Glossary

4WD

The engine power is directed to front and rear wheels. This improves grip for both off-road vehicles and sports cars.

7G-Tronic

This automatic transmission has 7 forward gears for smooth, fast gear changes. The use of seven transmission ratios creates a large spread between the lowest and the highest ratio while at the same time maintaining an optimal, close-ratio configuration. The reduction in average engine speeds benefits fuel consumption as well as reducing noise. 7G-Tronic also includes Tipfunction which allows you to select the most appropriate ratio manually. Sport models with automatic transmission also feature steering wheel gearshift paddles for fingertip shifting precision.

9G-Tronic

This automatic transmission has 9 forward gears for smooth, fast gear changes. The use of nine transmission ratios creates a large spread between the lowest and the highest ratio while at the same time maintaining an optimal, close-ratio configuration. The reduction in average engine speeds benefits fuel consumption as well as reducing noise. 9G-Tronic also includes Tipfunction which allows you to select the most appropriate ratio manually. Sport models with automatic transmission also feature steering wheel gearshift paddles for fingertip shifting precision.

ABS

Anti-lock Brake System. This feature ensures that a vehicle`s brakes do not lock up when the driver needs to stop quickly. If the brakes lock then skidding is likely to occur. The driver is likely to feel a juddering in the brake pedal when the system operates.

Accessory fitted after delivery.

Any accessory, or set of accessories costing £100 or more (including fitting and VAT) will be added to the calculation of the cars price used in arriving at the BIK value. Unfair as it may seem, the accessory value will apply for the full period of the first year, as well as subsequent years.

Advisory Fuel Rate

Advisory Fuel Rate for company car drivers. The amount per mile that can be claimed without there being any BIK.

Annual pre-tax fuel buyout

Most employers have realised that providing fuel for private use is not a tax-efficient perk. As a result many employers offer a useful sum to buy back this benefit.

Approximate private mileage

Insert an estimate for the calculator to show the post tax value of the free fuel perk.

Architecture Voltage (V)

The maximum voltage at which the battery can be charged. The fastest charge times will need a DC chargepoint capable of this delivery as well as other factors.

AWD

Short for All Wheel Drive. Power to all the wheels is controlled all the time. Sometimes a vehicle computer will switch the percent of power fed to each of the wheels but the drive system cannot be switched manually and so is always on.

Battery Range

Combined zero emission range for a vehicle with the most efficient specification. Test figures may include European specifications not available in the UK. Options can affect efficiency due to weight, aerodynamics and performance.

Battery Range City

City ZER for a vehicle with most efficient specification.

Battery Range City TEH

City ZER for a vehicle in the least efficient specification

Battery Range TEH

Combined zero emission range in the least efficient specification.

BEV

Battery Electric Vehicle

BIK

Benefit in kind is treated similarly to gross pay when it comes to income tax. A value has to be put on the benefit, and the Inland Revenue provides rules for most cases.

Boot capacity (litres)

The boot capacity is the boot capacity plus any extra space created by putting rear seats flat.

Classic car

To qualify as such for tax purposes, the car must be at least 15 years old at the end of the tax year and have a market value of over £15,000

CNG

Compressed Natural Gas which is the fuel used for gas-powered engines

CO₂

The CO₂ emission figure comes from the type approval test, and is set for the life of the car.

Combined MPG

The fuel consumption is the official figure for the combined cycle of EU Regulation 2017/1347.

Combined MPG TEL

Charge Sustaining (CS) mode for vehicle with the most efficient combination of options. Estimated from known figures if official figure is unknown.

Company car

Any car made available to an employee for private use, whether owned,leased or rented by the company.

Condition B MPG

The miles per gallon obtained from purely the internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle after the it has reverted from using solely it's electric battery to using it's internal combustion engine to increase the range available.

Corporation tax relief

Cars with high emissions are more expensive to run, either because capital allowances are restricted, or not all rentals can be set against profits.

CVT

Continuously Variable Transmission

Disabled Driver Relief

Any additions or modifications, that have to be made to a car in order to make it suitable for a disabled company car driver to drive on business, are not subject to company car tax. Disabled drivers who hold a blue badge and need automatic transmission can calculate their company car benefit by using both the lower CO2 emissions figure and the lower list price of the equivalent manual version. The price element was introduced from 6th April 2009, but the CO2 reduction has always been available to disabled company car drivers.

Doors

Hatchbacks on estates or other vehicles are counted as a door, even if not intended as a human entry point. Saloon bootlids are not counted. Doors are normally glazed in the higher portion.

DSG

Audi`s Direct Shift Gearbox transmission allows for gearlever or paddle changes, as well as automatic mode. Motors take the place of a conventional torque convertor so that there is no loss of performance or economy.

Dualogic transmission

A sophisticated, clutchless, 5-speed sequential manual shift with a selectable, fully automatic mode.

