Motoring Jargon Jargon - T
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A door on the back of a vehicle that can be moved up or down, such as on a pickup truck or hatchback.
Driving 'up the arse' of the car in front, in order to expedite an overtaking manoeuvre. Generally the preserve of BMW, Audi or hot hatch drivers.
A form of semi-convertible, with a removable roof panel and permanent rear roll bar and rear window behind the seats. Porsche convertibles are named Targa, while Bugatti has announced a Veyron Targa. The popularity of Targa models has dropped off with the advent of folding hard-tops that incorporate a roll bar in the front windscreen and rollover hoops.
Porsche-sourced automatic gearbox that allows the driver to override the auto transmissions and select 'up' or 'down' gearshifts.
The turning force exerted on wheels, which indicates the pulling power of an engine. Normally measured in pound foot (lb-ft) or Newton metres (Nm). Diesels are noted for higher torque levels lower in the gears.
The tendency of some older cars, primarily front-wheel drive cars, to pull to one side of the other often due to road surfaces or small differences in the torque going to individual wheels. Less of a problem now that traction control is standard on many cars.
The grip that a car's tyres have on the road. The more traction available, the better handling a car is likely to be be. Active driving controls such as traction control, EBD and ABS improve traction
A device that applies more or less traction to certain wheels by cutting power or applying braking to those wheels.
The phenomenon of cars following ruts in the road, rather than the steering input. Tramlining is often the fault of bare tyres or old road surfaces.
A trim level determines the amount of kit your new car will have. Most models miss out on the likes of satnav, alloy wheels and leather interior at basic trim. Many models have sports trim, with larger wheels, lowered suspension, sports seats and the like.
Tuning refers to tweaking an engine to deliver more power and torque. This can be done by changing engine mapping, valve technology and fuel injection.
The delay between pressing the accelerator and feeling a turbocharger kick in. Some manufacturers overcome this problem by adding a second turbocharger.
The space described by a car making a 360° turn. Smaller cars and black cabs have the smallest turning circles, making them extremely useful in urban situations.
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