C
C-pillar
See "Pillar."

Cabin lighting
Halogen lamps and/or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) located in a vehicle's headliner that illuminate a vehicle's interior space in its entirety.

Caliper configuration
A description of the number of hydraulic pistons used in a vehicle's brake caliper and their arrangement in relation to each other.

Caliper type
The type of brake caliper: monoblock, sliding or dual sliding.

Cap reduction
Capital reduction. In a vehicle lease, any trade-in amount, cash down payment or rebate amount that reduces the cost of the vehicle being leased (its "capitalized cost").

Capitalized cost
Often called the "cap cost." The negotiated price of a vehicle to be leased, and one of the components used to determine the monthly lease payment.

Captive finance company
An automobile lender that is a subsidiary of an automobile manufacturer and whose principal business includes financing the sales and/or leases of that manufacturer's vehicles.

Carbon dioxide
A naturally occurring "greenhouse gas" that is also a byproduct of the combustion of fossil fuels and that consists of two carbon atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom.

Carbon footprint
A measure of a vehicle's total consumption of natural resources weighed against the Earth's ability to regenerate those resources.
 
Carbon monoxide
A "greenhouse gas" that is a byproduct of the combustion of fossil fuels and that consists of a single carbon atom bonded to a single oxygen atom.

Carburetor
A device used on older internal combustion gasoline engines that is mounted on the engine's intake manifold and supplies fuel to the engine.

Cargo area features
Built-in amenities that serve a specific purpose in the cargo areas of a vehicle.

Cargo door type
The type of cargo door: liftgate, vertical split-hinge or horizontal split-hinge.

Cargo hauler
A vehicle that is well-adapted for hauling cargo.

Cargo tie downs
Hooks, straps or eyelets that function as anchors for cargo nets and ropes used to secure objects.

Cash rebates
Rebates provided by the manufacturer directly to the customer at the time the vehicle is purchased to lower the final price of the vehicle. Consumers usually may elect to either receive this amount in cash or to credit the rebate as part of the vehicle's down payment.

Catalytic converter
A canister in the exhaust system, usually situated before the muffler, containing a substance that reacts chemically with the exhaust in order to reduce harmful emissions.
 
Catalytic converter heat shield
A metal panel, which may be insulated, that is used to prevent the catalytic converter heat from harming surrounding areas.

CCV
See "Crankcase ventilation filter."

Center console trim
Wood, composite, leather or metal adornments intended to supplement the aesthetic elements of a vehicle's center console.

Center of gravity
A hypothetical point at which all of the mass of an object acts as if it were concentrated. For a vehicle, the lower the center of gravity the less likely the vehicle will be to roll over when it is destabilized.

Certification sales region
A geographic area (usually identified by the states of which it consists) in which a specific vehicle is certified by the EPA to be sold to the public.

Certified pre-owned vehicle
A used vehicle offered for sale by a franchised dealer for that vehicle make and who follows the manufacturer's requirements for "certifying" the vehicle (including inspection and service) and which, upon sale, is accompanied by a manufacturer-backed warranty.

Charcoal canister
A device that captures raw fuel vapors (hydrocarbons) from the vehicle's fuel tank and carburetor bowl before they can escape into the air.

Child seat
An additional seat and harness specifically designed for the safety of small children and designed to work with a vehicle's built-in restraint system.

Childproof safety feature(s)
The option(s) to disable a vehicle's windows, door locks and/or passenger air bag in order to prevent injury to children.
 
Choke linkage
On a carbureted engine, the assembly of parts that controls a valve that limits incoming cold air until the engine reaches operating temperature and is able to more efficiently vaporize fuel.

City fuel economy
The average number of miles a vehicle is able to travel using one gallon of fuel according to EPA simulated laboratory tests of city driving conditions.

Climate control
The computer-controlled regulation of heating and air conditioning systems to accommodate a user-specified temperature setting.

Climate-controlled seat filter
Air filter for air-conditioned seats.

Closer
An experienced dealership salesman or sales manager who attempts, towards the end of the negotiation process, to either improve the deal for the dealership or to persuade a hesitant buyer to commit to the purchase.

Clutch bushing & linkage
The parts of the mechanical connection between the clutch and clutch pedal in a non-hydraulic clutch system.

Clutch fluid
The liquid used in a hydraulic clutch system that helps disengage the clutch from the flywheel.

Clutch fork ball stud
The pivot point for the clutch fork in the clutch housing of a manual transmission.
 
