Auto Glossary

The weight to power ratio is the result of a vehicle's weight divided by the power its engine develops, thus enabling a measurement of performance.

Wheelbase is the distance between the front axle and the rear axle of a vehicle. Cars with a longer wheelbase are more stable at high speeds and provide better interior room, while cars with a shorter wheelbase have better city handling and are generally shorter.

A winch is an externally mounted mechanical device consisting of a cable spooled onto a drum. It is used to pull heavy or bulky objects or to retrieve a vehicle that is stuck in mud. The drum can be driven in a rotating motion by the engine itself, by hydraulic power or even electrically.

Like any other airbag, windowbags are designed to protect a vehicle's occupants in case of an accident. They are called windowbags because in the event of a side collision the occupants' heads are protected by the slim airbags which surround each lateral window within milliseconds of the crash.

WLTP is the most comprehensive test procedure meant to assess cars' emission levels and fuel economy. It began rolling out in 2017 in various parts of the world as a replacement for the various existing tests (like the NEDC), in an effort to unify the way consumption and emission levels are measured across the world.

WMTC is the testing procedure used to determine fuel consumption, emissions or range in motorcycles.