Cars and motor industry

Parts of the car

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

20

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

aerial (BrE) / antenna (AmE)

body
bonnet (BrE) / hood (AmE)
boot (BrE) / trunk (AmE)
boot lid (BrE) / trunk lid (AmE)
brake light (BrE) / stop light (AmE)
5
bumper
4
door handle
door lock
door
drivers seat
13
exhaust pipe
6
fog lamp (BrE) / light (AmE)
fuel tank flap
20
headlight / headlamp
headrest
11
hubcap
indicator (BrE) / turn signal (AmE)
number plate (BrE) / license plate (AmE)
passenger seat
petrol cap (BrE) / gas tank lid (AmE)
rear fender
rear view mirror
rear window
roof
seatbelt (BrE) / safety belt (AmE)
side window
spare wheel
steering wheel
sunroof
tail lights
tyre (BrE) / tire (AmE)
wheel
windscreen (BrE) / windshield (AmE)
windscreen wiper (BrE) / windshield wiper (AmE)
wing (BrE) / fender (AmE)
wing mirror (BrE) / side-view mirror (AmE)

23

22

15

10

21
1

26
19

25

29

32
30

3
8

14

24
9
31
16

18

17

12

28

27

Dashboard and instrument panel

1 accelerator
2 air vent
3 airbag

ashtray
4 brake pedal
5 brake
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

clock
clutch pedal
fuel gauge
gearbox
gear lever (BrE) / gear shift (AmE)
glove compartment
h
 andbrake (BrE) / emergency brake (AmE)
horn
ignition
key
light adjustment
light switch
2
milometer (BrE) / odometer (AmE)
radio
rev counter
speedometer
visor
warning lights

20

10

17

18

12

19

16

15

14
13

11

Cars and motor industry

Key elements and systems of a car
ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System)
alternator
battery
brake booster
braking system
catalytic convertor
drive mechanism and chassis
engine
ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
exhaust absorber
exhaust system
fuel system
radiator
spark plug
steering mechanism and suspension
TCS (Traction Control System) / ASR (Acceleration Slip
Regulation)
wiring harness

Types of cars
camper van (BrE) / (AmE) recreational vehicle / RV
caravan (BrE) / trailer (AmE)
coach (BrE) / bus (AmE)
convertible
coup
estate (BrE) / station wagon (AmE)
hatchback
jeep
lorry (BrE) / truck (AmE)
off-road
pick-up truck
saloon (BrE) / sedan (AmE)
sports car
SUV (sport utility vehicle)
taxi (BrE) / cab (AmE)
van

Special vehicles
ambulance
armoured vehicle
concrete mixer lorry
demountable-body lorry
fire engine
flatbed lorry
hearse
lift truck
lodging vehicle / mobile home
mobile power plant / mobile generating plant
patrol car
shoptruck / mobile shop
swept-body tipper / bucket lorry
tar spraying tanker
transporter
tanker (BrE) / fuel truck (AmE)
tow truck
wheeled loader
wheeled excavator
workshop lorry

Driving a car
brake
change down
change up
do / make a U-turn
drive a car
give way (BrE) / yield (AmE)
indicate
overtake
park
slow down
speed up / accelerate
steer
swerve

Car maintenance
change
check
inspect
lubricate
manual
recommend
replace
rotate tyres
service centre
tighten
use
wax
wear

Useful phrases
Car maintenance tips
Read your car manual to understand how the car works.
Remember to service the car according to the
manufacturers requirements.
Change the motor oil and filter regularly.
Check the engine after 50,000 km.
Always use the type of petrol recommended for your
vehicle.
Dont ignore brake noises, and have them inspected
every 10,000 km.
Rotate tires every 9,000 km.
Change the air filter once a year or after 20,000 km.
Wash your car regularly and wax it once in a while.
Use only new parts.
Replace windscreen wipers.
Lubricate locks, latches, and hinges.
Inspect tyres for pressure and wear.
Test electronics, e.g. ABS.
Tighten chassis nuts and bolts.
Change summer tyres to winter tyres.

Safe driving
be careful
blind spot
disable
driving licence (BrE) / drivers license (AmE)
erratic driver
extra space
highway code
crossroads (BrE) / intersection (AmE)
pedestrians
pull off the road
railway crossing

Useful phrases
Safe driving tips
Be careful of children, old and disabled people.
Adapt your driving to the conditions of the road youre
on.
Steer clear of erratic drivers.
In bad weather, leave extra space between you and the
car ahead.
Dont drive through water a small amount of water can
disable a vehicle.
Be cautious at junctions they are known danger zones.
Dont drive when you are tired, pull off the road and get
some rest.
Stop before a railway crossing and look both ways before
crossing it.
Drive below the speed limit.
Watch out for pedestrians at all times.
Dont use your mobile when driving.

Cars and motor industry

Road signs
bend to right
cycle path / lane
give way
no entry
no left turn
no right turn
no U-turn
one way street
petrol station (BrE) / gas station (AmE)
roadworks
roundabout
speed limit
straight ahead
turn left
two-way traffic

Roads
central reservation
crash barrier
embankment
flyover
hard shoulder
inside lane / slow lane
junction
middle lane
motorway (BrE) / highway (AmE)
outside lane
roadside
slip road
underpass
white line