English for the
Automobile
Industry
EXPRESS
SERIES
Marie Kavanagh
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY
PRESS
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ISBN-13: 978 0194579018
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M-ROM
t9 MultiROM
English for the Automobile
Industry
is accompanied by a
MultiROM which has a number of features.
Interactive exercises
to practise useful phrases, vocabulary,
and communication
through your computer.
listening extracts. These are in enhanced audio format that
can be played on a conventional CD-player or through the
audio player on your computer.
Useful documents
including an A-Z word list in PDF format that
you can print out and refer to.
If you have any problems, please check the technical support
section of the readme file on the MultiROM.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
mustrations
by: Barking Dog Art pp 11a, 026a, 027a, 038b, 038c, 038d,
042a, 053a, 055a; Debbie Kelsey pp 012g, Ol3a, 020a, 027b, 029a,
029b,029c, 033a, 047a, 063a ,064a
The publishers would like to thank the followingfor
their kind pennission
to
reproduce photographs
and other copyright material: Alamy Images pp 34,
49; Aluminium Federation p 41, BMW pp 7d, 7i, 12d, 12e, 25b, 48d,
50; Birgit Havenith and Nicole Rubba at Daimler Chrysler pp 7b, 7f,
12d, 19, 38, 40, 48a, 59; Ford pp 07a, 7e, 07f, 7g, 07j, 07k, 8a, 014d,
014f, 043a, 047a; Fotolia pp 7c, 14a, 14f, 16, 56, 57c, 61; Getty Images
p 22, Oxford University Press Classet pp 5, 17,28, 43b; Porsche pp
12b, 12f, 48c; Volkswagen pp 12c, 12e, 48b, 57b, 57d
Cover images courtesy of: Getty Images (main image/Bany Willis{faxi;
bottom left/Bruno Vincent/Reportage),
Punchstock
(top left/Image
Source).
PAGE UNIT TITLE
TOPICS
USEFUL LANGUAGE AND SKILLS
5
Iintrodu.tion
to
Factors involved
in buying a car
Opinions and agreeing or
the car
Types of cars
disagreeing
Car sales
Recommending
Adverbs of frequency
12 I
The exterior
Exterior car parts
The passive
Car production
Describing a process
A quality problem
Telephone phrases
80 report
20 I
The ioterior
Interior car parts
Making, accepting, and rejecting
The instrument
panel
suggestions
A delivery problem
Email phrases
A car configurator
27 IUnder the bonnet
The engine
Describing position and shape
A technical
support hotline
Trade fair phrases
An international
car show
34 I
Performan.e
Launching a new model
Making comparisons
and technical
A road test
Approximating
specifications
Materials and their properties
Talking about dimensions
A meeting role-play
42
ISafoq
A magazine article
Talking about advantages and
Active and passive safety features
disadvantages
Choosing safety features
Making a presentation
Car recalls
Meeting phrases
48 IDesign
Describing car design
Making small
talk
The design process
Constraints
Expanding
the product
range
54 I
Future trends
The car of the future
Talking about
the future: certainty,
Environmental
awareness
probability,
possibility
Making a presentation
Fuel cells
PAGE APPENDIX
60
Test yourself!
62
Partner
Files
66
Answer
key
72
Transcripts
76
Useful
phrases
and vocabulary
79
Weights
and measures
conversion
chart
_
About the book
English for the Automobile Industry has been developed specifically
for people who
work in the automobile
industry who need English to communicate
in a variety of
situations with colleagues, clients, and business partners.
It supplies you with the target
vocabulary and commonly used expressions
that are essential
to communication
whether you work directly
for a car manufacturer, a supplier,
in a car dealership, or for a
marketing agency involved with the automobile
industry.
English for the Automobile Industry covers a range of subjects to do with cars and the
industry as a whole. Learners from purchasing or sales will
find their needs catered for
just as much as those from administration,
design, or production. Units from the book
work independently
and can be selected according to the needs and interests of the
course participants. English for the Automobile Industry
is also ideal for self-study
if
learners feel they need to further their knowledge of the language specific to their
industry.
The aim of all the units is to develop your communication
skills. Each unit begins with a
Starter, which consists of a short exercise or a quiz and serves as an introduction
to the
topic of the unit. Practical exercises,
listening extracts,
industry-specific
texts as well as
numerous photos and illustrations
help you to acquire key vocabulary and expressions.
Realistic rol~-plays give you the opportunity
to put all you have learned into practice.
Each unit closes with an Output activity, an article related to the topic of the unit
followed by questions
for reflection and discussion. Finally the book finishes up with a
fun crossword to Test yourself! on all you have learned over the previous eight units.
The MultiROM contains all the Listening extracts
from the book. These can be played
through the audio player on your computer, or through a conventional CD-player. In order
to give yourself extra listening practice,
listen to it in your car. The Interactive exercises
let you review your learning by doing Useful phrases, Vocabulary, and Communication
exercises on your computer,
this will be particularly valuable
if you are using the book for
self-study. There is also an A-Z wordlist with all the key words that appear in English for
the Automobile
Industry. This includes a column of phonetics and a space for you to write
the translations of the words in your own language.
In the appendix of English for the Automobile
Industry you will find the Partner Files for
the role-plays, and the Answer key so that you can check your own answers
if you are
working alone. There are also Transcripts of the listening extracts, three pages of Useful
phrases and vocabulary, and a Weights and Measures Conversion Chart which can be
used as a handy reference at work.
1 Different people have very different opinions about cars. Listen to the four speakers. Which
person sees the car as:
a a status symbol?
b a lifestyle product?
c a functional product?
d a danger to the environment?
Listen again and complete the sentences.
1 The
and the
features are very important.
I put a lot of
thought into the car I buy - it has to be me.
2 Of course if it's comfortable and safe, that's great, but I really don't care about the
______
. I'm only interested in details such as the price, fuel consumption, how many
seats there are, and how big the
is.
3 The car gives me prestige. I would only buy an expensive car with a powerful
_
and all the latest
_
4
I live in the country and there's no public
. But I think cars are polluting the
world. Just think of all the
gases!
Who do you agree with most? Ask the other people in your class how they see their cars.
Use phrases from the box on page 6 to help you discuss. Do you have the same opinions?
2 Here are some of the factors people consider when buying a car.
Match the factors (1-7) to the definitions
(a-g).
1 price
2
resale value
3 size
4
interior features
5
fuel consumption
6 performance
7 brand loyalty
a
the amount of money you get when you sell your car
b how much petrol or diesel the car uses
c when customers always buy their cars from the same manufacturer
d
the amount of money you pay when you buy a car
e
the car's capacity to go fast and accelerate quickly
f
how big the car is
g
items inside the car
3
The questionnaire
below is part of a survey to find out which factors are important
to people
when they buy a car. Work with a partner to fill
in the questionnaire.
Car buying attitudes
How important are the following factors
when buying a car?
Rank the factors like this:
1 very important
2
important
3 not important
Factors involved
in buying a car
Price
Design
Colour
Engine
Fuel consumption
Handling
Brand name
Brand loyalty
Advertising
Asking for opinions
What do you think?
How do you feel about this?
What's your opinion of ... ?
Giving your opinion
I think ...
In my opinion
.
If you ask me .
Agreeing
I agree.
I think so too.
Yes, that's right.
Disagreeing
No, sorry, I disagree.
I'm afraid I don't agree.
I can't go along with that.
convertible
• E6i::if7€
• estate (car) • hatchback • pick up • saloon •
sports car •
limousine • SUV
Find the cars which fit the descriptions.
Which car(s) ...
1 has/have lots of room for passengers?
2
is/are good for driving on bad roads?
3
is/are not suitable for large families?
4
is/are perfect for hot, sunny weather?
British English
estate car
saloon
camper van
American English
station wagon
sedan
recreational
vehicle CRY)
5 has/have low fuel consumption?
6
is/are ideal for small parking spaces?
7 has/have only one passenger seat?
8
is/are good for transporting things?
5 Your son has just passed his driving test and you are going to buy him his first car. What
questions would you ask a salesman before buying the car? Listen to the dialogue between John
and Alison, and a salesman. Did they ask the same questions as you?
Driver airbag
Passenger airbag
Lateral airbags
ABS
No. of cylinders
mpg
Top speed
CD-autochanger
Satellite
navigation
Sports steering wheel
Leather seats
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
British English
engine
petrol
6 Now match words from the two boxes to form expressions
from the dialogue.
1 crash
5 brand
2
standard
6
resale
3
fuel
7
leather
4
diesel
8 passenger
American English
(also) motor
gas(oline)
a
consumption
e
seats
b
tests
f
image
c
value
g airbags
d equipment
h engine
Complete the sentences using the expressions on page 8.
1 Taking good care of your car can increase
its
resale value
2 A high quality CD player comes as
with this model.
3
I drive a car with a
because of the better
fuel consumption.
4 Manufacturers
use
to improve
the safety of their cars.
=>
'vdtkswagen'improveirSkoaa's
after
it took over the company.
6 This model has a
of 3.3 lit res per 100 km.
7 _
are standard equipment
throughout
Europe.
8 This model has optional
with black headrests.
Twenty-nine-year_o/d business
woman Janet Dawson is single
in.dPJ,)R.
•..•~J't,
ana am·b"itious. She
loves driving and travels a lot for
business and pleasure.
Edward Mitchell
is a fifty-year-old
stockbroker. He enjoys life in the fast
lane. He has plenty of money and
loves cars.
John Owens is a twenty-year-old
bank clerk. This is his first car and
first job. He still lives at home.
Joan Hill is a single mother with
tL~I~Qr~c~,ih;:Lt;Q'!I'" ~R,
l,i.\,Q,~if,), tJ;lI~. ~1J.t;'!.t..nJ
far from the town and the children's
school. She sees the car as a
functional object.
Sandra and Toby Reed have two
small children and a dog. The
I'k
g
k"
y I e to
os
ling, camping, and fishing.
