05 Feb 07
Refers to a sports car, usually a four-seat coupe, where the emphasis is on comfort and luxury rather than on-the-edge handling. Think Mercedes-Benz CL, Maserati Quattroporte, etc.
A 'grey import' is a car that has been shipped into the country for sale without the manufacturer's blessing. Most of these in the UK are Japanese models, often high-performance sports cars or useful 4x4s and MPVs. Grey imports are different to parallel imports, which are cars sourced from abroad but which are technically the same as the model offered here.
The weight of a car when it has a fully loaded boot, its fuel tank topped up and its maximum number of passengers on board. The gross vehicle weight is a useful figure to know if you're calculating how much your car can tow, for example.
Doors which hinge at the top rather than the front or back. Much used in concept cars, as they look spectacular in photographs, and as they open wide for a good view of the cabin. A crucial component in supercar fantasies, too.