Clutch lines & hoses
In a hydraulically actuated clutch, the tubes that carry fluid between the clutch master cylinder and the slave cylinder.

Clutch master cylinder
In a manual-transmission vehicle with a hydraulically actuated clutch, a small-bore hydraulic cylinder mechanically connected to the clutch pedal that actuates a slave cylinder, which in turn actuates the clutch fork that disengages the clutch when the clutch pedal is depressed.

Clutch pedal
A pedal located on the floor of the vehicle to the left of the brake pedal that, when depressed, disengages the clutch from the flywheel.

Collapsible steering column
A steering column that collapses in the event of a hard frontal impact to reduce the risk of injury to the driver.

Collision insurance
Vehicle insurance that cover damage caused by a collision with another vehicle or object.

Combined fuel economy
The average number of miles a vehicle is able to travel using one gallon of fuel according to EPA simulated laboratory tests that consist of 55% highway and 45% city driving conditions.

Compass
A digital or analog display that indicates the direction a vehicle is facing.

Comprehensive insurance
Vehicle insurance that cover damage other than that caused by a collision with another vehicle or object.

Compression ratio
The ratio of (i) the volume of a vehicle's engine cylinder with its piston at bottom dead center to (ii) the volume of the same cylinder with its piston at top dead center.

Console
A storage area located in a vehicle's dash or headliner, between seats or underneath the seats.
 
Convertible roof type
The type of convertible roof tops, including soft tops, hard tops, T-tops, Targa-style tops, and tops that are manual or power operated.

Convertible wind blocker
Also known as an "aeroboard." An on a convertible vehicle, the glass or plastic shield that prevents reversion of high-velocity air as it passes over the low-pressure, low-velocity air in the passenger compartment.

Coolant
Also known as "antifreeze." A mixture of water and ethylene glycol that has both a higher boiling point and a lower freezing point than plain water.

Cooling fan & shroud
A mechanically, hydraulically or electrically driven fan that pulls cooling air through a vehicle's radiator; the shroud forms a direct passage between the radiator and fan, improving the fan's effectiveness.

Cornering brake control
A feature of some antilock brake systems that proportions and applies brake force in order to prevent oversteer.

Cornering lights
A pair of white driving lights located at the two front corners of a vehicle designed to aid during cornering.

CPO
See "Certified pre-owned vehicle."

Crankcase breather
A ventilation system or device that allows excessive crankcase pressure to escape.
 
Crankcase depression regulator valve
A valve that prevents excess pressure from building in the crankcase (which could lead to oil leakage past the seals).

Crankcase ventilation filter
Also known as the "CCV." A filter that prevents foreign particles from entering the crankcase.

Crash test ratings
Ratings that represent a vehicle's performance in various crash tests, published by the organization(s) that conduct such tests.

Credit score
A number (referred to as a "score"), prepared by a company in the business of scoring individuals' creditworthiness or in accordance with algorithms it has established, that represents a judgment as to the individual's creditworthiness and which is based on an analysis of data reflected in his or her credit report and other personal information.

Credit tier
The credit "category" in which a consumer is placed by credit-rating companies, based on the consumer's personal credit history. A consumer's credit tier helps predict how financial institutions will view that consumer as a financial risk (i.e., the likelihood that he or she will make payments on time and ultimately repay the loan). Edmunds.com uses five tiers: platinum, gold, silver, bronze and unclassified.

Credit union
A financial institution that is owned by its account holders, membership of which is based on specified criteria (for example affiliation with an employer or union).

Cruise control
A device that, when engaged by the driver, automatically controls a vehicle's speed.

Crumple zone
A section of a vehicle's structure that collapses during impact to absorb energy.
 
Curb weight
The total weight of a vehicle, including a full tank of fuel, all fluids and standard equipment, but without any cargo or passengers.

Customer cash incentive
A cash payment made by the manufacturer of a vehicle to a customer to incentivize its purchase.

CV joints
Constant velocity joints, which are located on either end of the drive axles and transmit engine power while enabling full steering and suspension movement. Black accordion boots cover and protect these joints and hold lubricant.

CVT
A transmission with a continuously variable drive ratio (as opposed to conventionally stepped gear ratios) that maintains a steady acceleration curve with no pauses for gear changes.

Cylinder configuration
The arrangement of an engine's cylinders.

Cylinder deactivation
A feature of some engines that allows the engine to turn off two or more cylinders in order to maximize fuel efficiency.

Cylinder head bolts
Bolts that clamp an engine's cylinder heads to the engine block.