Sandra
IS an engineer and Toby stays
at home and looks after the children.
S e and Tom Benton are a young
u
I Both have good jobs and no
coup e.
children. They like to be trendsetters.
8 Work together with a partner to do the following role-play.
Partner A: You want to buy a new car for yourself. Tell the salesperson what your requirements
are.
Partner B: You are the salesperson
in the car showroom.
Help the customer.
I recommend ...
You need a car which ...
Have you thought about ... ?
Why don't you buy a ... ?
If I were you, I would buy a ..:
A ... would be ideal/perfect for you.
You should/shouldn't
buy a ...
9 How well do you know your neighbour? Use words from the box to complete
the table for you
and your partner. Then work together
to check your answers.
• buy a new car
• check your tyre pressure
• travel on holiday by car
• go over the speed limit
• hire a car
•
lend your car to someone
• change oil
• wash your car
• read car magazines
• pick up hitch-hikers
The amount of money you can get for your car when
you want to sell it.
2 Another word for motor.
3 The car's capacity to go fast and accelerate quickly.
4 People who worry about the environment say cars
cause this.
5 A measurement which tells you how much petrol or
diesel a car needs.
6 The fastest a car can go.
7 This is a very important buying factor.
8 Volkswagen, Opel, and Fiat are all examples of this.
9 Features that can save your life.
o
What~sin a name?
group you belong to (or want to belong to).
Good car names are catchy and fit the
product, such as the 'Beetle' or the 'Mini'.
The name should also appeal to a global
audience. At the very least, the name should
not mean anything bad in
another language. (This
was why Rolls-Royce
decided not to use the
Have you ever thought about car names?
Do they actually mean anything? And do
you know what
the name of your car
means?
For example, you may think 'Rover'
is
just a name, but there is
never
just a name in
marketing. A rover is a
wanderer
-
someone
who
likes
to
travel
around. So the name
suggests mobility, free-
dom, having fun, and
going wherever you want
to go. These were im-
portant qualities when
Rover cars first came on
,I,
-or--
"'/\
name 'Silver Mist'
for
one model: mist means
animal
German!)
American car makers
like to give their SUVs
names
that
remind
people of the Wild West,
full
of adventure and
danger. Did you know
that
'Wrangler'
is another word
for
cowboy? Or that
'Maverick' means an
unbranded cow that has strayed from the
herd? People who own SUVs seldom drive
them off-road, but they enjoy the feeling of
excitement that the name creates.
the market.
Marketing departments
of car companies spend a lot of time and
money thinking up names for cars. The
names should be a reflection of the brand,
product, and target group. The car you drive
tells the world about your status, how much
money you have, and the socia-economic
How important
is the name of a car to you? Would you buy a car even if you didn't
like the name?
How many car names do you know the meaning of?
Imagine you work in the marketing department of a large car maker and you want to produce a small
sports car with women as a target group. What would you call it?
It is important
for car makers that customers can easily identify the front and the rear of their
cars. How many of the cars below can you identify?
bonnet •
front bumper • headlight
•
indicator
•
logo • petrol cap or
flap • roof • sill
• sunroof
• tyre • wheel arch • wheel trim •
windscreen • windscreen wiper • wing
aerial • badge • boot • door •
door handle • exhaust pipe •
number plate • rear bumper • rear
window
• wing mirror • side window
• rear light
British English
aerial
bonnet
boot
indicator
number plate
petrol cap or flap
tyre
windscreen
wing
American English
antenna
hood
trunk
turn signal
license plate
gas tank lid
tire
windshield
fender
2 The
absorb small impacts in an accident.
3 Don't forget to retract the
before using the car wash.
4 Can you put my suitcases in the
, please?
5 When it starts raining, you need to switch on the
_
6
'What model is that?' 'I don't know, I can't see the
from here.'
7
It is important to inflate the
to the correct pressure for better fuel
consumption.
8 The Mercedes star is a well-known
_
1 head
6 petrol
2 brake
7 windscreen
3 exhaust
8 side
4 wheel
9 door
5
front
10 number
wipers
cap
lights
mirror
plate
handle
trim
lights
bumper
pipe
4
Listen to the descriptions of different car parts. Match the pictures to the descriptions and say
what they are called.
A
Speaker:
1 0
2 D 3 D 4 D 5 D
E SR56 LNE
Now describe another car part in a similar way. Can the other students guess which car part you
are describing?
As soon as a car
is ordered and a delivery date
agreed, weekly and daily production
schedules are
created and sent
to outside
suppliers
and
the
company's
own pre-assembly
stations. This
is to
make sure that all the necessary components
arrive
on time.
First of all, a small data carrier
is attached to the floor
pan in the body shop. This data carrier contains all
the customer's
specifications
and communicates
wirelessly with control
units along the production
line. In the body shop the floor pan, wheel arches,
side panels, and roof are welded together by robots
to make the frame of the car. The add-on parts - the
doors, boot lid, and bonnet - are then mounted
to
make the body-in-white.
The finished body shell then goes into the paint shop
where the data carrier determines
the colour.
In final
assembly,
the interior and exterior parts (for example
the front and rear bumpers, headlights, windscreen,
and other windows)
are fitted. After quality control
and a final check, the finished car can be released.
It is now ready for delivery to its new owner.
Car is ordered and
delivery delte
a agreed
______
bare
created and sent to suppliers
and
C
containing specifications is
attached to
e
in body shop
Floor pan,
side panels, and
Interior and exterior parts are
fitted in
j
______
k and a
final check are done
We often use the passive voice to describe a process. It is formed using the verb to be and the
past participle (the 3rd form of the verb). We use by to say who or what does the action.
Almost every car is produced
to the customer's
specifications.
The floor pan ... and the roof are welded by robots.
The finished car can be released.
6 Complete the sentences below using the passive form of the verbs in brackets.
7
Look at the diagram in exercise 5 again. Work with a partner and describe the car production
process in your own words. The phrases in the box will help you.
FirstlyjThe first step isjTo begin with ...
Secondly ...
The next step/stage is ...
After that ...
Then ...
Following that ...
Finally ...
The last step/stage is ...
8
Look at these steps for changing a tyre and put them in the right order.
Start like this: The first step is to put the vehicle into gear or park (e). Then you ...
a Remove the old tyre from under the vehicle and
lower the vehicle.
b Take the spare tyre out of the boot and make sure
it is in good condition.
c Check again to make sure the wheel nuts are tight.
d Remove the tyre and put it under the vehicle, next
to the jack.
e Put the vehicle into gear (manual transmission) or
park (automatic).
f
Use a jack to raise the vehicle.
g Fit the spare tyre and tighten the wheel nuts.
h Find two rocks or large pieces of wood and put
them in front of and behind the opposite wheel.
Loosen the wheel nuts slightly.
Loosen the wheel nuts more and remove them.
10
6 0
20304050
70 80 90100
9 Work with a partner. Write a description of one of the processes below, using ~hrases
from page 15. and a dictionary
to help you. Then read your description
to another pair.
Can they add anything
to your description?
filling the tank with
petrol
replacing a bulb in a car
headlight
positioning and
programming a
memory seat
checking car tyre
pressure
What problems do you have to deal with in your job? How do you solve them?
What was the last problem you had to solve at work?
Do you ever have problems with suppliers?
11 A manufacturer phones a supplier to complain about a problem with some headlights.
Complete the dialogue by putting the manufacturer's
lines into the right place.
What is the problem exactly? What do you think the cause of the problem could be?
a
I'm afraid there is. In our tests there's been a much higher failure rate than is allowed in the contract.
b Fine, thanks. Listen Alex, I'm calling about the headlights we received from you last week.
c
It's around 5 per cent. And as you know, it should be under 1 per cent.
d That's really good of you, Alex. I'll be in my office until
about 4 pm. After that you can reach me on my mobile.
e Hi, Alex. It's Chris Fraser here from Rover.
f
Thanks, Alex. Speak to you later.
g Yes. It's 0044 795 4345381.
h Sure. It's A348.
Yes, that's right.
1 Halla Systems. Alex Newman speaking.
---------
.••~ 0
2 Ah, hi Chris. How's it going?
.•.••
"-------------
D
3 Uh huh. Is there a problem with the headlights?
D
4 Oh dear. I'm sorry to hear that. Can you tell me
what the failure rate is exactly?
5 You're right, that's completely unacceptable. Could
you just give me the consignment number, please?
6 Got you. OK Chris, this is what I'm going to do.
I'll look into the problem straight away and will
get back to you as soon as I can.
D
7 OK. I think I've got your mobile number, but can
you give it to me again just in case?
D
8 Let me just read that back to you. 0044 795 4345381 - is that right? D
9 Great. OK Chris, like I said, I'll call you as soon as I know something. D
Bye now.
1 How are you?
2 The reason I am calling ...
3 Can I have it again ...
4 Can I just repeat that?
5 You can contact me later on ...
6
I'll ring you when I have more information.
7 We'll be in touch later.
13 When Alex looks into the problem, he discovers that the bulbs used in the headlights
from
consignment A3lt8 came from a new supplier. Work with a partner
to do two role-plays.
The phrases in the box will help you.
This is ... from ...
I'm calling about ...
Can I speak to ..., please?
Could you tell me the name of your company?
Could you repeat that, please?
•
Partner A File 1, p. 62
1;r;'im'3i1mf
Partner B File 12, p. 64
I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.
I'll call you back later.
I'll send you ... by fax/email.
Just give me a call if you have any more problems.
