The unit of measure for lateral acceleration, or 'road-holding.' One g is equivalent to 32.2 feet per second per second, the rate at which any object accelerates when dropped at sea level. If a car were cornering at 1.0 g: a figure that very few production cars are able to approach: the driver's body would be pushing equally hard against the side of the seat as against the bottom of it.

A specially zinc-coated steel used on many major painted panels and in key unpainted areas of a vehicle to help prevent rust and corrosion.

The predetermined and required measured clearance between two parts, e.g., a spark plug.

Insurance that will cover the difference between the replacement cost paid by conventional insurance and what is owed on the lease in the case the car is totaled or stolen.

This is a general term that refers to a gasoline's general quality - for instance, its octane rating and package of additives. The two common terms for gas grades are 'regular' for low-grade gas, and 'premium' for high-grade gas.

A nitrogen gas chamber is used to pressurize the shock absorber in place of the traditional air/oil combination. Gas filled shock absorbers provide more stable damping in a variety of conditions and thus improves ride and road contact.

An internal-combustion rotating engine with one main moving part the rotor with pinwheel-like blades attached. Air is compressed by the first rows of blades and delivered to the combustion chambers, from which the exhaust is directed to pass the remaining blades and to generate the power. Power is extremely smooth due to the absence of explosions and reciprocating parts.

Shock absorbers filled with a low-pressure gas to smooth a cars ride during continuous rapid up and down movement.

A gasket is a piece of material that seals two parts together. The gasket prevents air or fluids from leaking between the parts.

A gauge is a type of instrument that measures or displays levels of a certain system. For instance, the gas gauge in your car measures the fuel level, while the temperature gauge measures the engine temperature.

The ratio between the number of teeth on meshing gears. The number of revolutions a driving (pinion) gear requires to turn a driven (ring) gear through one complete revolution. For a pair of gears, the ratio is found by dividing the number of teeth on the driven gear by the number of teeth on the driving pinion gear.

The gear selector is the lever that lets you select a certain gear with an automatic transmission. In modern cars, the gear selector is often connected to the brake pedal, so that you can only shift into drive or reverse when your foot is on the brake.

Wheels with meshing teeth to transmit power between rotating shafts. When the gear wheels are of different sizes, a change in speed ratio occurs. Gears are made of hard steel.

A group of two or more gears used to transmit power.

A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. It can produce either AC or DC electricity. Generators were used in older cars to provide electrical energy for the vehicle and replaced by the alternator in newer cars. Device that produces direct current (DC) by spinning a conductor inside a stationary magnet. It's the cylinder-shaped device your fan belt goes around.

'Touchy' brakes. Slight pressure on the pedal causes the brakes to lock up. Have brakes serviced.

From the Italian Gran Turismo. A car combining sedan and sports car features in which engineering is the dominant feature. Combines excellent road handling qualities with relative comfort. Made in two- and four-seaters with the rear seats always cramped.

the gray market describes the purchase by intermediaries of product which is not supplied to them by the 'authorized' distribution channel of the supplier. Thus, a warehouse club in Canada that sells a stereo bought in the U.S. or elsewhere from other than the manufacturer is supplying gray market goods. While gray market products are frequently the same as would be available from conventional channels in Canada, the gray market assumes responsibility for service or repair where the manufacturer declines this support.

Cars that have been imported into the country but not through authorized retailers. They may not meet American safety and emission standards. These cars may have significantly lower values than cars imported through normal channels.

The portion of a car's body that rises above the beltline of the car.