Durashift EST

(Durashift EST advanced manual) Electronic shift transmission EST. Floor mounted gear lever, hydraulic computer automated clutch with no clutch pedal, sequential manual mode with tip-up/tip-down gear changing, automated mode with kickdown function and hill climb and decent sensing.

Durashift Manual

Floor mounted gearlever, hydraulic driver operated clutch.

E-CVT

No gear changes. Optimum efficiency whatever the driving conditions. That's what happens with ECVT on a Lexus hybrid vehicle. ECVT is designed to make best use of the hybrid's petrol and electric motors by seamlessly blending an infinite number of gear ratios as you drive. It does this by combining planetary gears with a standard differential and results in stepless acceleration.

E-REV

Extended range electric vehicle

Easytronic

Choose the optional Easytronic transmission and you’ll get a five-speedd manual gearbox with a fully automatic mode. In manual mode, you simply push the lever forward or back to shift the gears up or down. The facia display tells you what gear you’re in – 1 to 5, N for Neutral or A for Auto. Switch to fully automatic mode and it has many features of a regular automatic including a kickdown function. There’s no clutch pedal so you can drive it on an automatic-only driving licence.

EBA

Electronic Brake Assistance. Detects emergency situations and makes braking faster and more powerful.

EBD

Electronic Brake-force Distributer. This feature will dynamically adjust the braking applied around a vehicle to suit its current weight distribution. This helps braking when on a corner, for example.

Engine size in litres

Figures provided to one decimal place. A good indication is usually given by the car description, but some makers such as BMW are confusing when the model number such as 320 indicates a 3 series, but not necessarily a 2 litre

EPS

Electronic Power Steering. This feature provides assistance to the driver when turning. It is included as standard on most modern cars.

ESP or ESC

Electronic Stability Programme or Electronic Stability Control.

ESP/ESC compares the driver's intended direction in steering and braking inputs, to the vehicle's response, via lateral acceleration, rotation (yaw) and individual wheel speeds. ESP/ESC then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces excess engine power as needed to help correct understeer (plowing) or oversteer (fishtailing).

Electric Vehicle, also called a BEV which is short for Battery Electric Vehicle.

Expected mpg

Imperial measures still seem to be used despite fuel being sold in litres. The official EU Combined test figure is commonly used, but don't expect this in real life.

First registration fee

Currently £55 and generally included in the delivery charge, but not taxable as a benefit in kind.

Fuel costs

Average national fuel prices. (figures usually given in pence per litre)

Fuel Type

Petrol, diesel or alternative are the main choices. On the P11d these are split further into D for Diesel, E for zero emission cars, and A for everything else.

FWD

Front Wheel Drive. The engine power is directed to the front wheels of a vehicle to make it move.

Green Label

The Green label is the colour coded VED band.

Hybrid

A hybrid vehicle has two different energy converters and two different energy storage systems on the vehicle. The most common type of hybrid is a petrol-electric, where electricity is captured from regenerative braking. The battery range is much lower than a plug-in hybrid. Also called a self-charging hybrid, but the term has been banned in some countries for being misleading.

I-Shift

The optional i-SHIFT (Automated-Manual Transmission) allows you to choose the way you want to drive. Select Manual mode for a more sporty drive using the gear shift, or paddle shifts on the steering wheel for optimum control. Automatic mode provides a more relaxed but equally exhilarating driving experience. i-SHIFT delivers all this with lower emissions and better fuel economy than a conventional automatic transmission.

List Price

For info only. This is the full On The Road list price including options of the vehicle if purchased.

Load volume (litres)

The load volume is the volume of the vehicle's boot with the seats in the upright position.

London congestion charges

Motorists driving into the central area of London will be charged per day.

LWB

Long Wheel Base. This refers to the distance between the front and back wheels of a vehicle. Sometimes manufacturers offer a variety of lengths on a single model. This abbreviation is used to help differentiate between them.

Manual

Transmission requiring the driver to use a clutch and gear lever.

Marginal tax rate

Benefits are added to your taxable income, and so will always be taxed at your highest rate. NI ignored here.

Mileage allowance

Employers can set whatever level they like. The tax free element is usually set annually . Employees can claim up to 45p taxfree for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p thereafter (as at 2013/2014)

Model Year

During September several manufacturers revise their model ranges and print new brochures. Prices and specifications may also change. The new models are then described as the following calendar year`s number. Sometimes the changeover is far from clearcut

MPV

Taller than estates, but definitely not vans, MPVs are built to carry 5 to 8 people in comfortable upright seats, sometimes at the expense of luggage space. Most people think of an MPV as being able to seat 7, but small cars seating 5 at a squeeze are also called "MPVs" if they have a high roof.

NCAP Rating

Where shown, click on the stars for the latest NCAP report on this range. It may not be for the exact model, but serves as a guide.