Thanks for calling.
a apply suitable oil
b sort out parts
c quality assurance for supplier parts
d squeaky noise when operating electrical
window switch
e plastic rubbing on metal
f
change surface roughness of parts
g watch for similar problem on all models
h no reoccurence predicted
8D Report
Customer:
Customer Ref:
Supplier Ref:
Date:
To:
Product:
1
Team responsible:
2
Problem description:
3 Containment action(s):
Person resp.:
% Effectiveness:
Date:
4
Root cause(s):
% Contribution:
5 Selected long-term corrective action(s):
Review:
% Effectiveness:
6
Implemented long-term corrective action(s):
Date:
Person resp.:
-
7
Action to prevent reoccurrence of problem:
Date:
Person resp.:
8 Comments (Information
to team):
Processed by:
Date of close:
Now complete the 80 report, either for the problem you solved in the role-plays
or for a problem you had in real life. Then show the 80 report to another student,
and explain how you solved the problem.
Mercedes-Benz and SMH, the Swiss
producer of the Swatch, formed a joint-
venture called Micro Compact car (MCC).
MCC's goal was to produce a small
two-seater called the Smart.
MCC and its main suppliers
invested more
than $1.15 billion in the Smart.
It is built at
a new factory called Smartville
in eastern
France. Each car takes only five hours to
build. The car
is just
2.5 metres
long,
556 mm shorter
than
the original Mini
and two-thirds
the size of a conventional
hatchback. The target group is mainly young
urban dwellers because of its urban mobility
and parkability.
The car is practical and versatile, as the
Smart's
body panels can be changed
in
under an hour.
It
is the only car on the
market where buyers can change the colour
and design so easily. The changeover costs
between £450-700.
The original engine was a 3-cylinder petrol
or diesel engine with 599cc and 54bhp. It had
a top speed of 85 mph and an acceleration
of 0-60 mph in 17 seconds. Since the first
launch Smart has introduced derivatives
such as a four-door version, a convertible,
and other eingines to choose from.
All models have a 36-month or 25,000-
mile warranty.
Do you own a Smart or would you ever buy one?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Smart?
In which countries do you think small cars are most successful?
Do you think small cars will become more popular in the future? Why or why not?
• has a car with GPS navigation system
• likes to have lots of switches and gadgets in the car
• always buys a car with air conditioning
• has soft toys and cushions in the car
8
2
9
3
10
4
11
5
12
6
13
7
14
British English
American English l
accelerator
(also) gas pedal
gearstick
gear shift/stick
shift
glove compartment
(also) glove box
• needs plenty of legroom
• is a telematics user
•
likes a sporty steering wheel
• doesn't allow smoking in his/her car
accelerator • air vent • airbag •
ashtray • brake pedal • car seat
(headrest)
• cigarette lighter
•
clutch pedal • cup holder •
dashboard • door handle • door
tray • gearstick • glove
compartment
• handbrake •
hands-free telephone • horn •
ignition
• rear-view mirror • seat
belt
• steering wheel • sun visor
15
_
16
_
17
_
18
_
19
_
20
_
21
_
22
_
1
It's SO practical to have a
near the steering wheel. I can take a drink
whenever I want.
2
In a car with manual transmission, you need to press the
when you want to
change gear.
4
I have a leather
. It's not so cold for my hands in the winter
and it gives you a good grip.
S It's against the law to phone while driving so I've ordered a car with a
_
7
I don't need a
as I don't smoke and I don't want anyone to smoke
in my car.
coolant temperature gauge D
fuel gauge D
driver information system D
rev counter D
engine oil temperature gauge D
speedometer D
warning/indicator
lights
D
voltmeter
D
4
Look at the picture and say which instrument
•.•
1 shows you how fast the car is travelling?
2 warns you if the engine lubrication system gets too hot?
3 shows that you are indicating to turn left or right?
4 shows you how often the engine is turning over?
S shows you how much petrol you have in the tank?
6
indicates the voltage of the car's electrical system?
Youare two managers from the marketing department. You are meeting to decide whether or not
you should remove the cigarette lighter and ashtray as standard equipment. First look at the phrases
in the box, then look at your role cards.
Making suggestions
Why don't we ... ?
How about ...ing ... ?
I suggest
.
We could
.
Accepting suggestions
That sounds good.
I think that'll work.
Good idea.
Partner A
File 2, p. 62
Partner B File 13, p. 64
Rejecting suggestions
I don't think that will work.
That's (maybe) not (such) a good idea because ...
I'm not sure about that.
6 What do you need to do when you first get into a car,
before you start the engine?
Continue the list on the note paper with a partner.
I) Adjust seat (if netessary)
2)
3)
7
Listen to and complete the following dialogue between a
driving instructor and a learner taking a first driving lesson.
Instructor
Learner
Instructor
Learner
Learner
Instructor
Learner
Instructor
Learner
OK, so you're sitting in the car. What do you do now?
Well, I start the car. No, wait! I check behind me first before I drive away.
You've forgotten something.
Of course, I fasten my
_______
1 first.
Even before you fasten your seat
belt there are things you need to
do. First of all, are you sitting
comfortably?
Not really. The seat is a bit too far
from the
_
So you need to adjust the seat,
right? Use the two levers there to
adjust the position and the height.
You can also adjust the steering wheel. So now you're sitting comfortably. What should
you check now?
That the
3 mirror is in the right position. And the side mirror.
Quite right. What next?
Well, if it's dark, I need to switch on the
4
Good. Finally, before you put the key into the
5, what should you do?
Now I fasten my seat belt.
8 Cover the dialogue on page 22. Can you remember which nouns can follow which verbs? Complete
the table. When you have finished, check your answers on page 22.
bOIIl"let • boot • door •
fog ligi'lts •
fuel • glove compartment
• headlights
• headrest •
indicator
• vii level • petrol cap • FeaF'Q'ie.••~'miFFe'q'v'
• seat belt
• seat height • seat
position
• side mirror • steering wheel • sunroof •
tyre pressure • windscreen wipers
Open/Close
bonnet
Switch on/off
f09'i9hts
Check
oil level
9 Now work with a partner
to answer the following questions. Using phrases from the table above.
What do you do when ...
1 visibility
is poor because of fog?
3 you think you need oil?
_
4 you want to get out of the car?
_
5 you can't see the cars behind you properly?
_
6
it's getting dark?
_
7 you want to look at the engine?
_
8 your steering wheel is too high?
_
9 you think your tyre pressure is low?
_
10 You work for a German company that manufactures
car parts. You receive the email below from
a French customer. Complete the email using the words in the box.
appreciate • attachment
•
forward • possible •
sending • unfortunately
• writing
Eile
~dit
~.iew
insert
FQ.rmat
Iools
Tgble
LJ.:.I
T.
~II
I
,
~.=3~end @ .
To...
I
(c ...
I
Subject:
I order no. 7H325K
"Untitled Message
:'tj
• I
':r..I
-
iD O~tions",
•
HTML
received from you last week. The order was for 1000 dashboard panels.
_______
2 50 of the boxes that arrived were empty. Can you send us the
Best regards
Yves Perry
Thank you for your email.
I'm writing to ...
I'm very sorry about ...
Could you ... ?
I'm sending you ...
I hope that ...
Let me know if ...
Best regards/Best wishes
11 Many car manufacturers now have car 'configurators'
on their websites. These allow customers
to design their cars online before they buy. Look at the configurator and match the menu titles
(a-f)
to the menus (1-6).
a Audio/Communication
b SafetyjTechnology
c Exterior equipment
d Seats
e
Interior equipment
f WheelsjTyres
CAR CONFIGURATOR:
CHOOSE
YOUR
EQUIPMENT
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
1
6
D Electric
D Electronic
tyre
D Electronic climate D Electric front
D Anti-theft alarm
D DVD-based
adjustable and
pressure
control with
seats - 14 way
with tow-away
navigation
heated door
monitoring
individual driver
adjustable, with
protection
system
mirrors, with
D 8J x 17 'seven
and front
memory for front D Cruise control
D Hands-free dual-
memory
spoke'design
passenger
seats
D Xenon headlights
band/GSM car
D Remote control
alloy wheels with
controls
D Leather
D Adaptive air
telephone
central locking
235/55 R17 tyres D Garage door
upholstery
suspension
D Voice control
D Electric slide and D 8.5J x 19 'twelve
opener
D Heated front and
system
tilt glass sunroof
spoke'design
D Rear window
rear seats
D Active speakers
DTowing
alloy wheels with
blind, electrically D Sports seats
equipment
255/40 R19 tyres
operated
(removable)
D Interior light pack
A Driver and front passenger two-stage airbags
B Child seat mounting system
C CDautochanger for 6 discs
D 255/45 R18 low profile tyres
E Deluxe front centre armrest
F Headlight cleaning system
12 Complete the puzzle. The answers are all words from this unit.
2
Across
1 Youput your cigarette here when it's finished.
3 The instrumentsare on this.
5 This is the middle pedal in a car.
8 This stops the sun from shining into your eyes.
(2words)
9 Youuse this to change gear.
Down
2 This protects your head and neck in an accident.
4 Youoperate this when you park your car to stop
it from moving.
6 Youcan put your maps and documents in this: ...
compartment
7 You look in this to check the traffic behind you:
rear-view ...
Navigation aids, telema-
tics equipment, audio
system features,
and
the standard instruments are
all fighting for space on the
instrument
panel
(IP). This
creates a challenge for interior
designers and engineers who
need to keep the IP simple so
that the driver is not distracted
by too many buttons and
instruments. Customers also equate a spacious
interior with luxury - another reason why the IP
shouldn't
look overcrowded.
Designers deal with the problem in various ways.
They reduce the size of
'space-eaters'
such as
heating and cooling systems, or even remove them
completely from the IP by putting them under the
seat or in the boot. They also put many functions,
such as station pre-set buttons for audio systems,
on
touch
screens.
Touch
screens save space on the IP
but there is still the danger of
overcrowding
the
screen,
which could distract the driver
and thus cause an accident.
Another
problem
is
the
position:
the
touch screen
needs to be located high on the
dashboard so that the driver
can use it easily while driving.
But if it is too high it can be hard to read because
of reflections and the sun 'washing out' the screen.
Some engineers see voice recognition as a way to
get rid of many manual controls and to simplify the
IP.But voice recognition can also be overused. There
needs to be an optimal balance between visual
displays and voice instructions, so that the driver
can deal safely with all the information he or she
receives.
