MOTORING NEWS - Torque, xenon headlamps, the difference between climate control and air conditioning?
Learn "car speak" and all the car terminology with us as we break down some key car jargon to help.
Kilowatt is the metric unit used to measure power. Generally the more kW and engine has, the faster it will accelerate. Put another way, it's the ability of the engine to convert the potential energy of fuel to motion. So if we compare it to riding a bike, it's about how fast the cyclist can pedal.
Torque is best described as the twisting power the engine has. The higher the torque, the better ability the engine has to pull over a broad spectrum. So if we compare it to riding a bike, it's about how hard the cyclist can press down on the pedals.
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) brakes lock and release the brakes up to 20 times per second to allow the driver to change direction during extreme braking. This allows the driver to steer around possible dangers.
This system prevents excessive wheel spin during harsh acceleration or on slippery surfaces.
A supplementary restraint system (SRS) airbag automatically inflates upon impact to prevent contact with hard surfaces inside a car. All airbags are only effective when used in conjunction with seat belts, the primary restraint system.
This is like air conditioning, but much better. Simply set the temperature and the car does the rest.
It's best practice to set the temperature to around 22°C to prevent driver fatigue and to get the ideal temperature inside your vehicle.
Power steering makes turning easy. In a car with power steering, there's a small hydraulic or electric engine that assists with steering.
You don't need to insert your key into the doors to open it - just push the button.
With proximity sensors, you don't need to get the keys out of a pocket or handbag to get in and drive. A simple starter button completes the experience.
A simple system that cools and treats air through a refrigeration cycle, using a fan to blast cooled air into the cabin.
Xenon headlamp
Xenon is a natural gas that's both colourless and odourless. It emits a clean, white light when used in car headlamps.
It's more efficient than its popular counterpart, halogen, uses less power and has a long lifespan.
Halogen headlamp
This affordable lighting system emits a bright white light, is very popular and has a low replacement cost.
LEDs don't need much power to work and have a very efficient energy consumption. They're smaller and longer lasting than their counterparts.
This is the international standard for attaching children's seats and consists of metal fitting points built into the car at manufacturing. It makes for easy and secure fastening of child seats without using the seatbelt. When purchasing a car seat, ensure it is built for ISOFIX.
A service plan ensures you can have the first few services free of charge. This usually includes the basic service but will exclude wear and tear items such as brakes, tyres and shock absorbers.
A warranty is the manufacturer's guarantee that the product won't break under normal usage conditions.
Most car manufacturers expect you to have your car serviced every 15 000km or once a year, whichever comes first.
So if you only drive 10 000km in your first year, best to make an appointment with the dealer, rather than risk losing the warranty.
Even in emergencies, studies prove that drivers don't brake hard enough. The BAS helps with this by judging, based on the speed and force with which the brake pedal is pushed, if the driver is trying to execute an emergency stop. If the brake isn't fully applied, the system overrides the driver until the ABS system takes over.
The electronic stability programme (ESP), also known as the electronic stability control (ESC), or dynamic stability control (DSC), improves a vehicle's stability.
When it detects skidding, the computerised system applies to brakes to "steer" the vehicle by selectively braking individual wheels to prevent understeering and oversteering.
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