Axle articulation is the ability of a vehicle’s axle to move in a different direction vertically relative to the chassis or the other axle/s. Most American pick-up trucks have axle articulation as a standard feature to help on rough roads.
AWS – All Wheel Steering
All Wheel Steering is a system that turns the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels to aid in high-speed cornering. Other similar systems turn the rear wheels in the opposite direction as the front to aid in low speed maneuvering and/or parking.
AWD – All Wheel Drive
Sending power to every one of the vehicle’s wheels all the time, or only when needed, through active or non-active differentials or a transfer case.
AVCS – Active Valve Control System
The Active Valve Control System (AVCS) is a variable valve timing engine technology used by Subaru. Using similar ideas as Honda’s VTEC, the system squeezes the best performance from the engine while also minding emission standards. It works by varying the timing of the intake valves and adjusting the positions of the camshafts based on […]
AUTOMOBILE – Automobile
An automobile is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that carries its own means of propulsion and is used for transport on land.
AUTOMATIC PARKING – Assisted or automatic parking
A number of car companies have started to offer automatic parking features on their models nowadays. In theory, as the vehicle equipped like this passes a parking spot, the system ascertains the dimensions of the available space and if any obstacles might be in the way. Once it has evaluated this sensory data, it automatically […]
ATV – All-terrain vehicle
The term All Terrain Vehicle is usually used to describe small open motorized vehicles with three or four wheels that are designed for off-road use. The versions with four wheels are also called quad-bikes or just quads.
ATTS – Active Transfer Torque System
The Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS) is basically Honda’s example of a Limited Slip Differential (LSD), since is also used to transfer as much as 80% of the engine torque to the outside driving wheel. By using information gathered from multiple sensors, including yaw rate, steering angle and lateral acceleration, ATTS can transfer torque to […]
ATC – Adaptive Transmission Control
The Adaptive Transmission Control system is found only on automatic and sequential transmissions and is based on a fuzzy-logic processor which can recognize individual styles of driving and adapts transmission shift parameters accordingly. It usually uses a microprocessor to read data from various sensors, and with the help of a complex algorithm it decides when […]
ATC – Active Tilt Control
The Active Tilt Control is a technology used by some SUVs belonging to brands from the Ford Motor Company. Like other similar systems, ATC is used primarily for controlling body lean while the vehicle is cornering. A mounted accelerometer gives a lateral acceleration signal to a control module, which in turn directs pressure from pumps […]