Is the IP of your car user-friendly? Why or why not?
Which do you prefer - an IP that looks like a cockpit with lots of switches and controls, or a more
simplified version?
How do you feel about voice recognition controls?
Brake
(Disc Type)
Steering Arm
clutch • combustion •
crankshaft
• cylinders •
distribution
• fuel • piston
• spark plug • torque
'Now we come to the engine.
The principle of the internal
_______
1 engine has
not changed in the last 100 years.
The engine takes in
_______
2 and air which is compressed in a combustion chamber. Then this mixture is
ignited by a
3 to produce an explosion, which moves the
4
motion by the
5. The rotational force generated by the engine is known as
6
more powerful the engine. This power is
transmitted through the
________
8, the gearbox, the
propeller shaft
(in rear-wheel and four-wheel drive), and the
axles to the wheels. The position of the
engine can vary, but generally speaking it is
mounted at the front. In some sports cars,
the engine is mounted at the rear (eg, Porsche) or in the middle (eg, Ferrari or Lamborghini) because
British English
gearbox
American English
transmission
1
In an engine, linear motion is converted into
motion by the crankshaft.
2 The power of the engine is
through the clutch and the gearbox.
3 The spark plug
the air/fuel mixture and sets off an
_
4 A 6-cylinder engine is more
than a 4-cylinder engine.
S Fuel and air is compressed in the
chamber.
1. This layout is used for high performance engines with
a compact layout such as in the BMW 7-series. The cylinders are
arranged in two banks set at an angle to one another. This layout
is normally more cubical in shape than the other two.
Horizontally
opposed engine
2 This layout is wide and flat and gives the engine a low
centre of gravity. The cylinders are arranged in two banks on
opposite sides of the engine. It is very practical
for cars
which have the engine located at the rear, such as Porsche.
3 This layout is long and narrow. The cylinders
are all next to each other in a single bank.
It is a standard, simple layout used in the
Mercedes A-class, for example.
5 Work with a partner. First look at the phrases used to describe position and shape.
Then look at the engine layouts in your files. Tell your partner where the components
from the
box below are.
battery
• brake fluid reservoir • engine oil dipstick
•
engine oil filler cap • power steering reservoir •
radiator expansion
The ... is on the right/left-hand
side
of the engine.
This part is located at the front/rear
of the engine.
It's on the opposite side of the engine
from the ...
It's above/below/next
to/beside
the ...
It's between
the ... and the ...
This layout is cubical
in
shape.
The brake fluid reservoir
is the rectangular
container on the right.
D
square
D
rectangular
o
circular
D
triangular
Partner A
Partner B
File 7, p. 63
File 14. p. 64
OJ
cubical
8 cylindrical
0 spherical
8 conical
Listen to seven questions
from customers and match them to the answers given by a technical
support hoUine employee.
a You look at the level in the reservoir.
b The cooting system is filled once at the factory and never has to be changed.
c Oil consumption can be up to 1.0 1/1000 km so the engine oil level must be checked at regular
intervals. It is a good idea to check the oil level every time you put fuel in the car.
d Under normal conditions you don't have to do anything with the battery except check the
electrolyte level occasionally.
e You needn't go to a service station for a brake fluid change, but make sure the person who does
it is competent and has the necessary tools.
f
It's the plastic rectangular container next to the power steering reservoir.
g Battery acid is highly corrosive so you mustn't work on the battery without wearing eye
protection and gloves.
Speaker:
1 rn
2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0
6 0
7 0
7 A potential customer is visiting the stand of a major car manufacturer
at an international
car show.
Listen to the dialogue and put these key
features in the order in which they are
mentioned.
a
low fuel consumption
b design
c
top speed
d six-speed automatic gearbox as standard
e optional extras included in the price
f
acceleration from 0-60 in 6 seconds
g
increased power of the engine.
1[Q]
50
1 4.2
_
2 330
_
3 155
_
4 W12 and V6
_
5 16.1
_
6 23
_
7 54,000
_
8 18
_
Discuss the questions with a partner.
1 Why does the visitor first look at the car?
2 Why does the car have low fuel consumption?
3 What two things does the rep give the visitor, and why?
8 Match the two parts of the sentences from the dialogue (listen again if necessary).
1 we have increased the power
2 a six-speed automatic gearbox
3 We're launching the model
4 That naturally has
5
Included in the price
6
If you have any other questions,
a
an effect on fuel consumption.
b with a 3.7 and a 4.2-litre petrol engine.
c
is a six-disc CD unit with nine speakers ...
d
by 20 bhp to 330 bhp.
e
then just call or email me.
f
comes as standard.
9 Work with a partner to do the following role-play. First look at the box for phrases you can use.
Then look at your role cards in the Partner Files.
Partner A File3, p. 62
Partner B File15, p. 64
Visitor
I'd like more information
on ...
I'm interested
in ...
What about
... ?
Can I take one of these brochures?
Could you tell me something
about
... ?
Sales rep
Can I help you?
Which car are you interested
in?
Would you like more detailed
information?
Would you like a brochure?
Here is our price
list.
Let me give you my (business)
card.
10 Complete this puzzle with ~ords from the unit.
Across
1 This keeps the brake lubricated: brake ....
3 This can be petrol or diesel.
5 This fluid is put in the cooling system.
7 The motion of the pistons rotate this.
10 You use a dipstick to check the ... level.
11 You need electricity
from this to start
the engine.
2 A type of fuel.
4 This moves up and down in the
cylinder.
5 Asix- ... engine.
6 This fluid is used to keep the windscreen
clean: windscreen
....
8 This is highly corrosive: battery ....
9 This ignites the fuel-air mixture
in petrol engines.
(2 words)
I!WItWPI
Read the article and answer the questions which follow.
-
GOI Engines
When developing a new motor-
vehicle engine, engineers are
faced with the dilemma of more
power or less fuel. The goal is to
combine high power output and
low fuel consumption.
Increasing
fuel efficiency helps motorists to
save money and also reduces
CO2 emissions. Gasoline Direct
Injection (GDI) engines can
reduce fuel consumption by up
to 20%, thereby producing
20% lower emissions.
GOI engines use a new combustion
control method that injects gasoline
directly
into the cylinders, where
it
mixes with oxygen from air drawn in
from
the
outside.
Conventional
spark-ignition
engines mix air and
gasoline in the intake manifold before
injecting the mixture into the cylinder.
The GOI engine produces a finer
mist of gasoline in the cylinder which
leads to cleaner burning and more
power.
It also has a shaped piston
crown to swirl
the finely atomized
gasoline
into a tight cloud near the
tip of the spark plug. This stratified
charge of fuel and fresh air near the
source of
ignition
is the process
behind GOI's low fuel consumption.
Some car makers have developed
other key components,
for example a
high-pressure common-rail
injection
system with a single piston injection
pump. This pump supplies the exact
amount of fuel needed to maintain
the required pressure in the system.
GOI engines will become more
important in the future because of the
need to reduce fuel consumption and
because of growing environmental
concerns.
Can you explain in your own words how GOIengines work?
How important do you think GOI engines will be in the future?
00 you know of any other current engine innovations?
••
Performance and technical
specifications
Read these short descriptions of well-known cars. Can you guess which cars they are?
1 Two-door, mid-engined, four-wheel-drive sports car. The engine is 6.2-litre V12, with 571 bhp.
The acceleration is 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph. The doors do not
open conventionally.
2 The original model came on the market forty years ago and became an icon of 1960s Britain. The
car became very famous in the film The Italian Job. The new version has a 163 bhp, inter-cooled
1.6-litre engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.
3 A four-door executive luxury saloon which has been completely updated and now has no
gearstick and no handbrake but a large aluminium knob on the centre console. Most of the
technical systems are operated by a 'controller' which acts like a computer mouse, or by up to
270 voice-activated commands.
Now think of a car yourself. Write a description and see if the others in your class can guess
what it is.
A spokesperson
for a major car maker is giving a presentation about a new car model and a
journalist
is asking questions. Listen to the recording, which features are not mentioned?
a
running costs
g
light-weight materials
b
top speed
h disc brakes
c
front suspension
new design
d body strength
j
chassis length
e boot capacity
k
fuel consumption
f
start-stop automatic
Listen to the recording again and complete the sentences from the dialogue below with the
features above.
1 The
has been stiffened to produce more precise steering at high speeds.
2 We have also increased the size of the
for a shorter braking distance.
3
I also noticed that the press release says there is improved
_
4 Firstly, we have enhanced the Cd value with a
_
5 We have also reduced the kerb weight of the car by over 50 kilos by using
_
6 We have introduced a
so that the engine cuts out if you stand still for more
than three seconds and starts again when you take your foot off the brake.
7 This has a positive effect on the
_______
of this car and, of course, on
the resale value.
8 We have also increased the
_
to make the car more practical for families and
sports people.
1 Changes to the front suspension mean better steering when the car goes fast.
2 The car is now more expensive to run.
3 The car is not very economical for driving in town.
4 The interior and the boot are bigger than in the last model.
1 urban
6 boot
costs
suspension
2 Cd
7
front
consumption
value
3
running
8 disc
brakes
value
4
resale
9 kerb
capacity
weight
5 braking
distance
a A measure of the car's wind resistance, or drag coefficient.
b The amount you spend on petrol, tax, maintenance, etc.
c The volume of the boot.
d How much fuel you need driving around town.
e Brake system which uses a calliper and rotor, or disc, to stop or slow a vehicle.
f
How much you can expect to get if you sell the car after three years.
g The connection of the axles by springs and dampers to the car body which prevents occupants
from feeling road shocks.
h The distance between putting your foot down on the brake and the car stopping.
How much the car weighs when there are no passengers in it and with half a tank of fuel.
a has the fastest acceleration
from 0-60 mph?
b has the highest
top speed?
c
is the most expensive
to buy?
d
is the cheapest
to run?
e
has the best equipment?
f
has the largest engine?
g
has the most powerful
engine?
