Glossary of Terms


Reader forums and pages on this site contain many terms of art and abbreviations, often referred to with elitist abandon. Herewith a Rosetta Stone to some of the most popular:
(Note: Until NSX-Wiki becomes more robust, most definition links point to Wikepedia articles instead. Please feel free to obviate these with your pages of authoritative, NSX-specific data.)

A

ABS: Anti-Lock Braking System, aka ALB.
AFR: Air/Fuel Ratio(s).
AT: Automatic Transmission. Variations take the form of xAT where x denotes the number of ratios (e.g. 5AT = 5 Speed Automatic Transmission).
AWD: All-Wheel Drive.

B

BDC: Bottom Dead Center. See also Top Dead Center.
BHP: Brake Horsepower.
BOV: Blow Off Valve.

C

CARB: California Air Resources Board
CEL: Check Engine Light.
CT: Comptech USA, one of several NSX parts and services vendors.
CTSC: Comptech Supercharger

D

DBW: Drive by Wire.
DRL: Daytime Running Lamps.

E

ECM: Engine Control Module.
ECU: Electronic Control Unit.
EMS: Engine Management System.
EPS: Electrical Power Steering.
EU: European Market.

F

FF: Front-engine, Front-wheel-drive drivetrain configuration. (See also FR, MR, RR.)
FI: Forced induction, aka F/I.
FMC: Full Model Change – full redesign of a product, generally resulting in significant changes in packaging, performance, and styling.
FR: Front-engine, Rear-wheel-drive drivetrain configuration. (See also FF, MR, RR.)

G

GMSC: Gruppe M Supercharger.
GPW: Grand Prix White.

H

I

IAT: Inlet Air Temperature(s).
IMA: Integrated Motor Assist. Honda’s Hybrid gas/electric technology.

J

JDM: Japan Domestic Market, aka Japanese Domestic Market.

K

L

LBBP: Long Beach Blue Pearl.
LSD: Limited Slip Differential.

M

MA: Mid-Engine All-wheel drive drivetrain configuration. (See also FF, FR, RR, MR)
MIL: Malfunction Indicator Light. (See also CEL)
MMC: Minor Model Change – Mid-cycle freshening of an existing model. Often limited to subtle cosmetic changes but sometimes new trim levels and/or drivetrain options are introduced.
MR: Mid-engine, Rear-wheel-drive drivetrain configuration. (See also FF, FR, RR, MA)
MT: Manual Transmission. Variations take the form of xMT where x denotes the number of ratios. (e.g. 5MT = 5 Speed Manual Transmission)
MYxx: Model Year, where xx is the year (e.g. MY03 = Model Year 2003).

N

NA: Naturally Aspirated, aka N/A. (Note: May occasionally be used as an abbreviation for North American market.)
NA1: First iteration NSX engine, 3.0 liters (all 1990-1996, and automatic transmission cars in all model years).
NA2: Second iteration NSX engine, 3.2 liters (6-speed manual transmission cars, 1997-2005).

O

OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer.
OBD: On-Board Diagnostics. Often delineated as OBD1 and OBD2.

P

PGM-FI: Programmed Fuel Injection.

Q

R

ROW: Rest-of-World.
RWD: Rear-Wheel Drive.
RWHP: Rear-Wheel Horsepower.
RWT: Rear-Wheel Torque.

S

SHAWD: Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive, also denoted as SH-AWD. Honda’s advanced handling technology, currently expected for the NSX successor.
SHP: Shaft Horsepower.
SoS: ScienceofSpeed, one of several NSX parts and services vendors.
SS: Stainless Steel.

T

TCS: Traction Control System.
TDC: Top Dead Center.

U

USDM: United States domestic market.

V

VTEC: Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control.
VVIS: Variable Volume Induction System.
VSS: Vehicle Speed Sensor.

W

WOT: Wide-Open Throttle.

X

Y

Z

Reference