Glossary

EV means the car runs on electricity, like a battery-powered car.

EV stands for Electric Vehicle, a car powered entirely or partially by electric motors and batteries instead of gasoline.

Horsepower tells you how strong the engine is. More horsepower means the car can go faster and pull more weight.

Horsepower measures an engine’s power output, indicating how quickly it can do work. 550 horsepower is high for a Jeep.

The transmission is the part of a car that changes how fast or slow the wheels turn compared to the engine, letting you drive in different gears.

The transmission is the component that transmits engine power to the wheels, allowing the driver to select different gear ratios.

Aerodynamics is how the shape of a car lets air move smoothly around it, which helps the car go faster and use less energy.

Aerodynamics refers to how air flows around a vehicle, affecting drag, lift, and overall performance.

VIN is like the car's social security number. It tells you exactly what kind of car it is and its history.

VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number, a unique 17-character code that identifies the make, model, year, and specific details of a vehicle.

It’s the small computer inside the car that tells the engine how to run.

ECU stands for Engine Control Unit, the car’s computer that manages engine functions such as fuel injection and ignition timing.

It’s the part of a car that makes it move by burning fuel and turning wheels.

The engine is the powerplant of a vehicle, converting fuel into mechanical motion.

It’s a special code on every car that tells you exactly what kind of car it is and when it was made.

VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number, a unique 17‑character code that identifies the car’s make, model, and production details.

These cars use big batteries to power electric motors instead of gasoline. They don’t let any smoke or CO2 out when you drive them.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) run solely on electricity stored in batteries, producing no tailpipe emissions.

PSI is a way to say how hard air is pushing inside something, like your car tires. It tells you if the tire has enough or too much air.

PSI stands for pounds per square inch, a unit of pressure commonly used to measure tire inflation and other pressures in automotive contexts.

Cars today use many tiny computer chips for everything from engine control to entertainment. A shortage of these chips meant manufacturers had fewe...

The global semiconductor chip shortage refers to the supply chain crisis that began in 2020, causing a deficit of microchips needed for modern vehi...

CAN bus is the network inside a car that lets all its computer parts share information.

Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a vehicle’s internal communication system that allows different electronic modules to talk to each other.

The truck uses a modern system that sprays fuel into the engine more accurately than older carburetors.

Electronic fuel injection (EFI) replaces carburetors, delivering precise fuel amounts for better efficiency and performance.

A manual transmission is a gearbox you shift by hand, using a clutch pedal. It lets you choose the gear yourself.

A manual transmission requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch pedal and gear stick, giving direct control over engine speed and ...

It’s a car that runs on both gasoline and electricity, so it uses less gas.

A hybrid vehicle uses both an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.

A plug‑in hybrid is a car that can run on both gasoline and electric power, and you can charge its battery from an outlet.

A plug‑in hybrid combines a conventional internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a larger battery that can be charged from the grid, ...

Mercedes is a car brand that also builds racing cars for Formula One.

Mercedes-Benz is a German automaker known for its high-performance racing and luxury vehicles, including the Mercedes-AMG F1 team.

Stellantis is a big car company that makes many different kinds of cars, like the Jeep and Ram trucks.

Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturer formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, producing cars under brand...

Ford is a car company that makes many types of cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Ford Motor Company is an American automaker known for producing a wide range of vehicles, including the Wrangler.

Ferrari makes very fast and expensive cars that many people admire.

Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer known for high-performance, high-priced vehicles.

Toyota is a huge Japanese car company famous for making super reliable cars that last forever. They make everything from the everyday Camry and Cor...

Toyota is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer, one of the largest in the world, known for reliable vehicles like the Camry, Corolla, L...

MSRP is the price a car maker says you should pay for a new car. It’s what shows on the sticker before any sales talk.

MSRP stands for Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, the price a car manufacturer recommends dealers charge for a vehicle before any discounts or...

BMW is a famous car brand from Germany that makes sporty and luxury cars.

BMW is a German luxury automaker known for its engineering and performance vehicles.

Volkswagen is a big car company from Germany that makes many popular cars.

Volkswagen is a German automotive manufacturer known for models like the Golf, Passat, and the newly discussed Explorer EV.

A turbo is a small machine that pushes extra air into the engine, making it produce more power. It’s common in many modern cars.

A turbocharger is a device that forces more air into an engine’s combustion chamber, increasing power output without significantly enlarging the en...