Which car would you prefer to own?
I'
I'
0-60 mph (sees)
8.9
11.3
9.3
0-100 mph (sees)
27.1
33.4
25.8
Standing 1/4 mile (secs/mph)
17.0/81.9
18.7/76.6
17.1/83.9
Maximum speed (mph)
137
126
131
30-70 mph thru gears
9.3
10.7
8.4
Braking 70-0 mph (metres/feet)
47.03/154.3
47.06/154.4
47.6/156.2
I
list price
£28,655
£29,085
£27,595
Test/EU combined mpg
31.0/34.9
32.0/39.8
34.0/37.2
Insurance group
14
13
13
CO2 (grammes per km)
219/29
180/21
197/0
Airbags
4
4
4
Alarm/immobiliser
yes/yes
yes/yes
yes/yes
ABS/brake assist
yes/yes
yes/yes
yes/no
Traction/ESP
ESP
ESP
TCS
- Climate control
yes
AC
yes
Cruise control
yes
yes
yes
Engine/capacity
V6,2496cc
4cyl, 16v, 2148cc
V6, 24v, 2962cc
Maximum power
180bhp at 4,000rpm
143bhp at 4,200rpm
176bhp at 4,000rpm
Maximum torque
2731bft at 1,500rpm
2321bft at 1,800rpm
2571bft at 1,600rpm
Transmission
six-speed manual
five-speed auto
five-speed manual
Suspension (front)
ind four-link
ind double wishbone
ind Macpherson strut
Suspension (rear)
double wishbone
multi-link, self-levelling
multi-link
Brakes (front/rear)
ventilated disc/disc
ventilated disc/disc
ventilated disc/disc
Tyres (front/rear)
235/45 R17
205/65 R15
225/45 R17
Dimensions LIW (em)
480/181
484/180
482/204
Boot space (Iitres)
455/159
600/1,975
416/1,490
I
Styling
••••
••
• •••
Performance
••••
••
• •••
Ride and handling
•••
••
• ••
Accommodation
••••
••••
• ••
Overall
•••
••
• •••
4 Complete the sentences
below using the correct form of the adjectives
in the box.
The examples
in the language box will help you.
comfortable
• expensive •
fast • heavy • noisy •
powerful
• safe • spacious •
fast • safe
The VW Passat is cheaper
than the Audi A4.
This car is the cheapest of the three.
A Mercedes is heavier
than a Smart.
This model is the heaviest car in our range.
My new car is more economical
than the old one.
The Renault is the most economical of the cars I looked at.
1 The Audi TT has a top speed of 250 mph. It is much
than a Fiat Panda.
2 Rolls-Royce makes some of the
cars in the world.
3 All new cars now have airbags as standard so they are
than cars were
years ago.
4 A diesel engine is still
than a petrol engine even though they are much
quieter than they used to be.
5 Volvos have the reputation of being some of the
cars on the market.
6 The interior of a Bentley is
and luxurious than a BMW 7-series.
There is even room for a mini bar.
7 The Porsche Cayenne weighs two and a half tonnes. It is
than the BMW X5.
8 The Lamborghini Diablo is one of the
cars in the world.
9 A car engine with twelve cylinders is
than one with six cylinders.
10 These leather seats are the
seats I've ever sat in!
5 Fill in the table below with details about your own car. Then ask two other people in your class
about their c~rs and complete the table. Use the phrases
in the box to help you approximate.
After you have completed the table,
compare the three cars.
Acceleration 0-60 mph
Top speed
Fuel consumption
Engine type
Maximum power
It's about/approximately
...
It's roughly ...
It must be at least ...
I think it's ...
I would guess it's ...
I don't know exactly but ...
6
Listen to the two engineers discussing the dimensions of the car and complete the table.
Length
Width
Height
Wheel base
Boot height
Now work with a partner. First look at the phrases in the box. Then look in the Partner Files and
ask each other questions
to find the dimensions (1-8) of the car in the drawing below.
Partner A
File 11. p. 63
Partner B File 19. p. 65
How high/long/wide
is the car/body/ ... ?
- It's ... millimetres long/high ...
What is the height/length/width of the boot/rear overhang/ ... ?
- The height/width
is ... millimetres ...
7 Which materials are most used in manufacturing
a car? Listen to the presentation by a car
manufacturer
and put them in order.
1st
2nd
3rd
4th =
4th =
6th
ih
8th
9th
iron • glass • rubber • aluminium
• steel • other • zinc, lead, and
copper • fluids and lubricants
•
plastics
8 What car parts are made of what material? Work with a partner to complete the table.
Material
Car part(s)
Material
Car part(s)
aluminium
rubber
foam
sheet metal
glass
steel
leather
textile
magnesium
wood
plastic
9 Complete these sentences about materials and their properties using the words in the box.
shatterproof
•
light
• corrosion-resistant
• durable • elastic • natural
•
rigid •
flammable
• malleable • heat-resistant
1 Wood is very often used in interiors because it looks
and warm.
2 Aluminium and magnesium are important for car makers because they are
_
and therefore good for weight-saving.
3 Safety regulations require that the foam used in car seats shouldn't be
_
4 Rubber should be able to withstand great temperature differences while staying
5 Windscreens are made of a special
glass to protect drivers in accidents.
6 Fabrics used in cars need to be
and not look old too quickly.
7 Steel is used for load-bearing parts because it is
_
8 Sheet metal is used for large car parts because it is
and dent-resistant.
9 Ceramic, which is
, is used in the catalytic converter because of the very
high temperatures.
10 Aluminium is ideal for bumpers and other body parts because it is
_
10 Work in groups of three to do a meeting role-play.
You have to decide whether
the tailgate of a new car should be made of steel or plastic. Take the
parts of a controller
(A), a member of the technical
department
(8), and a member of the production
department
(C) and try to reach a decision by the end of the meeting.
Partner A File5, p. 62
Partner B File16, p. 64
Partner C File21, p. 65
Aluminium -
the car maker's metal of the year?
With
the
launch
of
the
A2, Audi
AG
introduced
the first vehicle
in the world
to
have a volume-built
all-aluminium
body.
In
1996, series production
of the A8 began. The
A8
is the
first
luxury
limousine
made of
aluminium,
and the Audi plant
in Neckarsulm
produces
20,000 vehicles
a year. The A8
combines high strength with
low weight.
At
only 1,690 kilos, the A8 3.2 is the lightest car
in the luxury class. The third-generation
Audi
Space Frame now has fewer
components
than
its predecessors, which makes it easier
to build the car in large quantities.
Other car makers are also starting
to take
aluminium
seriously. As engine
sizes have
increased, cars have become more top-heavy.
Using aluminium
for
the bonnet
and front
wi ngs hel psto get a betterweig
ht d istri bution
between
front
and
rear
axles. Another
advantage of aluminium
is that
it is cheaper
to recycle than steel. Thiswill
be an important
consideration
in the
future
when
the EU
introduces
tougher
recycling regulations.
But
there
are
drawbacks
to
using
aluminium.
Replacing steel with aluminium
is expensive; an aluminium
body costs twice
as much as a steel
one.
Not
only
are
aluminium
production
processes expensive,
they are also difficult
to implement.
Because
aluminium
is more brittle
and tears more
easily than steel,
it can only be formed when
it is in an unhardened
state. Furthermore,
the
aluminium used for the outer parts ofthe car,
such as the wings and the doors, needs to be
thicker
than steel because
it doesn't
have
the same stiffness.
The dent-resistance
of
aluminium
is also less than that of steel.
On the plus side, aluminium
doesn't
rust
like steel, and in car crashes it has a higher
energy absorption
rate, which
increases the
car's active safety.
What are the advantages
and disadvantages
of using aluminium?
What kind of car materials do you think will be used in the future?
What are the EU's recycling targets
for 2015? Do you think car makers will have trouble
reaching them?
Safety
STARTER
1 People should be able to take their driving test when they're 15.
2 Drivers who have just passed their test
should have learner plates
on their car for the first
six months.
3 Drinking and driving should be strictly against the law.
0
0
4 Drivers over 65 years of age should take a new test every two years.
0
0
f
5 Safety features like ASS are dangerous -
they give drivers a false sense
of security and encourage them
to take more risks.
0
0
6 Drivers should be required to have
headlights on during the day.
0
0
7 People shouldn't be required to wear
seat belts in cars with airbags.
0
0
8 Car manufacturers could make cars
much safer, if they wanted to.
0
0
1 Read these extracts from a presentation about a car safety programme and put them in the correct
order. Then listen to the presentation
to check your answers.
10 20 30 40
A
This next slide shows the four dummies which are used inside the car in the test. The driver and
front passenger dummies not only measure the usual injury criteria, such as head, thorax, pelvic
acceleration, and thigh pressure, but also neck pressure, thorax deformation, knee displacement,
and lower leg pressure. At the rear are two smaller dummies in children's seats. A further test
assesses the injury risk for pedestrians. OK, I think that covers everything about the tests. Now I'd
just like to sum up by repeating my main points ...
B
... and that brings me on to my next point-
the passive vehicle safety programme. This
programme has set new standards for
passive vehicle safety in Europe and
America. Its aim is to provide the customer
with an opportunity
to compare passive
vehicle safety in different car models. Just
so that everyone's clear about the
terminology, when I say passive vehicle
safety, I mean those features used if an
accident happens. Features which are used
to avoid an accident are referred to as
active vehicle safety. One important feature of the programme is ...
c
... Now we come to the tests themselves. As you can see in this slide, the programme first tested
vehicles in a head-on collision with a rigid wall at 64 km/h. In this side-on crash, a 1.5 m wide
deformable barrier weighing 950 kg is rammed into the side of the car at 50 km/h. A vehicle can be
awarded up to five stars, depending on how it performs in the tests.
o
Good morning everyone. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Gordon Waters. I'm here
today to talk about NCAP- that's the New CarAssessment Programme. First of all, I'm going to tell
you something about the history of the NCAP.Then I'll talk about the NCAP'spassive vehicle safety
programme. There'll be time for questions at the end. So, firstly, let's look at the NCAP'shistory. The
NCAPwas founded in 1997 and ...
