CAFE
nounAutomotive
Acronym of Corporate Average Fuel Economy.
Automotive
400 entries in this trade.
caliper
nounAutomotive
The part of a disc brake that holds the brake pads.
camber angle
nounAutomotive
One of the angles made by the wheels of a vehicle; specifically, the angle between the vertical axis of a wheel and the vertical axis of the vehicle when viewed from the front or rear.
CAN
nounAutomotive
Abbreviation of controller area network.
car glass
nounAutomotive
A windscreen, a side or rear window or glass panel roof on a vehicle.
car part
nounAutomotive
A part that can be fitted to a car, often as a replacement for a worn-out or damaged part.
car platform
nounAutomotive
The shared structural and mechanical foundation on which multiple different car models are built.
car show
nounAutomotive
A typically annual or semiannual public event for exhibition of privately owned automobiles, especially classic cars.
cargo liner
nounAutomotive
A lining for an aircraft's cargo hold; a lining for automotive interior wayback spaces or boots (trunks).
caster
nounAutomotive
The angle of the axis around which a car's front wheels rotate when the steering wheel is turned, with a vertical axis being defined as zero caster.
catalytic converter
nounAutomotive
A chamber containing a finely divided platinum catalyst in which carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from vehicle exhaust are oxidized to carbon dioxide.
CCS1
nounAutomotive
A plug, charger, or, outlet, using the electric vehicle charging standard
CCS2
nounAutomotive
A plug, charger, or outlet, using the electric vehicle charging standard
CDI
nounAutomotive
Initialism of capacitor discharge ignition.
charging point
nounAutomotive
A facility provided for the purpose of charging / recharging batteries of electric vehicles.
child lock
nounAutomotive
A type of special-purpose lock that when activated, prevents rearseat passengers from opening the doors from the inside.
CID
nounAutomotive
Initialism of cubic inches displacement; cubic inches of displacement.
city titty
A raised marker separating the lanes of a road.
classic car
nounAutomotive
An older car, especially a desirable one. Typically older than 25 years, but newer than a vintage car.
clearance time
nounAutomotive
The amount of time it takes to empty something out.
climbing lane
nounAutomotive
On a road, an inside lane on an incline that is designated for slow-moving traffic such as heavy goods vehicles.
clutch pedal
nounAutomotive
A pedal in a manual transmission car that modulates the clutch mechanism, via clutch plate pressure.
clutchless manual transmission
nounAutomotive
A manual transmission or a sequential manual gearbox without a manually-operated clutch (i.e., with an automatic clutch) system; used in both automobiles and motorcycles (i.e., mechanically the same as a conventional manual transmission, but lacks a physical clutch pedal). These systems facilitate the driver by automating the clutch system, but still require the driver's input to change gear manually, by means of a conventional manual gearshift. It is a form of semi-automatic transmission.
CMVSS
nameAutomotive
Initialism of Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
coachline
nounAutomotive
A decorative horizontal line running along the sides of a motor vehicle.
coal roller
nounAutomotive
One that rolls coal; one that produces copious amounts of partially burnt fuel as black smoke in automotive exhaust on purpose.
compliance car
nounAutomotive
A motor vehicle made in a manner to comply with government specification, in quantities to comply to government regulations on quota minimums, to sell to the public, frequently in limited areas, at a loss, without promotion, and under active dissuasion among dealers.
compression ratio
nounAutomotive
The ratio of the volume between the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and the piston before and after the compression stroke.
concept car
nounAutomotive
An automobile which is not available for retail sale and which is usually only a mock-up having limited functionality, but which may be displayed at auto shows to represent design ideas under consideration for future vehicles.
continuously variable transmission
nounAutomotive
Any of several forms of automatic transmission, without specific gears, in which the gear ratio may be changed without any noticeable steps.
control arm
nounAutomotive
A nearly flat and roughly triangular suspension member that pivots in two places.
country beam
A headlight setting intended for quiet country roads at night.
courtesy light
nounAutomotive
A small light inside a motor vehicle that automatically switches on when a door is opened.
CPO
nounAutomotive
Initialism of certified pre-owned Referring to a used car asserted to be in good condition whose warranty (from the seller, manufacturer, or insurer) is asserted to be extensive.
crash box
nounAutomotive
A structural component near the bumper, serving to absorb energy in a collision.
crate engine
nounAutomotive
a new, fully-assembled automobile engine that is shipped to the installer
crawler lane
nounAutomotive
On a highway, a slow lane on an uphill incline that is designated for slow-moving traffic such as heavy goods vehicles.
cruising lane
nounAutomotive
On a multilane road, the right lane, intended for driving at a slower pace.
cube
Clipping of cubic inch(es).
custom car
nounAutomotive
A passenger vehicle that has been altered to improve its performance, modify its aesthetics, or combine both.
CUV
nounAutomotive
Initialism of compact crossover sport utility vehicle or compact crossover utility vehicle.
CVT
nounAutomotive
Initialism of continuously variable transmission.
cylinder
nounAutomotive
The space in which a piston travels inside a reciprocating engine or pump.
cylinder head
nounAutomotive
A part of an internal combustion engine, usually made as a removable piece, that closes one end of the engine's cylinders.
D-pillar
nounAutomotive
The vertical support dividing a car's rear windscreen from its rear window (where the car has a central side window between the front and rear side windows; see C-pillar).
daily
Something that is produced, consumed, used, or done every day.
daily-able
Being usable as a daily driver.
dashcam
nounAutomotive
A digital video recorder mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle or elsewhere inside the vehicle to record occurrences in the vicinity, such as traffic accidents that the vehicle has been involved in, to provide evidence for criminal prosecutions, insurance claims, etc.
DCFC
nounAutomotive
Initialism of DC fast charge, a method of recharging electric vehicle batteries.
DD
nounAutomotive
Initialism of daily driver: a vehicle which is used for everyday commuting, unlike a weekend warrior / Sunday Funday vehicle.
detention time
nounAutomotive
The total amount of time that a truck and its driver must wait at a shipping or receiving facility to load or unload their truck beyond the scheduled appointment time.
development mule
nounAutomotive
A testbed vehicle equipped with prototype components requiring evaluation.
DI
nounAutomotive
Initialism of direct injection (“fuel injection”).
dial gauge
nounAutomotive
A gauge on an instrument panel with a dial face rather than an warning light or a digital display.
DIC
nounAutomotive
Initialism of driver information centre/center.
diff
nounAutomotive
Abbreviation of differential: the differential gear in an automobile.
dino juice
Clipped compound of dinosaur juice.
disc brake
nounAutomotive
A type of brake where the friction is produced by brake pads which are pressed against a disc (or rotor) made of steel or ceramic.
disk wheel
nounAutomotive
A wheel consisting of a solid convex or concave surface extending from its hub to rim.
DOD
nounAutomotive
Initialism of displacement-on-demand (a type of engine that can shut down cylinders when not needed).