Car specifications, or car specs, represent the most important technical data that there is to know about a vehicle. The car specs list includes information about what the make and model year of a car is, what the dimensions are, what the engine type and size are, what fuel system and type of transmission the car uses, how fast it is, and many more, that every driver would want to know.
Dimensional specifications reveal details such as the vehicle’s length, width, height, wheelbase, ground clearance, and boot space, which all basically tell us how big a car is. Weight can also be attributed to this category of specs. Two types of weight are included in the data sheet – kerb and gross. The former refers to vehicle’s weight with all its components and at least the minimal amount of consumables (oils, other fluids, and fuel) needed for the car to operate, but with no passengers and cargo, while the latter includes the maximum weight of passengers and cargo, as well.
The engine is undoubtedly the most important component of a car, making it crucial to know its technical characteristics. Main engine specifications include engine type – petrol, diesel, electric, or hybrid; number and position of cylinders; engine displacement – the volume of the cylinders; its output – how much horsepower and torque it is able to produce; aspiration – whether it is naturally aspirated or turbocharged; and the type of fuel system. Many more details explaining how the particular engine works may also be presented.
We can safely describe the components that make the car actually move, by transferring the power produced by the engine to the wheels, as the second most important ones in every automobile. Specifications in this category reveal the type of transmission the vehicle uses (manual or automatic, number of gears, etc.), the type of suspension, which is the system that connects the car’s body to its wheels, and the type and size of the car’s brakes. Main brake types are two – drum and disc, the latter being far more modern and commonly used. What drivetrain characteristics also show is whether the engine drives the front (front-wheel drive), the rear (rear-wheel drive), or the four (4x4, 4-wheel drive, all-wheel drive) wheels of the vehicle.
Everybody is curious about how much fuel a vehicle consumes, how fast it can go from 0 to 100 km/h, or what top speed it is able to reach, and should definitely be aware of what type of fuel the car uses. Emission standard is also worth knowing, as people get increasingly environmentally-conscious and regulations become stricter. All this data is part of the performance specifications.
Manufacturers upload data sheets with the technical specifications – the above-mentioned and many additional ones, of every car they introduce. They do so on their official websites or media sites. While it’s relatively easy to find information about recent models on the respective brand’s website, it becomes difficult once one’s search regards an older vehicle. In such case, it’s best to turn to other websites made specifically to provide automotive technical information. www.Auto-Data.net contains the car specifications of over 44 000 automobiles in an easy to read form, includes images, and has the option to compare specifications of up to three vehicles.