You work in the marketing department of a major car manufacturer. Your mid-range model is now
entering the fourth year of its eight-year life cycle. Sales have been falling so it is time for an
improvement. This car is often bought as a fleet car for business people. You have already agreed on
a 'business package' and now want to include one more safety feature. Read the descriptions of the
three safety features on the next page, then 'meet' your colleagues to decide which one to include.
Try to use the language in the box below.
One great advantage is ...
I think the ... feature is a big plus point.
One point in favour of the ... is ...
A major drawback/disadvantage
is ...
J can see problems with the ...
The downside is ...
Feature
Advantages
Disadvantages
Trallic Signal Assistant
is an
audible signal which tells the
driver about traffic
regulations
such as speed limits, parking,
or overtaking.
• This would be good marketing
for the
company as it shows we want considerate
drivers who obey rules.
• A lot of accidents happen because people
drive too fast or overtake on dangerous roads.
• Drivers would save money on speeding
fines and parking tickets.
• There are already too many traffic signs
and regulations
regarding speed limits,
parking and overtaking.
• Business people do not like to be told
what to do.
• Why are we building such fast cars if this
device tells you to slow down all the time?
The 'virtual passenger'
voice
application wakes up drivers
who are beginning to fall
asleep. Infrared sensors
measure head positions.
If the
driver's head begins to fall
forward, he or she is woken up
with a loud greeting and a
series of questions
to keep
him or her awake.
• Business people on long journeys would
appreciate this device as many accidents
happen because people fall asleep at the wheel.
• This technology
is not offered by any other
car maker as standard and is a good 'gimmick'.
• The advertising possibilities would also
be good.
• It is too 'gimmicky'
for business people.
• It is potentially dangerous. Drivers get a
false sense of security and may decide to
drive even though they are tired or have
had alcohol.
• If the technology
fails and an accident
happens,
it could cost the company a lot
of money.
• It is embarrassing
for the driver
if there
are other passengers
in the car.
The GPS navigation system
helps drivers plan routes and
warns drivers about traffic
jams and congested roads.
• It is very practical
for business people who
often go on business trips to different cities.
• Accidents are caused by people not
knowing where they are going and trying
to find the right street.
• Avoiding traffic
jams and congested roads
would save people time and money.
• GPS navigation
is no longer anything
special.
• It needs to be constantly updated, so will
be more expensive than other options.
• It is only available in great detail for some
countries so if the driver
is in a country
that doesn't have it, it won't help.
4 Choose a safety feature. Work with a partner and prepare a five-minute presentation explaining
how your feature works. If you have Internet access, you can visit websites
like
www.howstuffworks.com
to help you. Give your presentation
to the class.
Introducing yourself and your talk
For those of you who don't
know me, my name
is ...
I'm here today
to talk about/tell
you something
about
...
I'm going
to be speaking
about
...
Feel free to ask questions
as we go along.
There'll
be time
for questions
at the end.
Structuring the presentation
Firstly/Secondly/Thirdly
/Finally
...
Let's now look at ...
Moving
on,
I'd like to say something
about
...
Now we come to ...
That brings me to my next point.
I think
that
covers everything
about
...
Referring to visuals
As you can see in this slide,
...
This
(next)
slide/transparency
shows
...
Concluding
To sum up ...
In conclusion
...
I'd just
like
to repeat my main points.
Are there any questions?
A leading car manufacturer is recalling 70,000 models in the UK to check for a potentially
life-threatening
1. The brake pedal on the top-selling small MPV can
______
2 suddenly.
The problem affects all UKcars sold since the launch in July2000 except those delivered in recent weeks.
A small clip - if incorrectly
3 - can allow the pedal to detach from the rest of the
braking system. If this happens on the move, the driver is reduced to using the
4
and gears to bring the car to a halt.
The car manufacturer says a small number of owners have experienced the problem but no
_______
5 have been reported.
The car manufacturer says it has written to every owner asking them to take the car to their
6
Any work needed will be carried out free of
7
Since only 85% of owners respond to
8 notices, 10,000 potentially dangerous
models could still be left on UK roads.
6 Work in a small group to have a meeting.
You are members of the executive board of a major
car manufacturer. You have been called to an
emergency meeting to discuss a serious problem.
One of your best-selling models, the 86, a sports car,
has been involved in several accidents. It is unstable
at high speeds and drivers cannot control the car.
So far no one has been killed, but this could change.
First look at the agenda. Then look at your role
cards and have the meeting.
Interrupting
Excuse me.
Could
I come in here for a moment?
Sorry, can I say something?
I'd like to add something
here.
Dealing with interruptions
Hang on a moment.
Can I just
finish what
I was saying?
We'll come to that point
in a moment.
Let me just say one more thing.
Emergency meeting to discuss safety
problems with the 86.
1 Action
- Should the model be recalled and
fitted with ESP?
- If so, when?
- Should customers pay for the Work?
- How should we pUblicize the recall?
2 Public relations
- What will the effect of a recall be?
- What steps can we take to reduce
negative publicity?
Partner A file 6, p. 62
Partner C File 9. p. 63
Partner B File 17, p. 64
Partner 0 File 22, p. 65
7 Now report on the results of the meeting. Write an email to your subsidiary
in France explaining
your decision.
OUR
'AUTO
SAFETY'
SERIES
Airbags
Until a short time ago, most of the progress
made in auto safety was in front and rear
accidents, even though 40% of all serious
injuries from accidents are the result of side
impacts, and 30% of all accidents
are side-impact collisions.
Many car makers have
reacted to these statistics
and new standards of the
NHTSA (National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration)
by making doors, door frames
and floor and roof sections stronger. But cars
that now offer side airbags represent a new
type of occupant protection.
Engineers say that designing effective
side airbags is much more difficult
than
designing
front
airbags. This
is because
much of the energy from a front-impact
collision
is absorbed by the bumper, hood
and engine, and it takes almost 30 to 40
milliseconds before the impact reaches the
car's occupant.
In a side impact, only a
relatively
thin
door
and a few
inches
separate the occupant from another vehicle.
This means that door-mounted
side airbags
must begin deploying within 5 or 6 milli-
seconds. It takes a collision of about 19 kph
to trigger side air bags.
The seat-belt airbag is intended
to give
back-seat passengers
the same level of
protection as front-seat occupants. The air-
bag is incorporated
in the rear-seat seat belt
and inflates forward on impact.
Airbags, though, do not always save lives;
they sometimes kill people who are too
small or are in the wrong position when the
airbags deploy. To prevent this from happen-
ing, car makers and suppliers are developing
occupant-sensing systems. The three leading
technologies
for smart airbags are weight-
sensing in the seat, position sensing within
the car, and camera monitoring. These detec-
tion systems can automatically
deactivate
the airbags if the situation is dangerous.
Do you know anyone who has been saved by an airbag in an accident?
Which other safety features are car manufacturers working on at the moment? Which do you think
will be developed in the future?
How safe do you feel when driving your car?
Design
Say whether you agree or disagree with the statements below (or are not sure).
Then discuss your answers with a partner.
Design is the most important feature of a car.
The colour of the car doesn't matter.
Most cars look pretty much the same.
The drag coefficient has no effect on the design of a car.
As long as the interior looks good, the ergonomics don't matter.
Every car from the same brand should look like part of a family.
The new version of this
design classic
is as charming
as the original. Details
such
as the steep windscreen
and
the large round headlights
emphasize
that this car is
unconventional.
There's
no
question
that this is a fun car
to drive.
Its design is a blend of retro and
contemporary.
It has a sleek,
distinctive appearance, with
unique proportions and a
surprisingly spacious
interior. The
side profile is muscular and
aggressive, and gives the whole
vehicle a feeling of motion and
direction.
o
0
o
0
o
0
o
0
o
0
o
[]
This very stylish car has a
striking
exterior with a compact
shape and bold styling.
It's a
very sporty car with exciting
lines and powerful
proportions.
It features
eye-catchjng
details
such as the fuel filler cap with
its exposed
screws.
2
Look at the adjectives used to describe cars. Put them in the table according to their stress
patterns.
charming • unconventional
• muscular • sleek • distinctive
• unique •
stylish • striking • contemporary
• bold • sporty
• spacious
1syllable
••
••
•••
•••
•••••
•••••
How would you describe the other two cars in exercise 17 Use words from above to write short
descriptions.
3 Cars, and especially car design, are favourite small talk topics. Work in a small group to do the
following
role-play.
You (and a colleague) are
having dinner in a
restaurant together with
important customers.
Make small talk about
your favourite cars. The
phrases in the box will
help you.
Introducing a topic
One car I really like is the ...
I think one of the nicest/most attractive
cars on the market is ...
I saw a TV programme/read an article
about ... recently.
Someone told me the other day that ...
Keeping the conversation going
What do you think of the ... ?
Have you seen the ... ?
It's really great/nice/
beautiful/ugly,
isn't it?
They must be fun to drive, don't
you think?
Changing topic
By the way, ...
Anyway, ...
That reminds me of ...
Speaking of ...
_________
1 we also produce a clay model, which has a ratio of 1:4. If it is approved, a
1:1 model is made and presented to a concept clinic. If there are no knock-out factors, the concept
goes to a product clinic so that marketing factors can
be finalized.
B
_________
2, product planning,
marketing, and design come together. Product
planning asks 'What could it be?', marketing asks
'Who is it for?', and design asks 'What does it look
like?' I should maybe mention at this point that many
cars are not really new, but are successors to, or derivatives of, existing models. The design of earlier
models naturally needs to be taken into account.
C
_________
3 taking you through the stages of the design process. There are five
phases, which take about three years in total.
