1. aerodynamic bilge sensor
   anti-lock braking system
2. alien blinking sensor

Anti-lock brakes may save your life in a panicked driving situation. Most cars have an ABS indicator light that tells you the system is working properly. And if it isn't functioning? Your drive to work might get a whole lot more exciting!

1. all-wheel drive
   all-world driveshift
2. aggravating witch doctor

All-wheel drive drive engages each wheel for maximum traction. Some vehicles use AWD only intermittently, while others have continuous AWD.

1. self-test undervoltage
   speed-limited underpanel voltage
2. sport utility vehicle

Remember when SUVs were a newfangled fad? Now, sport utility vehicles are as common as sedans.

1. greenhouse gas portioning solution
   going places soon
2. global positioning system

Almost all new cars have built-in GPS (global positining systems). Not only does GPS help with navigation, but it helps track stolen vehicles, too.

1. gunky metal chips
   grated mozzarella chassis
2. General Motors Company

GMC is the General Motor Company, which makes popular trucks and SUVs like the Acadia and Terrain.

1. really sporty
   rally sport
2. recoil suspension

Ford created the RS badge for the purposes of rally racing. The "RS" stands for rally sport, and other car makers use the term, too.

1. Bombing the MotorWay
   Bavarian Motor Works
2. Boisterous Metro Wheels

Founded in 1916, BMW (Bavarian Motor Works, in English) is one of the world's most famous car makers. BMW also makes Rolls-Royce and Mini cars.

1. transmission direction indicator
   torque distribution injector
2. turbocharged direct injection

Volkswagen uses TDI (turbocharged direct injection) in most of its vehicles. It means that these models have a system that vastly improves engine efficiency.

1. escape
   electronic stability control
2. electrical steering computer

In ESC (electronic stability control) the car's computer takes data from various systems to determine if the vehicle is under- or oversteering. Then, the ESC system may automatically alter braking or engine power in order to bring the car back under control.

1. Special Vehicle Racing
   supercharger, variable rate
2. seatbelt data recorder

Jaguar loves to show off its SVR (Special Vehicle Racing) acronym, first unveiled as part of the F-type sports car. SVR models feature the company's most powerful engines.

1. Grand Tourer Injection
   gear torque integrator
2. generator tracking interval

The Grand Tourer Injection (GTI) refers to a car model equipped with a fuel-injection system. Most GTI versions are also rather luxurious compared to other cars.

1. computerized viscosity traction control
   computer-varied temperature
2. continuously variable transmission

In lieu of traditional transmissions, some cars use a CVT (continuously variable transmission). These transmissions don't have the typical noticeable shifting motion of legacy transmission technologies.

1. Super High Output
   special hybrid oxygen system
2. supplemental high-compression outtake

In 1996, Ford added a SHO (Super High Output) engine to a high-performance variant of the Taurus. It was a 3.4L V8 engine. Because you know, if any car really needed a crazy engine, it was grandma's Taurus.

1. double-overhead camshaft
   double-output supercharger
2. darned overheating car

Some cars use double-overhead camshaft, or DOHC technology. In this style of engine, one camshaft opens the exhaust valves and the other opens the intake valves.

1. variable integrated navigation
   vehicle identification number
2. vino in-dash nozzle

The VIN (vehicle identification number) is the unique alphanumeric number stamped in various place on the car. It helps to identify your Corolla from the 5 billion other Corollas on the planet.

1. all-wheel drive
   extra features
2. xylophone included

Some Infiniti cars sport an extra "X" badge. When you see it, you know that you're looking at an all-wheel drive model. And because it's an Infiniti, the wheels are probably made of gold.

1. zero air-conditioning vehicle
   zippy electro-variable transmission
2. zero emission vehicle

Electric cars are ZEVs (zero-emissions vehicles), as they don't output exhaust gases. In the long run, ZEVs may help humans reduce emissions and combat problems like global warming.

1. fast-pass action traction control
   Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino
2. flexible automatic transmission

Fiat is, of course, one of the world's famous car makers, based in Italy. It stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, which means, "You overcooked the tortellini again, you caveman."

1. Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control
   vehicle transfer case
2. valved transmission electrial convolution

Some of Honda's cars sport a VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control) badge. The system ultimately helps improve engine efficiency.

1. Toyota Products Motor Sports
   torque-positioned motor system
2. tire pressure monitoring system

A lot of newer cars feature a tire pressure monitoring system, which keeps tabs on your tire pressure. If pressure drops below a safe threshold, you'll see an indicator light on your dash. And then, of course, you should immediately proceed to a mechanic's shop.

1. self-test system
   Super Sport
2. solenoid system

Chevrolet is famous in part for its SS (Super Sport) variants. The SS cars are equipped with high-performance components and a nicer overall package.

1. workbay crossbeam
   warning reactor sensor
2. World Rally Cross

Subaru sells millions of its WRX (World Rally Cross / World Rally Experimental), which started with the Impreza in the early '90s. The WRX denotes variants with extra speedy engines -- some of them are so fast that they put actual sports cars to shame.

1. sports activity vehicle
   special aerodynamic vehicle
2. savage anti-personnel vehicle

Because BMW couldn't just use SUV like everyone else, the company opted for SAV -- sports activity vehicle.

1. knock eliminator system
   kinetic energy recovery system
2. keyboard recovery system

In a KERS (kinetic energy recovery system), a car can harvest braking energy for future acceleration. Mazda and Peugeot are two car makers actively exploring KERS technologies.

1. auto-transmission linchpins
   active lighting system
2. automatic lumbar support

The active lighting system (ALS) is a newer feature on some vehicles. In short, as you round a curve, this system turns your headlights just a bit so that you can see farther down the road. You're probably still going to run over that deer, though, if you were Googling the meaning of ALS while driving.

1. DeVille Touring Sedan
   digital tuner system
2. downshift solenoid

Cadillac proudly markets its DTS -- the DeVille Touring Sedan. Like all Cadillacs, the DTS is luxurious … and pricey.

1. coolant command marker
   central control module
2. cylinder coordination machine

These days, cars are operated by computer. The CCM (central control module) is the brain of the car, coordinating various systems, from braking to shifting.

1. electronic brake force distribution
   electronic back pressure
2. electronic battery discharge

The EBD (electronic brake force distribution) is part of the ABS system on some cars. It essentially applies greater braking power to the wheels that have the best traction.

1. resume worldwide diagnostics
   rear-wheel drive
2. racing with drugs

Rear-wheel drive vehicles apply power to the back wheels. If you live in North Dakota in the wintertime, you do not want to be caught in a blizzard in an RWD car.

1. rollover torque
   redline transmission
2. Road/Track

Dodge introduced its R/T badge as a way to indicate sporty cars with high performance. R/T (Road/Track) models are suited for road driving and spirited track fun.