Car-Smart Abbreviations

Planning to buy a new fancy car? Well, before you do that you need an orientation so that you can understand what the dealers are referring to. Automotive manuals are now peppered with lots of acronyms and abbreviations reflecting the fact that cars are getting more and more complex as years are passing by. Here, we compile a glossary of such technical jargons:

ABS: Antilock braking system. This enables drivers to retain steering control during emergency stops by automatically "pumping" a car's brakes.

AWD: An 'All Whell Drive' system sends power to all 4 wheels, providing more traction on slippery or uneven surfaces than front wheel drive (FWD) or rear wheel drive (RWD). AWD is also referred to as four whell drive (4WD).

CVT: Typically using a belt instead of conventional gears, a 'Continuously Variable Transmission' is a smoother-operating and more fuel-efficient type of automatic transmission.

EBD: 'Electronic Brake-force Distribution' improves braking performance by varying pressure between the front and rear wheels according to the car's load and speed.

ESP: 'Electronic Stability Program', a skid-control system, determines a driver's intended direction based on steering and braking inputs and keeps the car on track.

LATCH: 'Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren' refers to a system in new cars for securing childrens' car seats.

OBDII: 'OnBoard Dagnostics' system, phase two, found in cars made in 1996 and later, sets off the "check engine" light if the engine or fuel system emits too much pollution.

PCM: The 'Power train Control Module' is a computer that manages the engine, transmission, and emissions system to maximize fuel economy and performance and to minimize emissions.

SRS: 'Supplemental Restraint System' refers to air bags, which enhance the effectiveness of the most important safety feature in cars: seat belts.

TCS: A 'Traction Control System' helps a car's wheels get a grip on a slippery surface when the driver accelerates. It's sometimes called ASR, or 'Acceleration Slip Regulation'.