Automobile

Automobile

Of or relating to any vehicle, usually designed to carry passengers, that operates on ordinary roads and typically has four wheels and a gasoline or diesel internal-combustion engine.

Industry: Automotive

Add a new term

Contributors in Automobile

Become a Contributors

Automobile

A steering mechanism in which the steering shaft turns a worm gear that, in turn, causes a toothed metal block to move back and forth. Ball bearings in a recirculating track reduce friction between ...

Multileaf spring

Automotive; Automobile

A leaf spring with several leaves bundled together by steel bands.

Multilink suspension

Automotive; Automobile

A rear suspension consisting of at least four links, or "arms," and no struts. Because multilink suspensions assign specific wheel-locating duties to each element, they provide great flexibility for ...

Neutral steer

Automotive; Automobile

A cornering condition in which the front and rear slip angles are roughly the same. Although seemingly an ideal state of balance, perfect neutral steer is not as stable as slight understeer.

On-center feel

Automotive; Automobile

The responsiveness and feel of the steering when the wheel is approximately centered. In a car with good on-center feel, the steering wheel tends to return to centre when slightly deflected, ...

Opposite lock

Automotive; Automobile

A technique in which the steering wheel is turned in the direction away from where the car is turning. Opposite lock is used to control a car when it is oversteering and its tail is swinging wide.

Overdrive

Automotive; Automobile

Any gearset in which the output shaft turns faster than the input shaft. Overdrive gears are used in most modern transmissions because they reduce engine rpm and improve fuel economy. Occasionally, a ...