Commonly used abbreviations
- ABC
- Active Body Control
- ABS
- Anti-lock braking system
- AC
- Air conditioning or Alternating current
- ACC
- Adaptive cruise control also Adaptive chassis control
- ACC
- Active Cornering Control
- AFS
- Advanced front-lighting system
- AFS
- Active Front Steering
- AIR CON
- Air conditioning
- ALR
- Automatic Locking Retractor
- ALS
- Active lighting system or automatic lighting system
- ASC
- Automatic/Active stability control
- ASC+T
- Automatic/active stability control with traction control
- ASD
- Automatic limited-slip differential
- ASR
- Anti Slip Regulation (Audi Traction Control)
- AYC
- Active yaw control
- BEV
- Battery electric vehicle
- BLIS
- Blind spot information system, infra-red sensor that helps detects those in the blind spot
- BSD
- Blind-spot detection
- CAT
- Catalytic converter
- CC
- Cruise control. See also ACC
- CCM
- ccm or cm?, cubic centimetres
- C/CON
- Cruise control. See also CC & ACC
- C/L
- Central locking
- CNG
- Compressed natural gas
- CO2
- Carbon dioxide
- CPU
- Central processing unit
- CRS
- Child restraint system
- CVT
- Continuously variable transmission
- DAC
- Driver Alert Control
- DDI
- Direct diesel injection
- DOHC
- Double overhead camshaft
- DRP
- Dynamic rear proportioning
- DSC
- Dynamic stability control
- DSG
- Direct shift gearbox
- DSP
- Dynamic shift programme
- DSTC
- Dynamic stability with traction control
- DPF
- Diesel Particulate Filter
- DTI
- Diesel direct-injection (Opel/Vauxhall)
- EARS
- Enhanced Accident Response System
- EBA
- Electronic brake assist, helps maximise braking in an emergency
- EBC
- Electronic brake force control (see EBD and EBV)
- EBD
- Electronic braking differential or Electronic brake force distribution (see also EBC and EBV)
- EBM
- Electronic brake management system. Optimises driving stability, traction, and braking function (BMW)
- EBS
- Electronic braking system
- EBV
- Electronic brake force distribution (see also EBD and EBC)
- ECC
- Electronic climate control
- ECC
- Emission control computer
- ECM
- Electronic control module
- ECU
- Electronic control unit
- EDL
- Electronic Differential Lock
- EFI
- Electronic fuel injection
- EGD
- Electronically regulated shock absorption
- EI
- Electronic ignition
- EMS
- Electronic Management System
- E/M
- Electric mirrors
- ENCAP
- European new car assessment program - motor industry measurement/grading for car safety
- ESC
- Electronic stability control
- ESP
- Electronic stability programme, another designation for vehicle-dynamics control (FDR)
- E/S/R
- Electric sunroof
- ESR
- Electronic slip reduction, another name for ASR
- EV
- Electric Vehicle
- E/W
- Electric windows
- FCEV
- Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
- FDSH
- Full dealer service history
- FFS/R
- Factory fitted sunroof
- FSH
- Full service history
- FWH
- Free wheeling hubs
- GPS
- Global Positioning System
- GSM
- Global system for mobile communication
- GT
- Gran Turismo or Grand Tourism
- HBA
- Hydraulic Brake Assist
- HC
- High compression
- HDI
- High-pressure direct injection
- HEI
- High performance ignition system, transistorized ignition, contact less ignition
- HEMI
- Hemispherical Combustion Chamber
- H/L/W/W
- Headlamp Wash Wipe
- HID
- High intensity discharge (Xenon headlamps)
- H/SEATS
- Heated Seats
- IC
- Inflatable Curtain airbag
- ICC
- Intelligent cruise control, Nissan distance control system; see also ACC
- ICE
- In Car Entertainment
- IDI
- Indirect (diesel) injection
- IDIS
- Integrated driver information system, similar to navigation system
- IDS
- Interactive dynamic driving system
- IFS
- Independent Front Suspension.
- IMMOB
- Engine immobiliser
- IPS
- Intelligent Protection System, integrated two-stage airbag system with retractable pedals, head/shoulder airbags, and active headrests.
- IRS
- Independent Rear Suspension.
