05 Feb 07
As used in fighter planes. A device which projects information such as speed, engine revs and even directions from the sat nav on to the windscreen, where the driver can read it without taking his eyes off the road.
The action of blipping the throttle pedal with your heel when braking and shifting down through the gears at the same time. The only way to be quick on a track, as it enables the driver to get instantly back on the power as soon as the braking for a corner is done.
High-performance Chrysler/Dodge engines with hemispherical combustion chambers that give a good swirl of fuel-air mixture for efficient combustion and protection against heat losses. The technology dates back to the 30s and was tested in V12 tank engines as well as aeroplanes, before being fitted in a road car in 1951.
An electronic aid for 4x4s; works with the ABS to stop the vehicle running away on a steep slope, automatically applying the brakes if necessary. In its latest Land Rover iteration, the pre-set top speed downhill can be altered via the cruise control function.
An electronic aid that automatically applies braking pressure when pulling away on a hill until the throttle is pressed down far enough, to prevent you from slipping backwards.
Named after BMW's director of design in the early 60s, Wilhelm Hofmeister, and now a key feature of BMW's design identity. It's the curve or bend in a car's C-pillar (the bit between the rear window and the rear windscreen). The first BMW to have this was the 1961 1500, although it's not a design touch exclusive to the company.
Qualifying a car to race or rally in a series meant for cars based on production models by making road-going counterparts - usually high-end, low-volume versions such as Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Skoda Fabia vRS and Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Incidentally, Ferrari's GTO stands for 'gran turismo omologato', Italian for 'grand touring homologation'.
An interior designer's term, this refers to the average hip-level entry point of people climbing into the cabin. A car with a higher H-point will be easier to get into and out from, as opposed to one where you sink down into the seat and then have to haul yourself upwards to get out. An increasingly important consideration for designers, with an ageing population to cater for, it also indicates how easy it will be to load child seats and small children.
An engine working in partnership with one or more electric motors, such as in the Toyota Prius. The motor(s), running on battery-supplied power, can simply give extra boost (called a mild hybrid) or can take over and allow for the engine to shut down completely at low speeds or in stop-start city traffic (a full hybrid). Either way, overall fuel economy is improved in most driving conditions. The batteries don't need to be plugged in to recharge either, as they cleverly recapture all the energy usually lost when a car brakes. So far, hybrids have combined motors with a petrol engine, but ultimately, diesel-electric hybrids promise the best economy.
Fluid, generally oil, is forced through a small cylinder to create pressure. Used in brakes, clutches and power steering systems - or, in the case of some Citroen models, the suspension system.
A fuel cell that uses hydrogen as a fuel source: taking in oxygen to create a chemical reaction that produces energy, its only by-product is water. The energy is stored in a battery as electricity to power a motor. Hydrogen is widely seen as the fuel of the future, although its production is not necessarily pollution-free. [See also: ZEV]
