When you buy a car, the first thing you should look at is the specifications in the car’s brochure. Many people know what type of engine a car has just by looking at it, while others need to have a proper breakdown of what these specifications mean.
- Engine – You will only get three types of engines. In this case, electric hybrids will be excluded. The two main types of engines you will get are diesel and gasoline options. Each one has a completely different configuration than the other, such as the construction of the ignition system.
- Cylinders – This is the number of cylinders inside the chamber. The smallest cars have four cylinders, while the most powerful engines used on race tracks will have twelve cylinders. Sometimes cars will be described as having an “inline six”, meaning all the cylinders are in a single line, as opposed to V-types and horizontal configurations.
- Displacement – On most cars you will notice there is a number like this: 1.4 or 2.0 etc. This is the number of liters the car will use in a single cycle. The bikes will have a number like this for example: 800cc; which means eight hundred cubic centimeters.
- Transmission: There is a four-speed transmission, a five-speed transmission, etc. The number indicates how many gears can be put in your car. There is also manual transmission and automatic transmission, which are two different driving systems.
- Horsepower – Many car owners will know the horsepower of the car using the unit Horsepower. In simple terms, a horsepower would be the equivalent of one horsepower. So imagine what power it will have if the car has 700 hp. That is a very fast car.
- Fuel Tank Capacity – This is a pretty straightforward spec. This is the amount of fuel that the fuel tank can hold. In other words, it could be a 30 liter tank or a 40 liter tank it depends. It will depend on the particular type and size of the car. This helps you understand how much fuel you can use on a full tank so you can plan your fuel budget.
- Drivetrain: Your car will be FWD (front-wheel drive), RWD (rear-wheel drive), or 4×4 (four-wheel drive). Note that a four-wheel drive does not mean that the car is an off-road vehicle, but rather that power is sent to all wheels and tires. Front wheel drive means that the power is applied to the front wheels. With FWD, the car must be towed. Rear-wheel drive sends power to the rear wheels, which means the car is being pushed.