- IVD
- Interactive vehicle dynamics
- K-JETRONIC
- Continuous injection system
- LCD
- Liquid crystal display
- LDW
- Lane Departure Warning
- LED
- Light-emitting diode
- LHD
- Left-hand drive
- LH-JETRONIC
- Same as L-Jetronic with hot-wire air-mass sensor
- LPG
- Liquified petroleum gas
- L-JETRONIC
- Electronically controlled injection system (with direct air-mass measurement)
- LSD
- Limited-slip differential
- LTHR
- Leather
- LWB
- Long wheel base
- MAF
- Mass airflow sensor
- Man
- Manual
- MFI
- Multipoint fuel injection (electronic)
- MFI-C
- Continuous multipoint fuel injection (electronic)
- MFI-I
- Intermittent multipoint fuel injection (electronic)
- MFI-S
- Sequential multipoint fuel injection (electronic)
- MPFI
- Multi-point fuel injection (electronic) or Multi-port fuel Injection
- MPG
- Miles per Gallon
- MPH
- Miles per hour
- MPI
- Multi-point injection, fully electronic engine control
- MPV
- Multi-purpose vehicles
- MR2
- Mid-engine Runabout
- MY
- Model Year
- NAV
- Navigation or Navigation system see also SatNav
- NCAP
- New Car Assessment Program, see ENCAP
- OBC
- On-board computer
- OCD
- Occupant Detection System
- OBD
- On-board diagnostics or off-board diagnostics, vehicle-internal diagnosis with internal or external test unit
- OEM
- Original equipment manufacturer
- OHC
- Overhead camshaft. Camshaft situated above the cylinder head
- OHV
- Overhead valves (the camshaft is therefore underneath)
- PAB
- Power Assisted Braking
- PAS
- Power Assisted Steering
- PAS
- Parking Assist System
- PASE
- Passive Start and Entry. Keyless access to car and engine start (Siemens system)
- PATS
- Passive Anti-Theft System
- PB
- Power Brakes
- PDC
- Park Distance Control. Parking aid
- PDC
- PreDriveCheck
- PDM
- Power Door Mirrors
- PDM
- Passenger Door Module
- PFI
- Port Fuel Injection
- PHEV
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
- P/HOOD
- Power hood for convertible
- R/CASS
- Radio cassette
- R/C/L
- Remote central locking
- RDS
- Radio Data System
- RFT
- Run-flat tyre
- RHD
- Right-hand drive
- R/H/R
- Rear head restraints
- ROPS
- Rollover protection system. Automatically extendable roll bar (Volvo)
- RPM
- Revolutions per minute
- RS
- Restraint system or Rotational speed sensor
- R/S/B
- Rear seat belts
- RSC
- Run-flat system component. Tyres with emergency-running properties. See also RFT
- RSC
- Roll stability control
- R/W/W
- Rear wash wipe
- SAS
- Side-impact protection, See also SIPS
- SatNav
- Satellite Navigation
- SBE
- Seat-occupied detection
- SCS
- Stability control system. Simplified form of ESP (Mitsubishi). Prevents vehicle tilting or skidding.
- SEFI
- Sequential electronic fuel injection
- SFI
- Sequential fuel injection
- SIPS
- Side-impact protection system (Volvo)
- SMPFI
- Sequential multi-port fuel injection
- SOHC
- Single overhead camshaft
- SPFI
- Sequential Port Fuel Injection
- S/R
- Sunroof
- SRC
- Synchro rev control
- SRI
- Sports Rated Injected or Short-Ram Intake?
- SRS
- Safety restraint system (generally includes airbag and seatbelt tensioner, normally controlled by a common control unit)
- STC
- Stability and traction control
- SWB
- Short wheel base
- TC/TCS
- Traction control/Traction Control System, auxiliary function with ABS
- TDI
- Turbo diesel injection
- T/GLASS
- Tinted glass
- TIPTRONIC
- Porsche or VW electronic transmission control. The control can be operated via a small device on the steering wheel.
- TPMS
- Tyre-pressure monitoring system
- TRACS
- Traction control system (Volvo)
- TT
- Touring Turismo
- T/WIN
- Tinted windows
- VANOS
- Variable camshaft timing
- VCAR
- Vehicle condition alert register
- VDC
- Vehicle dynamics control
- VIN
- Vehicle identification number
- VSA
- Vehicle stability assist. System similar to ESP.
- VSC
- Vehicle stability control
- VTEC
- Variable Valve Timing, as below
- VVTI
- Variable Valve Timing, as above
- WHIPS
- Whiplash protection system
- WTY
- Warranty
- XDS
- Electronic cross-axle traction control system