D
_________
4 comes series development. The final design is specified. Several
prototypes are handmade and tested in various climatic conditions and on different road surfaces.
E
_________
5 is the pre-series phase where the production process and components
from suppliers are tried out. A final marketing clinic is carried out to confirm price and market
positioning. Then, if everything runs smoothly, there is a design and change freeze. The final phase
is series production.
F
_________
6, we have the concept phase where even more people are involved. We
need to know what technology will be developed or adapted, which production plant and production
processes are necessary, and, finally, financial details such as volume and production costs.
1 The process of designing a car generally takes three years.
2 Styling only comes into the process when other important decisions have been made.
3
It is necessary to know quite early on in the process which production plant will be used.
4 The number of cars which will be built has no effect on the cost of the final product.
5 The car goes to a product clinic before it goes to a concept clinic.
6 The first model is made of wood.
1 successor
2 derivative
3 concept car
4 predecessor
S design freeze
6 prototype
7 pre-series car
a
the last model
b
limited number of handmade cars with the necessary equipment and
technology inside
c
the next model
d a limited number of cars built on an assembly line to test tooling and parts
e a variation of the basic model
f
the stage where no more design changes are possible
g a car built to show people what the future car will
look like (it may have
no technology inside)
6 Describe the process for designing cars in your own words. Look back at Unit 2 for help with
describing processes.
1
It won't be necessary to develop new technology for this model. We can
_
what we already have.
2 We need
from the Board of Directors if we want to continue with this
project.
3 Only models are produced in the
clinic, not 'real' cars.
4 The location of the
plant has an impact on the pricing of the car.
S It is necessary to
the final design before the prototype is made.
6 Marketing factors, eg target groups and market share, are finalized after a
_
clinic.
8 Some designers are discussing the constraints
they work under. Read their comments and match
them to the constraints.
technical requirements • ergonomics •
laws • fuel consumption
•
customer demands • brand identity
• recycling • production requirements
I can't design any grill I want
- it has to look the same on
all our cars so people will
recognize the brand.
I can't use any material I want,
no matter how attractive. I have
to know if we can use it again.
I have to make sure that attractive
seats are also comfortable and
customers have enough legroom.
6 The car has to be as
streamlined as possible so that
it doesn't need so much fuel.
I have to take safety regulations
into account, so I can't put a big
metal part on the bonnet which
may injure pedestrians.
If the customers want cup
holders inside the car, I have
to put them in.
4
I have to take the size of the
engine and other technical parts
into account.
8
Sometimes I think of a really
great shape for the bonnet and
the production guys tell me the
metal can't be formed like that.
9 Work in a small group to have the following meeting.
You work for a major car manufacturer. You are meeting two colleagues to discuss closing the gap in
the range of cars you offer. At the moment your product range consists of a compact, a limousine, a
large limousine, and a convertible.
The three possibilities for the new model are:
• a small 'green' car (a compact car with no extras and extremely low fuel consumption)
• a roadster (a fun, 'good weather' car for everybody, young and old)
• an SUV (a versatile on-roadjoff-road vehicle with lots of room)
Think about the advantages and disadvantages of each model and look at your file for some more
ideas. Then hold a meeting to discuss which model should be added to the product range. (Look
back at Unit 6 for phrases used to talk about advantages and disadvantages.)
Partner A
File 4, p. 62
Partner B File 18, p. 65
Partner C File 10, p. 63
Brand DNA
Every car has a brand DNAwhich makes it
distinctive and instantly recognizable. When
you see a BMW or Rover, for example, you
know exactly what it is. The importance of
national culture in brand DNAis critical, even
though global takeovers, mergers, and
partnerships are constantly reshaping the car
industry. Volvo, based in Sweden, is now
owned by an American company, and Britain's
Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley are no
longer British-owned. Chrysler, that most
American of manufacturers, is now part of a
German company. Spain's Seat and the Czech
car maker Skoda are owned by Germany's
Volkswagen. And General Motors has
controlled Sweden's Saab for a number of
years.
Brand DNAconsists of corporate identity
and an unmistakable design which is
influenced by culture. 'British ness' or
'Frenchness' is important. But how can
'Americanness' or 'Italian ness' be defined by
a few hundred pounds of sheet metal bent
over a frame and set down on four wheels?
To Fiat, Italian means 'sporty'. "People buy
Italian cars because they look Italian," said
Richard Gadeselli, head of corporate affairs
for Fiat Auto S.p.A. "Even the humble
Seicento (Fiat's smallest car) has a sporty
feel. In everything we design, we try and
strive for that. If we took the badges off,
people would say, 'I don't know what that is,
but it feels Italian'."
Similarly, Japanese design is unmistakably
Japanese because of its Zen-like purity and
simplicity. Akira Fujimoto, chief editor of
Japan's Car Styling magazine, says that the
level of detail is the key to Japanese design.
"With an American car, you can see the
differences at 300 metres. With a Japanese
car, you see the differences at three metres.
Japan is a small country so there's no need to
see the differences from far away."
Peter Horbury, chief designer for Volvo Cars,
although British himself, says he believes the
Swedish essence of Volvo is something the
company should keep even if it is owned by
Ford Motor Co. But what is Swedishness?
"Sweden is known as a caring society," he
said. "Swedish cars are safe, practical, and
functional and have a timeless quality."
Do you agree that cars from different countries have different styles? If so, what is your favourite
national style?
Which country does your car come from? Does it reflect the style of that country?
How would you describe German, Japanese, French, or Italian style?
1 The car will be able to make more
intelligent
driving decisions
than a human
can.o This is true and the result will be fewer
accidents,
[I] Surely there are times when people are
more intelligent
than machines.
o Driving will be no fun if I can't think for
myself.
2 There will be no more switch'es, only voice
control.
o Great! You don't need to look at the
dashboard anymore.
[I] Some voice control
is OK, but I still want
some switches.
o I prefer switches.
3 The car will be made of self-cleaning
materials.
o No more wasting time at the car wash!
This is also good for recycling,
[I] Aren't we going to become very lazy?
[£] But I want to clean my car! I really enjoy it.
4 Joysticks will
replace steering wheels.
o This is something new and sounds like
fun,
I}] This could be OK, but it will take me a
long time to get used to it.
o You only need one hand for a joystick,
I like having both hands on the steering
wheel.
5 Sensors
in the car will prevent accidents.
o This means I can really depend on my car.
I}] I would
like to turn the sensors on and off
when I want.
[£] What happens if the sensors don't work?
6 Most of the tasks you do in your office
you'll
be able to do in your car.
o This means I won't waste any time on
business trips,
~
I'm not sure if I want to think about work
all the time,
o My car is for fun and relaxing, not for
work!
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1 Read the text about the car of the future. Which of the technical
features described are already
present
in cars today and which still have to be developed? Make a list.
The car of the future
It is a cold winter morning but your car is
waiting for you, warm and comfortable, at
exactly the temperature you like. You open
the door by pressing your
finger against the lock and your car
greets you with a friendly
'Hi, how are you?' You
sit down and the
computer reminds you
of
your
schedule.
You start
the car. You
now
have
a
joystick,
steering-by-wire,
braking-by-wire.
The old
mechanical parts of the past are gone.
As you back out of your driveway, warning
sensors warn you about
objects
and
pedestrians
in your way. Using voice
commands you programme your
route,
check your emails and dictate answers, ask
for local and international
news, look up
phone numbers, and play music.
The car also looks after your health. Sensors
in your seat and armrest tell you your weight
and blood pressure, while sensors in the
dashboard notice
if you are drowsy and
vibrate the joystick to wake you.
Many of the old worries associated with
driving are gone. Traffic jams don't happen
any more because your car automatically
avoids crowded roads. Collision avoidance
sensors prevent accidents. Speeding tickets
are also a thing of the past - sensors pick up
signals from traffic signs and automatically
adjust your speed or stop your car. And
breaking down is no longer a problem. Your
car diagnoses any potential
faults or worn
parts and warns you and the service station.
When you arrive at the service station,
the
spare parts are already waiting for you.
Your car can even park itself. Just stop at any
parking space (your car knows, of course, if
parking is permitted here) and operate the
automatic parking system. The car scans the
size and shape of the available space and
then reverses in.
1 You'll still need a key to open the car door.
2 You'll no longer have a steering wheel.
3 Sensors in the dashboard will measure your blood pressure.
4 You won't be able to fall asleep while driving.
5 You won't need to read traffic signs anymore.
6 You'll still need good parking skills.
1 Spoken
instructions
to the car
2 Possible problems
3 A recognition
system which stops your car
from hitting another car
4 Slightly sleepy
5 Congested
roads
6 A list of your appointments
for the day
7 Fines for driving
too fast
8 People on foot
~I
@
·IW
To",
I
Wee",
I------------,-~~......,,-.~.~--~~~
. .. ._"'
...
_-~,---=
Subject:
I
I read the attached article as part of my preparation for the forthcoming
strategy meeting. The problem is I know very little about new technology.
I'd like to know what you think of it as you are more involved in this area.
Can you read it and let me know your opinion? Do you think the predictions
are accurate? How far away from this new technology are we?
Environmental
awareness will become increasingly
important
in the future.
How environmentally-conscious
are you?
Which people
in the class do you think would answer
'yes' to the following
statements? Ask them and see if you were right.
1 A car's fuel consumption
is a key priority when I buy a car.
2
I consider
the car's recyclability
when I decide which new car to buy.
3
I would be prepared
to take part
in park & ride or car~sharing schemes.
4
I always find out if my car has been manufactured
in a plant with
an eco~audit.
Jj~
Speed
cameras
5 Fuel should be highly
taxed.
6
Introducing
a speed limit on roads is a good idea.
[[;DIt--;:J
Redbridge
Park and Ride
5 You work in the economic and environmental
issues department of a major car maker. You have
heard that the government plans to introduce a speed limit on motorways
in the future to come in
line with the rest of Europe. You are meeting to discuss whether or not to support this measure.
