Car Glossary India - Index C

Chassis is the structural frame associated with all of the mechanical parts of a car. The chassis comprises everything but not the body of the car. The body is built on the chassis to complete the vehicle.

The ratio of the rotational speeds of two shafts (the input and the output) can be varied constantly. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a transmission in which the ratio of the rotational speeds of two shafts, the input shaft and the output shaft of a vehicle, can be varied continuously within a given range, therefore providing an infinite number of possible ratios.

This is one of the most advanced diesel technologies in the world. A perfect blend of performance and fuel economy, CRDi engines are based on direct injection technology and have rails (tubes) which inject pressurised fuel directly into the engine. The common rail connects all the injectors and contains fuel at a constant high pressure. A small amount of fuel is supplied to the engine before and after the actual charge. The high pressure in the common rail ensures that, when injected, the fuel atomises to a very high degree and mixes consistently with the air, thereby leaving minimal unused fuel. Fuel quantity, engine pressure and timing of fuel injection are controlled electronically. The injectors have variable control heads which ensure that a highly precise amount of diesel goes into each cylinder. The onboard computer makes sure that the fuel is injected at the just the precise moment. This significantly improves engine efficiency and reduces noise and vibrations as well.

In the event of a head-on accident, the driver bumps against the steering wheel. A collapsible steering has a telescopic shock absorber to reduce the impact on the driver’s head or chest.

A coupling is a device that connects two shafts at their ends for transmission of power. Couplings do not allow the shafts to be disconnected during operation.

These are soft zones in the chassis that absorb the massive force in the event of an accident. Crumple zones are found in the front and the rear part of the chassis, so as to absorb the impact of the collision.

Cruise control (sometimes known as speed control or auto-cruise) is an application that automatically controls the speed of an automobile. The driver sets the speed and the system takes charge of the throttle of the car to maintain a constant speed. It is a control mechanism for keeping an automobile at a set speed.