Off road vehicle

Built to travel over rough ground, such vehicles have four wheel drive capability and higher ground clearance. The less capable, but more comfortable versions are now known as SUVs

P11d value of a car

The value of a car entered on the P11d form as part of the BIK calculation is based on the full on-the-road list price including VAT but excluding VED and the First Registration Fee. The value is not reduced by discounts or grants. Accessories fitted to the car should generally be included apart from telephone equipment or items to help the disabled. Extras which are related to the running costs of the vehicle such as extended warranty or servicing packages are excluded.

PAYE Coding Notice

Employees paying tax will receive a Pay As You Earn tax coding notice whenever their allowances and benefits change. The calculated value for Car Benefit will be shown on the right hand side.

Pensionable salary

Always includes gross salary but employers will often exclude bonus payments and car cash allowances when determining the level of salary on which pension contributions are to be calculated.

PHEV

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

PiH

Plug-in Hybrid

Plug-in Car/Van Grant

You can get a grant towards the cost of each new electric car or van you buy, The government allocates a pot of money for this.

Pool car

A pool car is not taxable on an individual provided it is confined to business use, and any private use is purely incidental. The car should be available to and used by more than one employee, and should not be taken home.

PS (Pferdestarke) is the near metric equivalent of BHP (brake horsepower). You need to divide PS by 1.0139 to convert to BHP.

Remote transmission

Where gears can be changed via buttons or paddleswitches on the steering wheel.

RWD

Rear Wheel Drive. The engine power is directed to the rear wheels of a vehicle to make it move.

S-Tronic

The revolutionary S tronic gearbox combines the agility and responsiveness of a conventional 6-speed manual gearbox with the convenience and smooth, uninterrupted power of an automatic transmission. The technical basis of the S tronic gearbox is the double clutch.

Seats

Include the driver`s and substantial fold out seats. Number of seats will be the same as the number of 3-point seat belts.

Service inclusive packs

Company car drivers should not be taxed on servicing costs, so if future servicing costs are paid for at the initial point of purchase, make sure that this element is not included in the list price for tax purposes.

Softip

Is a sequential 6-speed transmission. You can change up or down the gears by gently tapping the gear lever forwards or backwards. You don’t even need a clutch.

Speed Sensitive Steering

The amount of power assist increases at low vehicle speeds and decreases at higher speeds.

SUV

Sport Utility Vehicle. On road/off road automobiles.

SWB

Short Wheel Base. This refers to the distance between the front and back wheels of a vehicle. Sometimes manufacturers offer a variety of lengths on a single model. This abbreviation is used to help differentiate between them.

Switchtronic

ZF six-speed automatic transmission with torque converter, known for its especially smooth shifts and quick response. The driver may operate the transmission in Drive mode, letting the automatic do the shifting, or may manually select the gear desired. ALPINA developed SWITCH-TRONIC many years ago for just this purpose. Two buttons on the back side of the steering wheel make removing one’s hands from the wheel when shifting redundant. The right button shifts up, the left button down – enriching the driving experience, and difficult to describe in words

TCS

Traction Control System. It regulates power distribution to stop the wheels just spinning and wasting power when you put your foot down, which gives you extra control, safety and performance.

Tiptronic

A type of automatic gearbox which aims to give drivers the ability to change gear manually, or can be left in various automatic modes.

Touchtronic

The six-speed 'Touchtronic 2' fully automatic transmission uses shift-by-wire technology, and replaces the conventional gear lever with dashboard-mounted buttons to select Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive modes.

ULEV

Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle

VE103

The Vehicle on hire certificate (VE103) should be carried by all drivers of company cars, if the original V5 is not available, when travelling abroad. This includes trips to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. A letter of authority and photocopy of the V5 will not be adequate if you run into trouble.

VED

Abbreviation for Vehicle Excise Duty, payable annually or six monthly, and dependent on the fuel type and CO2 emissions . Also known as Road Fund Tax. Should be included in ''On the Road'' car price, but not treated as part of the benefit-in-kind. Used to be known as your tax disc. This system was replaced by an electronic system in October 2014 meaning you no longer are required to display a disc in your car windscreen.

Weekly Rental

This is the Disability Living Allowance Weekly Rental

Weighted MPG

A weighted average of the two figures obtained on the combined cycle, based on an assumption that the vehicle is driven 16 miles (25km) beyond its maximum electric range, using the engine as required without recharging.

WLTP

The World Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure was implemented in June 2017 to improve vehicle testing. Vehicles are now tested more strictly, and over four cycles of Low, Medium, High and Extra High (80 mph) if attainable. The average result is known as the Combined figure, or Weighted Combined if using both fuel and electricity.

WLTP CO2 TEH

Combined CO2 emissions for the model version with all the heaviest/least aerodynamic options fitted.

WLTP CO2 TEL

Combined CO2 emissions for the model version with the fewest or most aerodynamic options fitted.