Your A to Z of motoring gobbledygook
Parking distance sensors
When rearward vision is poor, parking distance sensors come into their own. Usually mounted in the bumper, these sensors detect any object close to the car and a beeping noise warns the driver, becoming more rapid as the car moves nearer.
Particulate trap/filter
Diesel engines emit tiny pieces of carbon, known as particulates, which are harmful to the lungs. Particulate traps (or filters) virtually eliminate these emissions, although diesel fuel with a very low sulphur content is needed for the system to work at its best. Peugeot and Citroën have led the way in the introduction of this technology.
Platform
The basic underpinnings of a car - the 'platform' - is often shared between various models and even between different car manufacturers to keep down costs. Cars which share the same platform do not necessarily feel the same to drive, however. Different engines and careful fine tuning of suspension settings can make similar cars feel very different once you're behind the wheel.
Profile
The ratio of the sidewall to the width of the tyre tread expressed as a percentage. So a tyre of 220mm width with a sidewall height of 110mm would be a 50 Aspect Ratio, or 50 profile tyre.
