Our Comprehensive Car Abbreviations List
| Abbreviation | Stands for |
| 2WD | 2-wheel drive |
| 4WAS | Four wheel anti skid |
| 4WD | 4-wheel drive |
| 4WS | Four-wheel steering |
| 4X4 | 4 wheel drive, see 4WD |
| ABC | Active Body Control |
| ABS | Anti-lock braking system |
| AC | Air conditioning or Alternating current |
| AC | AC Cars (formerly known as Auto Carriers) |
| ACC | Adaptive cruise control also Adaptive chassis control |
| ACD | Mitsubishi’s ‘Active Center Differential’ |
| ADS | Aston Martin ‘Adaptive Damping System’ |
| AFS | Advanced front-lighting system |
| AIR CON | Air conditioning |
| ALR | Automatic Locking Retractor |
| ALS | Active lighting system or automatic lighting system |
| AMG | Aufrecht, Melcher, Grossaspach |
| AMT | Aston Martin ‘automated manual transmission’ |
| 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) |
| ATV | All Terrain Vehicle |
| AT | Automatic transmission |
| AUT | Automatic transmission |
| AUTO | Automatic transmission (also Automobile and Automotive) |
| AWD | 4 wheel drive, see 4WD & 4X4 |
| AYC | Active yaw control |
| BEV | Battery electric vehicle |
| BHP | Brake horse power |
| BLIS | Blind spot information system, infra-red sensor that helps detects those in the blind spot |
| BMW | Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works) |
| BSD | Blind-spot detection |
| CAB | Cabriolet |
| CABRIO | Cabriolet |
| CAT | Catalytic converter |
| CC | Cruise control. See also ACC |
| CCM | ccm or cm³, cubic centimetres |
| CCM | Jaguar ‘Carbon Ceramic Matrix’ brakes |
| C/CODED | Colour coded |
| C/CON | Cruise control. See also CC & ACC |
| CFRP | Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic |
| C/L | Central locking |
| CNG | Compressed natural gas |
| CO2 | Carbon dioxide |
| COD | Audi ‘cylinder on demand’ system |
| COND | Condition |
| CONV | Convertible |
| CPE | Coupe |
| CPU | Central processing unit |
| CRS | Child restraint system |
| CVT | Continuously variable transmission |
| DAC | Driver Alert Control |
| DCT | Dual-clutch transmission |
| DDI | Direct diesel injection |
| DHC | Drop Head Coupe |
| DIS | Audi ‘Driver Information System’ |
| DISI | Mazda ‘Direct Injection Spark Ignition’ |
| DIVCT | Jaguar ‘dual-independent variable cam timing’ |
| DOHC | Double overhead camshaft |
| DRC | Audi ‘Dynamic Ride Control’ |
| DRL | Maserati ‘daytime running light’ |
| 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) |
| EAD | Jaguar ‘Electronic Active Differential’ |
| 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 |
| ECM | Electronic control module |
| ECU | Electronic control unit |
| EDC | Renualt ‘Efficient Double Clutch’ |
| EDL | Electronic Differential Lock |
| EEPROM | Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory |
| 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 |
| EPROM | Erasable programmable read-only memory, programmable or erasable with UV light |
| ESC | Electronic skid control (also see below) |
| 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 |
| EST | Estate |
| EV | Electric Vehicle |
| E/W | Electric windows |
| FCEV | Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle |
| FDSH | Full dealer service history |
| FFS/R | Factory fitted sunroof |
| FHC | Fixed Head Coupe |
| FIAT | Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino |
| FSH | Full service history |
| FT/LB | Foot Pounds, The amount of energy or work needed to raise an item weighing one pound, a distance of one foot, used in the measurement of torque |
| FWH | Free wheeling hubs |
| GMC | General Motors Corporation |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GSM | Global system for mobile communication |
| GT | Gran Turismo or Grand Tourism |
| GTO | Ferrari ‘Gran Turismo Omologata’ |
| 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 |
| HEV | Hybrid electric vehicle |
| H/L/W/W | Headlamp Wash Wipe |
| HID | High intensity discharge (Xenon headlamps) |
| HP | Hire Purchase, finance option when buying a car |
| HPI | Hire Purchase Information, used for vehicle history check |
| 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 |
| KERS | Kinetic energy recovery 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) |
| MG | Morris Garages |
