3.3.1 Basic Technical Specifications of the Car
Below is a table of the main technical specifications of the car that most fully describe a specific vehicle from a technical point of view.
Basic Technical Specifications of the Car
| Name
|
Description
|
Remark
|
| Dimensions
|
Vehicle length, width and height
|
|
| Car unladen weight
|
Weight of the car, which is filled with all operating fluids, with a full fuel tank, a spare wheel and tools
|
|
| Gross vehicle weight
|
Car unladen weight plus all passengers, including driver and maximum permissible weight
|
|
| Wheelbase
|
Distance between axles of front and rear wheels
|
It is usually one of the determinants of comfort for passengers in the rear seats, as it affects legroom
|
| Wheel track
|
Distance between the centers of wheels on one axle
|
Together with the wheelbase, it directly affects the ride and handling of the vehicle
|
| Loading line
|
Distance from the supporting surface to the lower edge of the car body opening under the lid or tailgate
|
|
| Capacity
|
Permitted number of passengers, including the driver
|
It shall be calculated as the number of people. Moreover, in case if the car provides for the installation of additional seats, it is usually indicated taking into account these seats. Sometimes there is an indication "2 + 2", which means two front full seats and two children
|
| Carrying capacity
|
Maximum permissible weight of transported cargo
|
|
| Trunk volume
|
The useful volume of the luggage compartment, that is, the volume that can be filled with luggage
|
It is be measured in cubic centimeters or meters
|
| Engine displacement
|
Total displacement of all engine cylinders
|
It is measured in liters (l) or cubic centimeters (cm3 )
|
| Full engine power
|
Maximum developed engine power
|
It is measured in horsepower (hp) or kilowatts (kW) at specific engine speeds (e.g. 150 hp at 5000 rpm)
|
| Maximum engine torque
|
Maximum thrust, which is generated by the engine on the crankshaft
|
It is measured in newton meters (Nm) at specific engine speeds. In case if the maximum torque is reached in any speed range, then the corresponding record is given: for example, 400 Nm at 1450 - 3500 rpm.
|
| Fuel consumption
|
The required amount of fuel for travelling a certain distance by a car
|
In Europe* and in the CIS countries it is measured in liters per 100 km (l/100 km). In other words, this indicator reflects how many liters of fuel the car will need to travel 100 km. Consumption is often measured for three driving cycles: urban, suburban and mixed
|
| Maximum speed
|
The maximum speed at which the car can move
|
On powerful and fast production cars, the speed limiter is now set at 250 km/h
|
| Car performance
|
The time it takes for the car to reach a certain speed when starting from a standstill
|
Tests are carried out on a special practice ground with a flat surface. This indicator displays the time that the car will spend to gain 100 km/h. It is measured in units of time, usually seconds.
|
| Engine elasticity
|
The time it takes for the car to reach the desired speed while driving at a given speed
|
The time it takes for the car to gain 100 km/h from speed 60 km/h, or 120 km/h from 90 km/h**. This is one of the most important engine parameters, because it affects the behavior of the car during overtaking, while the transmission plays a significant role if it is automatic.
|
* In the USA, the measurement of fuel consumption is slightly different: how many kilometers (miles) a car will travel per gallon of fuel (US gallon is 3.78 liters).
** The speed ranges can be different. They are not fixed and not standardized.
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