1. Turns on the headlights
   Light the fuel in the cylinders
2. Makes the radio light up
   Maintain proper fuel pressure

Without spark plugs in a gasoline engine, your car wouldn't go anywhere. They are literally the thing that ignites the fuel in the cylinders, with oxygen in the air feeding that instant explosion, which makes the wheels turn.

1. Clutch
   Overdrive
2. Nitrous
   Turbine rate

Thanks to the growing popularity of automatic transmissions and CVTs, manual transmissions aren't even available in a majority of vehicle models sold today. Still, some drivers prefer the level of control and engagement a manual transmission provides.

1. Twistiness
   Tornado force
2. Torque
   Voltage

You'll constantly hear automakers, car reviewers, and others talk about torque. It's the thing that helps a car really get moving in a hurry from a standstill, plus it helps determine how much weight a truck or SUV can haul or tow.

1. In the headlights
   On the ground
2. In the coolant overflow
   Into the headliner

Coolant expands when it heats up, so the cooling system in your car needs somewhere for it to flow when this happens. The overflow reservoir is a plastic container, not too dissimilar to a plastic orange juice jug, only it can hold hot coolant and not melt.

1. New wheels
   Engine swap
2. Wheel spacer
   Different tires

Wheel spacers are controversial among some enthusiasts, but they can allow you to easily switch up the bolt pattern on your vehicle, since they bolt onto the hub and can feature their own bolts. They also push the wheels out, increasing the offset, if that's the look or effect you want.

1. Fording depth
   Water torque
2. Liquidation
   Liquid charge

When you ford a body of water, you cross it without putting the vehicle on a boat, raft, etc. In other words, you drive straight through the water. Taller vehicles like trucks and SUVs in general have higher fording depths, which you can increase further with a a snorkel.

1. Ford
   BMW
2. Lotus
   Toyota

"Simplify, then add lightness," was what Lotus founder Colin Chapman was famous for saying constantly. That has become the company's mantra, with Lotus cars boasting incredibly low curb weights and designs that are simple, yet fun to drive.

1. Cool the engine
   It looks good
2. Increased aerodynamics
   Feed air into the cabin

In general, race cars don't have air conditioning, so the hood scoop helps direct some airflow through the cabin. Really, it's a comfort thing, plus in rally races it can keep dust from flying in through the windows.

1. Fuel economy cheating
   Unintended acceleration
2. Emissions cheating
   Fake leather

Americans started claiming that their Audis would accelerate out of control, causing a number of accidents. A government investigation didn't conclude there was anything wrong with the cars, but Audi's image in the country was tarnished for some time.

1. Saab
   Volvo
2. Koenigsegg
   IKEA

Not only do Koenigseggs look wild, they have crazy performance to back that up. The brand has claimed all kinds of records, including a top speed record that had been set not too long before by the Bugatti Chiron.

1. Orange Bliss
   Dexcool
2. Orange cool
   OCool

In the 1990s, General Motors released its own coolant called Dexcool. It's longer-lasting than other coolants ​since you can wait for 150,000 miles to flush it. Dexcool does have some drawbacks, with more corrosion when the coolant level gets low, and the tendency for the coolant to eat at gaskets.

1. Active differential
   Torque vectoring
2. Locking differential
   Electronic differential

Some all-wheel-drive and even front-wheel-drive cars use torque vectoring as a way to improve handling in any situation, and to increase traction in slippery conditions. The technology is fairly simple, but the results are pretty amazing to experience,

1. They're running extra rich
   They're running extra lean
2. They're super fast
   They're using jet fuel

When a car has a mix that's extra rich, unburnt fuel will make its way into the exhaust system. Once there, it can suddenly ignite, which is what causes the flames shooting out of the exhaust tip.

1. Rally notes
   Pace notes
2. Road notes
   Car nerdese

Pace notes contain detailed explanations of what's to be expected on the rally course, including junctions, turns, landmarks, etc. Being able to speak this unique language clearly in a roaring rally car is definitely a skill, especially as the car flies by trees and other obstacles.

1. Voids
   Luggers
2. Gappies
   Anti-lugs

The voids and lugs combine to create the tread pattern on a tire. You might not realize it, but the lugs help with traction in water, mud, snow, etc. since it gives a pathway for liquids, etc. to escape out from under the tire.

1. The car explodes
   The check engine light turns on
2. The gas turns into vodka
   Your car goes faster

The dreaded check engine light is perhaps one of the most misunderstood warnings on a car. In this case, the system detects there's something wrong with fuel containment, allowing vapors to escape into the air. That could be caused by a cracked gas cap, or just not tightening it until you hear one or more clicks.

1. Chrysler
   GM
2. Ford
   AMC

Ford, along with Willys-Overland and American Bantam Car Company stepped forward to make jeeps for the United States Army during the war. The lightweight, maneuverable, and capable vehicle quickly proved itself, becoming the envy of the Allies and Axis.

1. Good diesel injection
   Great doing internals
2. Gasoline direct injection
   Gasoline diesel injection

Gasoline direct injection means the fuel is sprayed right into the combustion chambers, instead of being pre-mixed with the air in the intake manifold. This design results in better efficiency and performance, which is why it's become quite popular.

