric vehicles)
- IRS Independent rear suspension
- IVC Inlet valve closed (valve timing)
- IVO Inlet valve open (valve timing)
- KPI King-pin inclination (steering)
- LCV Light commercial vehicle
- LGV Large goods vehicle LI Load index (tyres)
- LNG Liquefied natural gas (fuels)
- LPG Liquid petroleum gas (fuels)
- LS Leading shoe (drum brakes)
- LSD Limited slip differential
- MAF Mass air flow (engines)
- MAP Manifold absolute pressure
- MOFT Minimum oil film thickness
- MON Motor octane number (more demanding ON test)
- MPI Multi-point injection
- MPV Multi-purpose vehicle (people carrier)
- NO Nitrogen oxides (emission control)
- NOAT Nitrite organic acid technology (coolants)
- NVH Noise, vibration and harshness (vehicle refinement testing)
- OAT Organic acid technology (coolants)
- OBD On-board diagnosis
- OD Overdrive
- ODP Ozone depletion potential (refrigerants)
- OHC Overhead camshaft
- OHV Overhead valves
- ON Octane number (petrol anti-knock rating)
- PAS Power-assisted steering
- PBD Polybutadiene (tyres)
- PCM Power train control module (engine and transmission)
- PCV Positive crankcase ventilation (emission control)
- PEM Polymer electrolyte membrane (fuel cells) (or proton exchange membrane)
- PFI Port fuel injection (petrol engines)
- PM Particulate matter (diesel emission control)
- PR Ply-rating (tyres)
- PSV Public service vehicle
- PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene
- PTO Power take-off (commercial vehicles)
- PVC Polyvinyl chloride
- PZEV Partial zero emission vehicle
- RC Roll-centre (suspension geometry)
- RON Research octane number (less demanding ON test)
- RTV Room temperature vulcanizing (sealant)
- RWD Rear-wheel drive
- SAMT Semiautomated mechanical transmission (Eaton)
- SBC Stand-by-control (electronic transmission control ZF)
- SBR Styrene-butadiene rubber (tyres)
- SCA Supplemental coolant additives
- SCR Selective catalytic reduction (emission control)
- SCS Stop control system (girling)
- SEFI Sequential electronically controlled fuel injection (Ford)
- SFC Specific fuel consumption
- SFI Sequential fuel injection
- SG Spheroidal graphite (high-strength cast iron)
- SI Spark ignition (petrol engines)
- SLA Short and long arm (American) – suspension linkage
- SOHC Single overhead camshaft
- SPI Single point injection (petrol engines)
- SRS Supplemental restraint system (airbags)
- SUV Sports utility vehicle
- SV Side valves (obsolete valve layout)
- TAC Thermostatic air cleaner
- TBI Throttle body injection (SPI)
- TC Twin carburettors
- TCI Transistorized coil ignition
- TCM Transmission control module
- TCS Transmission controlled spark (engine intervention system)
- TDC Top dead centre (engine timing)
- TDI Turbocharged direct injection (diesel engines)
- TEL Tetra ethyl lead (petrol anti-knock additive)
- TML Tetra methyl lead (as above)
- TPS Throttle position sensor
- TS Trailing shoe (drum brakes)
- TV Throttle valve (engine and automatic transmissions)
- TVS Thermal vacuum switch (exhaust gas recirculation)
- TWC Three-way catalyst (emission control)
- TXV Thermostatic expansion valve (refrigeration)
- UJ Universal joint
- ULEV Ultra-low emission vehicle
- VCP Variable cam phasing (valve timing)
- VCU Viscous coupling unit (transmission)
- VDC Vehicle dynamics control (Bosch)
- VGT Variable-geometry turbocharger
- VI Viscosity index (lubricants)
- VIP Vehicle intrusion protection (Toyota)
- VIVT Variable inlet valve timing
- VKPI Virtual king-pin inclination (steering)
- VSC Vehicle skid control
- VTG Variable turbine geometry (turbocharging)
- VTT Variable twin turbo (turbocharging)
- VVT Variable valve timing
- VVTL Variable valve timing and lift WOT Wide-open throttle
- ZEV Zero emission vehicle
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