GM is a big car company that makes many different kinds of cars, like Chevrolets and Cadillacs.

General Motors (GM) is a major American automotive manufacturer known for brands like Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.

Honda makes cars that many people trust because they last a long time and use fuel efficiently.

Honda is a Japanese automaker known worldwide for producing reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles such as the Civic and Accord.

The original parts that the car’s manufacturer made. Buying OEM means you’re getting a part that is exactly like what was in the car when it first ...

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, referring to parts that are made by the same company that produced the original component for a veh...

McLaren makes very fast cars that are also known for using the latest technology.

McLaren is a British manufacturer of high-performance sports cars and racing vehicles, often featuring cutting-edge technology.

Suspension is the system that keeps the car’s wheels on the road and absorbs bumps. If it’s damaged, the ride can become unsafe.

Suspension components absorb road shocks and maintain tire contact with the surface. Damage can lead to poor handling and safety issues.

Porsche is a famous German company that makes fast, fancy cars like the 911 and Cayenne SUV.

Porsche is a German luxury sports car manufacturer known for high-performance vehicles like the 911, Cayenne, and Panamera.

It’s a German company that makes fancy cars and trucks. They’re famous for being reliable and stylish.

Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automaker known for engineering quality, safety features, and high-performance vehicles.

When a car company finds a problem that could be dangerous, they tell owners to bring their cars in for free fixes.

A recall is an official notice from a manufacturer to repair or replace parts of vehicles that may be unsafe or defective.

The powertrain is everything that makes the car move, from the engine to the gears and the parts that send power to the wheels.

The powertrain encompasses all components that generate and deliver power to the wheels, including the engine, transmission, driveshafts, and diffe...

Volvo makes cars that are known for being safe and reliable, and people sometimes put big engines into them.

A Swedish automotive manufacturer known for safety, durability, and distinctive design; often chosen for engine swaps due to robust chassis.

Fuel economy tells you how far a car can travel on one gallon of gas. Higher numbers mean better efficiency.

A measure of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, typically expressed in miles per gallon (MPG).

An internal combustion engine is the classic car engine that burns fuel to make the car move.

A type of engine that generates power by burning fuel (gasoline or diesel) inside a combustion chamber, producing mechanical work.

Lamborghini makes very fast, fancy cars that look like they’re from a movie. They’re famous for their sharp angles and loud engines.

Lamborghini is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer known for its high-performance, exotic designs and aggressive styling.

Think of the chassis as the car’s skeleton. It holds everything together and gives shape to the vehicle.

The chassis is the vehicle’s structural frame that supports all components and provides rigidity. It often determines how other parts like suspensi...

RPM stands for how many times the engine turns in a minute. It shows how fast the engine is running.

Revolutions Per Minute, the number of times the engine’s crankshaft turns in one minute. It is a key metric for measuring engine speed.

A turbocharged engine uses extra air to help the car go faster. It’s like giving the engine a boost so it can produce more power.

Turbocharging is a method of increasing an engine’s power output by forcing more air into the combustion chamber using a turbine driven by exhaust ...

ABS is a system in cars that helps you keep the wheels from stopping completely when you brake hard, so you can still steer and avoid skidding.

ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System, a safety feature that prevents the wheels from locking during hard braking, allowing the driver to maintai...

An automatic transmission is a part that helps the car shift gears on its own, so you don't have to manually change them.

An automatic transmission is a gearbox that changes gears automatically without driver input, often used for ease of driving.

Carbon fiber is a super light and strong material made from tiny carbon strands. It helps cars be lighter and stronger, which makes them faster.

Carbon fiber is a lightweight, high-strength material made from thin strands of carbon atoms bonded together. It’s often used in performance cars f...

Electrification means making cars run on electricity instead of gasoline. It’s a big change that many car makers are working toward.

Electrification refers to the shift from internal combustion engines to electric powertrains in vehicles, driven by environmental concerns and regu...

The electric motor is the device that turns electricity into motion to make the small airplane fly.

An electric motor provides the propulsion for small aircraft by converting electrical energy into mechanical rotation, driving propellers or fans.

A turbocharger is a small machine that pushes extra air into the engine so it can make more power.

A turbocharger is an air‑compressing device that forces more air into the engine’s combustion chamber, increasing power output.

Waymo is a company that makes cars that can drive themselves without a driver.

Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. that develops autonomous driving technology for self-driving cars.