| MIVEC | Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control |
| MOD | Manual Over-Drive |
| MOT | Ministry of Transport Test |
| 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 |
| NCCB | Nissan Carbon Ceramic Brakes |
| NDEC | New European Driving Cycle (fuel consumption figures) |
| NM | Newton-meter, used in the measurement of torque |
| OBC | On-board computer |
| OBD | On-board diagnostics or off-board diagnostics, vehicle-internal diagnosis with internal or external test unit |
| OCD | Occupant Detection System |
| O/D | Overdrive |
| OEM | Original equipment manufacturer |
| OHC | Overhead camshaft. Camshaft situated above the cylinder head |
| OHV | Overhead valves (the camshaft is therefore underneath) |
| ONO | Or Near Offer |
| ORV | Off Road Vehicle |
| OVNO | Or Very Near Offer |
| PAA | Porsche active aerodynamics |
| PAB | Power Assisted Braking |
| PAS | Power Assisted Steering |
| PASE | Passive Start and Entry. Keyless access to car and engine start (Siemens system) |
| PASM | Porsche Active Suspension Management |
| PATS | Passive Anti-Theft System |
| PB | Power Brakes |
| PCC | Porsche Car Connect |
| PCCB | Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake |
| PCD | Pitch Circle Diameter |
| PCH | Personal Contract Hire/Lease |
| PCM | Porsche Communication Management |
| PCP | Personal Contract Purchase |
| PDC | Park Distance Control. Parking aid |
| PDCC | Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control |
| PDK | Porsche Doppelkupplung gearbox |
| PDLS | Porsche Dynamic Light System |
| PDM | Power Door Mirrors |
| PFI | Port Fuel Injection |
| PHC | Porsche Hill Control |
| PHEV | Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle |
| P/HOOD | Power hood for convertible |
| PROM | Programmable Read-Only Memory |
| PSI | Pounds per square inch |
| PSM | Porsche Stability Management |
| PTM | Porsche Traction Management |
| PTU | Ferrari ‘Power Transfer Unit’ |
| PTV Plus | Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus system |
| PVTS | Porsche Vehicle Tracking System |
| P/X or P/EX | Part exchange |
| QV | Quadrifoglio Verde |
| RAM | Random access memory, read/write memory of a processor |
| 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 |
| ROM | Read-only memory. Program memory of processor, or other memory, that can only be read. |
| 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 | Land Rover ‘Roll Stability Control’ (also see below) |
| RSC | Run-flat system component. Tyres with emergency-running properties. See also RFT |
| RSC | Roll stability control |
| RV | Recreational Vehicle |
| RWD | Rear wheel drive |
| R/W/W | Rear wash wipe |
| SAAB | Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, which means Swedish Aircraft Company |
| SAS | Side-impact protection, See also SIPS |
| SatNav | Satellite Navigation |
| S-AWC | Mitsubishi ‘Super-All Wheel Control’ |
| SBE | Seat-occupied detection |
| SCAN TOOL | Tester for reading OBD error codes and other OBD data |
| SCM-E | Ferrari ‘magnetorheological suspension control system’ |
| SCS | Stability control system. Simplified form of ESP (Mitsubishi). Prevents vehicle tilting or skidding. |
| SEFI | Sequential electronic fuel injection |
| SFI | Sequential fuel injection |
| SGDI | Jaguar ‘spray-guided direct 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) |
| SST | Mitsubishi’s Twin Clutch ‘Sport Shift Transmission’ |
| STC | Stability and traction control |
| SUV | Sport utility vehicles |
| SVT | Ford ‘Special Vehicles Team’ |
| SWB | Short wheel base |
| T&T | Tax and tested (TNT) |
| TC/TCS | Traction control/Traction Control System, auxiliary function with ABS |
| TDC | Top dead centre |
| 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. |
| Ti-VCT | Ford ‘Twin-independent Variable Cam Timing’ |
| TNT | Taxed and Tested |
| TPMS | Tyre-pressure monitoring system |
| TRACS | Traction control system (Volvo) |
| TRD | Toyota Racing Development |
| TT | Touring Turismo |
| TVR | Trevor |
| 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 |
| VW | Volkswagen |
| WHIPS | Whiplash protection system |
| WIL | Lexus ‘Whiplash Injury Lessening’ front seats |
| WTY | Warranty |
| XDS | Electronic cross-axle traction control system |
