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PART-TIME FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE Part-time four-wheel drive is the most common type of all wheel drive. It usually operates only in two-wheel drive mode and it can be switched to all-wheel drive whenever the situation requires. By employing a center differential or a transfer box, these types of all-wheel drive systems can transfer power to either the front only, rear or to all the drive wheels, depending on the driver's wishes. On older designs, the all-wheel drive mode had to be manually engaged and the vehicle had to be stopped in order for the (usually front) wheel hubs to be locked, but it can now be done from the inside of the vehicle and on some vehicles even while they're moving. Permanent Four-Wheel drive PERMANENT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE Permanent four-wheel drive systems send power to all four wheels in a continuous manner. There is no need for the driver to engage two or four-wheels drive mode, since all of the wheels are always p

Occupant Position Detection System OPDS The Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) uses sensors to calculate passenger height and position. If a child should lean into the airbag deployment path, the sensor will prevent the side airbag from deploying and subsequently injuring the passenger. Overdrive OVERDRIVE Overdrive is a term which describes a transmission gear that reduces the power output needed to maintain the driving speed, therefore improving fuel economy.

4 wheel Electronic Traction System 4ETS Working with the vehicle's full-time four-wheel drive, 4-ETS uses individual wheel-speed sensors to detect the onset of wheel slip. Then it individually brakes the slipping wheels as needed, providing the effect of locking the front, center and/or rear differentials. The 4-ETS system continually balances the torque split to direct power to the wheel or wheels with grip. 4 Wheel Drive and Automatic 4MATIC 4MATIC is the name of a complex electronically controlled all wheel drive system developed and used by Mercedes-Benz on some of its models. All Mercedes cars featuring this system also have an automatic transmission in standard equipment and that's where its name is derived from (4-wheel drive and automatic transmission). Originally developed together by Mercedes and Steyr-Daimler-Puch engineers, the system is now at its third generation but it's still based on a rear wheel drive c

Nitrous Oxide N2O N2O (Nitrous Oxide, sometimes called laughing gas) is a non-flammable gas usually used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic effects. The main reason for which is so famous though is because it was used in early motor racing and also the modern tuning and street racing scene for its properties as an oxidizer to increase the power output of engines.      

Gross Axle Weight Rating GAWR The Gross Axle Weight Rating is the maximum amount of weight that can be supported by each axle, as prescribed by the manufacturer. Gross Combined Weight Rating GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum weight of a completely loaded vehicle and its trailer, as designated by the manufacturer. Gear Ratio GEAR RATIO This is a numerical ratio of a series of gears in relation to each other, based on the number of turns of the input shaft, compared to turns of the output shaft. Gear ratios are determined by the number of teeth on each gear (and therefore the size of each gear). Ground Clearance GROUND CLEARANCE Ground clearance is the measurement from the lowest-hanging point under a vehicle (usually a differential, part of the suspension or the exhaust system) towards the ground. A high ground clearance allows a vehicle to drive mor

FOUR VALVES PER CYLINDER Four valves per cylinder are mostly used on DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) engines. Two of the valves are for the air-fuel mixture intake while the other two open to allow the exhaust gases out of each cylinder. Fire Prevention System FPS The Fire Prevention System (FPS) is designed to interrupt fuel delivery in the event of a collision, thus minimizing the risk of fire. Fuel cutoff FUEL CUTOFF A computer-controlled shutoff to the fuel system designed to prevent drivers from over-revving the engine, since over-revving is a primary cause of engine failure. Fuel Injection FUEL INJECTION Fuel injection is a mechanical or electronic system designed to inject atomized fuel directly into the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine. Essentially, it replaces the carburetor by being much more efficient, since the injection process is much better controlled. Fr

Electronic Air Suspension EAS The Electronic Air Suspension System (EAS) automatically adapts damping and spring characteristics, along with the vehicle's body level to driving conditions and load changes. Emergency Brake Assistance EBA The EBA system from Mercedes-Benz is designed to make use of the best capabilities the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) has to offer in the event of an emergency braking. Electronic Brake Assistance achieves this by detecting if a faster or harder than usual application of the brake pedal - such as under a panic situation - has happened and acts accordingly by providing the maximum amount of pressure into the brake cylinders, thus making the car enter the ABS zone faster and shortening the stopping distance by a very high margin. Electronic brake force distribution EBD Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD). It actually senses the weight i

DAMPING Damping is the motion of cushioning the vehicle's body movements in order to smooth the ride over bumpy roads and eliminate uncomfortable vibrations coming from the surface of the road. Dynamic Brake Control DBC Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) is a BMW developed active safety system which improves brake effectiveness during emergency braking. Vehicles equipped with the system use sensors to detect the speed and force with which the driver applies the brakes and then send this data to an ECU. If the ECU calculates that the driver intends to do an emergency stop using the criteria gathered from the sensors it will provide the maximum amount of pressure in the brake cylinders, in order for the car to stop in the shortest distance possible. DIFFERENTIAL A differential is a device that can be used to do two mainly different things: either it can be used to transfer power from the transmission (or transfer gearbox in case

C-PILLAR The pillar situated between the rear side windows and the rear window, that supports the roof. It's the last roof supportive pillar on normal four door sedans. Cab forward CAB FORWARD A vehicle design that moves the front wheels out farther on a front-wheel drive vehicle, which in turn results in a longer distance between the front and rear wheels. This creates more passenger area up front, therefore increasing interior leg-room room and comfort. Computer Active Technology Suspension CATS A Jaguar developed system, the Computer Active Technology System (CATS) uses a network of sensors to monitor the driver's driving style and road conditions. The adaptive shock absorber on each wheel is constantly tuned by a microprocessor that calculates what to do by gathering data from all the sensors. Cornering Brake Control CBC Developed by BMW engineers, CBC (Cornering Brak

Brake Assist System BAS This Brake Assist System (BAS), developed by Mercedes-Benz to shorten emergency stopping distances, takes over if a driver doesn't apply enough braking power in a critical situation. The system automatically develops maximum brake boost, thus reducing the actual stopping distance by a significant margin (according to Mercedes-Benz in-house tests, by almost 45%). Belt force limiters BELT FORCE LIMITERS The belt force limiter is located inside the inertia reel on the belt housing and consists of a torsion bar. When a force exceeding a certain level acts on the belt strap, the torsion bar produces a controlled reduction in the locking effect of the inertia reel. In other words, it automatically limits the stress on the occupants chest in the case of sudden braking or a frontal collision. Brake Force Display BFD Brake Force Display is a system developed by BMW for alerting tailgating

A-PILLAR Vehicles have two A-pillars, one on either side of the front windshield. The A-pillar usually supports the roof of a vehicle and is located in front of the driver. On convertible models it also represents the main roll-over protection, and is among the strongest body parts. Adaptive Air Suspension AAS Created by Audi engineers, the Adaptive Air Suspension is an electronically controlled air suspension system coupled with continuously adaptive damping. Originally an Audi A8-only feature, it is now available for the Q7 SUV also. Each of the vehicle's wheels have air suspension struts which are being electronically controlled by a central control unit which takes its data from sensors on the axles and acceleration sensors on the body. Making necessary changes in milliseconds, the computer controls the damping force at each individual wheel, thus minimizing uncomfortable body movements when the car is braking, cor