1. Turbocharge the engine
   Charge intake airflow
2. Supercharge the engine
   Inject NOS

Throttle body spacers have grooves in them that are supposed to increase air velocity, charging the intake air for the engine, leading to better performance. They're controversial modifications, with some claiming they're nothing more than snake oil, while other enthusiasts swearing by them.

1. To look cool
   To intimidate the other racer
2. To get some cheers
   To make the tires stickier

The friction produced by a burnout heats up the tires, so they stick to the drag strip better, which helps with acceleration. Also, burnouts will clean rocks and other debris off the tires, which can cause problems on the drag strip.

1. Decreases sound
   Increases sound
2. Spirals the exhaust
   Increases back pressure

Many people think a resonator is like a muffler, but they're pretty different. A resonator will make your exhaust louder, plus it doesn't restrict the flow of exhaust gases like a muffler, making it a popular choice for people who want the best performance possible and don't care about noise.

1. Spontaneous combustion
   Poor fuel injection
2. Brake fade
   Tire wear

Riding your brakes means the pads and rotors are rubbing together so much, a tremendous amount of heat is generated through friction. That can boil the brake fluid, leading to the brake fade issue.

1. Direct injection, variable valve timing, and supercharging
   Turbocharging, variable valve timing, and direct injection
2. Variable valve timing, diesel, and turbocharging
   Turbocharging, supercharging, and direct injection.

Ford has pushed its EcoBoost engines as a way to enjoy improved fuel economy, without sacrificing performance. Many shoppers have gravitated to these engines because they provide the best of both worlds.

1. Its inventor, John Hemingway
   The hemispherical combustion chambers
2. The double helix fuel injectors
   The helical crankshaft

The secret to efficiency and extreme power you get with a Hemi engine is the hemispherical combustion chambers. The design is still relevant today, which is why Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep still use Hemi engines in several high-performance models.

1. It would explode the car like a bomb
   Nothing
2. It would snuff out the fire
   The oxygen would burn

Nitrous oxide by itself isn't explosive, but it does contain high levels of oxygen that would feed a fire. The fire would first need to reach about 565 degrees Fahrenheit, which shouldn't be difficult, then the oxygen would feed the fire, causing it to spread faster.

1. Essentially a turbo
   A type of twin-screw design
2. A blower
   A centrifugal design

Really a Roots supercharger has a simple design with meshing lobes that spin, forcing air through the supercharger housing and into the engine. Essentially, it's a giant air blower. You'll see this type sticking out of the hoods of old hot rods and muscle cars.

1. When it turns wider than you want
   When it turns more sharply than you might want
2. When it drifts to the side during hard acceleration
   When the front tires pick up under hard acceleration

You might hear car reviewers and enthusiasts use this term, and it's important to get what it means. Also, understeer is when the car wants to keep going straight as you turn the wheel, making it unresponsive.

1. Lower center of gravity
   Less complex design
2. Improved torque curve
   A built-in turbocharger

Karl Benz was the first one to create this design, which gets its name because the moving pistons look like a boxer's gloves as he punches at an opponent. Since the engine sits flat, the weight sits lower, which is a big advantage for handling on a road or track.

1. When the turbo provides full boost for a time
   When a turbo blows from too much boost
2. When the wastegate releases too much pressure
   When you use NOS and a turbo

Some cars, like the VW GTI and Ford Focus ST have an overboost function, which temporarily sets the ECU to allow the turbo to provide full boost. That means engine output raises to a level higher than any other time, which is nice when you need an extra burst of speed.

1. A station wagon
   A hatchback
2. A two-door wagon
   A car with a cargo bed

Shooting brakes aren't too horribly common in the United States and Canada, but they're all the rage in Europe. There are plenty of examples of these automotive masterpieces, including the Ferrari FF and BMW M Coupe.

1. Spool rate
   Size of the turbos
2. Housing material
   Wastegate placement

In a sequential turbo system, you have one smaller turbo that provides boost earlier. A second, larger turbo provides even more boost, but takes more time to spool up. This design eliminates the turbo lag you get in a traditional twin turbo setup.

1. Toyota Supra
   Mazda RX-7
2. Nissan Skyline GT-R
   Dodge Viper SRT-10

Thanks to its absolute dominance in racing, journalists started referring to the Skyline GT-R as Godzilla. The name stuck, and ever since has been applied to the car, and more recently to the Nissan GT-R, which carries on that legacy.

1. Electronically-controlled ride height and damping
   Anti-lock brakes
2. Computer-controlled hydraulic clutches for the center differential
   Backup camera

Many people in the 1980s thought the Porsche 959 was excessive in many ways, thanks to the advanced onboard technologies included on the car. That's funny, because many of those technologies are included on non-exotic vehicles today.

1. Rich people
   Better Dodge Charger sales
2. NASCAR
   The Plymouth CEO

Chrysler took the Plymouth Road Runner and modified it big time, including putting a nose cone on the front and a humongous wing on the rear, all in the name of having the ultimate NASCAR racer. It mirrored a lot of the modifications used in the Dodge Charger Daytona, becoming a dominant force in races.

1. Four-wheel drive
   All-wheel drive
2. Anti-lock disc brakes
   Traction control

Audi demonstrated the superiority of all-wheel drive in tough environments in Group B rally races of the early 1980s. Since then, the German automaker has perfected this technology, which gets its name from the Spanish word for "four."