Glossary of automotive design

A glossary of terms relating to automotive design.

Some terms may be found at car classification.

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NACA duct A distinctively shaped inlet that is flush and begins with a narrow, shallow inset and becomes progressively wider and deeper. The duct was developed to introduce cooling air into aircraft engine nacelles, while increasing the drag of the nacelle only minimally. The duct was developed at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

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Track The distance across the car between the base of the left and right wheels (like wheelbase, but side-to-side).

Truck A typically large vehicle built using frame-on-rail construction consisting of a cab and a separate bed for cargo.

Trunk (Boot in UK) Compartment for storage of cargo which is separate from the cab.

Tube Fender Replacement fenders found on off-road vehicles designed as part of body armor for off-road vehicles. Used to protect the thin sheet metal bodies from damage while off-roading.

Tumblehome Refers to the way the sides of a car round inward toward the roof, specifically the sides of the greenhouse above the beltline. This term is borrowed from nautical description of marine vessels.

Turn under The shape of the rocker panel as it curves inward at the lower edge.

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See also Car body style Car classification Glossary of mechanical engineering

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