Group A You are for
introducing a speed limit. Brainstorm arguments in favour of the speed limit,
then check the Partner File for more ideas.
Group B You are against
introducing a speed limit. Brainstorm arguments against the speed limit,
then check the Partner File for more ideas.
Group A
file 8, p. 63
Group 8
file 20, p. 65
Listen to four people speaking about the future of cars. Match the speaker and the topic of their
presentation.
a
the intelligent car of the future
c new market possibilities
in China
b
telematics
d swivelling headlights
1 The level of car
is expected to rise to 50 million by the end of this decade.
2 The solid line represents sales with the headlights as
_
3 You may feel afraid of the new technology and the fact that the car will make decisions that
________
now make.
4 We are offering voice-activated
, constant traffic monitoring and, of
course, 50S assistance.
1 at the beginning of the presentation?
2 somewhere in the middle?
3
referring to a graph?
4 at the end of the presentation?
absolutely
• best • car • dotted •
highly •
joint
• main • significant
venture • development
• competitor
• option
•
line • probable • ownership
• certain
1 We have a number of choices but our
is to lower fuel consumption.
2 On the next slide, the
indicates the money saved by using recycled materials.
3 At the beginning of the year we formed a
with a company in Africa.
We're
that this was the right decision.
4 The most
last year was in the lowering of emissions.
__________
is clearly rising in the Far East as more and more people can afford
vehicles and fuel.
6
I'm not 100% sure but it is
that our
is coming
out with an environmentally
friendly model within the next five years.
8 The phrases below are used to talk about the future. First put them in the table.
vvitl,out doubt
•
is expected to •
I'm absolutely certain • there's a good
chance •
it is quite likely • you may feel • there's no doubt that
• we are
convinced •
it's highly probable
Now use the phrases to discuss the following statements
in small groups. Do you think these
things will happen in the next five/ten/twenty
years?
India will be a major market.
Cars will use only one litre of petrol per 100 km.
Sports cars will have a top speed of more than 300 km/h.
Cars will be like offices with on-board computers and email facilities.
Cars will have an auto pilot.
Carswill be almost 100% recyclable.
Environmentally friendly cars will be more important.
9 Work with a partner. Prepare a short presentation on one of these topics.
(Look back at Unit 6 for help with presentation
language.)
• The future of my company/our product lines
• Future developments in the global car market
• Fuels of the future
• The car of the future
Fuel cells
The use offuel cells promises a reduction in
environmental pollution
from car exhaust
emissions, and the end of our dependence
on oil for fuel.
A fuel cell produces an electric current and
heat by converting hydrogen and oxygen
into water. The output of a single cell
is
0.6-0.8 V, but when many cells are
combined into a stack, enough energy is
produced to power a 50 kW engine.
The fuel cell has the highest efficiency
in power generation, reaching over 60%,
compared
to a gasoline-powered
car
which has 20%.
The oxygen required comes from the
air, but hydrogen
is not so readily
available. Pure hydrogen could be stored
on-board the car, but this would use too
much space. Alternatively, car makers could
use
reformer
technology
to
convert
gasoline or methanol
into hydrogen, but
this would reduce the efficiency of the cell.
For drivers
there are many practical
considerations. Fuel cell-powered cars are
neither as fast nor as quiet as gasoline- or
diesel-powered cars. At present there are
very few hydrogen fuelling stations,
so
refuelling could be a problem. Fuel cell cars
have a shorter range, so drivers will have to
refuel more often. If a tank of hydrogen is
stored on board,
there are problems of
space and safety.
Fuel cell cars are very expensive
to
develop and produce, which means they
will also be expensive for the customer.
Many drivers will not pay extra for 'green'
car technology, especially
if
it
is not as
convenient as the current system. Never-
theless, the race is on to produce the first
fuel
cell-powered
family
car with CO2
emissions
of 90 g/km
(equivalent
to
gasoline consumption of 3.0 1/100 km).
How does fuel cell technology work?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of fuel cell-powered cars?
How important do you think fuel cell cars are or will become?
Would you buy a fuel cell car?Why or why not?
Test yourself!
See how much 'automobile'
vocabulary you've learned.
Use the clues to complete the crossword puzzle.
Across
1 How much a car weighs when there are no passengers in it and with half a tank of fuel.
(British English - 2 words - 4, 6)
6 You put your foot on this pedal when you change gears.
10 The marketing department wants these people to buy the car. (2 words - 6, 5)
11
SCEVOSRRO: A car which combines the features of an SUV,a MPV,and a saloon.
14 The next model.
20 How much petrol or diesel the car uses: fuel
....
21 Another word for passenger.
22 A mixture of metals.
24 To drive backwards.
26 The instruments and other buttons are located here.
28 Gases, etc. that are sent out into the air (especially through the exhaust pipe).
30 This is found on the instrument panel and shows how hot the engine is: ... gauge.
31 A type of fuel; the BEword for gas(oJine).
Down
2 How much your car is worth when you want to sell it. (2 words - 6, 5)
3 You fill this with petrol.
4 You operate this when you park the car.
5 This pedal makes the car go faster.
7 This means the car has a lot of room for passengers.
8 This regulates your speed so you don't have to put your foot on the accelerator.
(2 words - 6, 7)
9
BCLIATNUR: This protects moving parts in the engine and stops friction.
12 A long line of vehicles on a road that cannot move or only very slowly. (2 words -7,3)
13 Cars are built on this. (2 words - 8, 4)
15 The fastest your car can go. (2 words - 3, 5)
16 This means the material lasts for a long time.
17 A car which doesn't use much fuel is this.
18 A car with a lot of space behind the back seats; the BEword for station wagon: ... car.
19 The rotational force generated by the engine.
23 The car's capacity to go fast or accelerate quickly.
25 This is inflated to protect you in an accident.
26 You measure the engine oil with this.
27 You open this to look at the engine.
29 This ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. (2 words - 5, 4)
_~_p_a_r_tn_e_r_F_i_le_s
_
Partner A
Phone call 1: You are Alex. Call the bulb supplier
(a Spanish company called AutoLux) to complain
about the problem with the bulbs. Ask what they
are going to do to prevent the problem happening
again.
Phone call 2: You are Alex. Call Chris to explain
what the problem with the headlights was, and say
what you are going to do to solve the problem.
You don't want to remove the cigarette lighter and
ashtray.
• The lighter and ashtray are standard equipment
for every car maker.
• A lot of people in your country smoke - and don't
forget the marketing slogan: 'Don't teach the
customer!'
•
It will be expensive for the supplier to produce
one part with an ashtray, for example, and one
part without. So costs will go up.
You are visiting a trade fair in England. You are
interested in a major car company's new 808 model.
Ask questions about:
• price
• the engine
• fuel consumption
• optional extras
Partner A
••. = Advantage
T = Disadvantage
Small 'green' car
••. Less fuel consumption means less pollution .
••. Not every car maker has this sort of car. It will
show our expertise.
T There can be no extras such as air conditioning
because of weight-saving.
Roadster
••.
It will appeal to men and women and attract
young people to the brand.
T It is a 'good weather' car which people will only
want in summer.
SUV
••.
It gives drivers a feeling of safety because it is a
big, 'muscular' car.
T It is too big for most garages and parking
spaces.
T SUVs are bad for the environment.
• Your task is to find out which material is the most
cost-effective for the company.
• You need to produce 100 pieces per day.
• Good design is a USP (unique selling point) of
your company.
Partner A - Assistant to the CEO
You are the chairperson.
•
It is your job to start the meeting and say what it
is about.
• Remember to summarize any points agreed on
and to keep order.
• You are also responsible for concluding the
meeting.
1 engine oil dipstick
2 battery
3 brake fluid reservoir
4 engine oil filler cap
5 radiator expansion tank
6 power steering reservoir
7 windscreen/headlight washer container
Group A
• There would be fewer accidents and less
aggressive driving if there were a speed limit.
• There would be lower fuel consumption and less
pollution.
• Cars are actually cheaper to produce if they're not
equipped for high speeds. Those savings could
be passed on to the customer.
Partner C - Director of Marketing
• You feel it doesn't matter if it's the car's or the
driver's fault.
• Accidents have happened and the company has
to react before there is too much negative
publicity.
•
It's best to recall the cars as quickly as possible
and fit them with ESPat the company's expense.
• You cannot tell customers that they can't drive
properly even if it is the truth.
Partner C
= Advantage
T = Disadvantage
Small 'green' car
.•. Advertising this environmentally
friendly car
would make the company look good.
T A low-weight car is expensive to produce and
expensive to buy. Customers will not pay the
higher price.
Roadster
.•. People want sporty cars with powerful engines.
T It is very expensive for young people.
SUV
.•.
It is a good car for the American market (export).
T Most car makers have a roadster in the product
range so it is nothing special.
T An SUV is bulky and heavy, and has very high
fuel consumption.
Partner A
Height - 1428 mm
Body width - 1766 mm
Rear overhang - 976 mm
Boot height - 694 mm
Ask about: body width including mirrors, length,
wheel base, and front overhang.
Partner B
Phone call 1: You work for AutoLux. Deal with Alex's
complaint as politely and professionally as you can.
Phone call 2: You are Chris. Make a note of what
Alex tells you. Make sure (s)he gives you exact
information about what (s)he is going to do to solve
the problem, and when (s)he will solve
it.
You want to remove
the cigarette lighter and
ashtray.
• Many customers don't smoke and don't want
people to smoke in their cars.
• The resale value of a non-smoker car is higher
than for a smoker.
• The space can be used for other features, for
example a money box (instead of the ashtray)
and a pen or drink holder (instead of the cigarette
lighter).
a battery
b brake fluid reservoir
c engine oil dipstick
d engine oil filler cap
e radiator expansion tank
f
power steering reservoir
g windscreen/headlight washer container
You work in the sales department of a British car
company and are working at your company's stand
at a trade fair. Answer the visitor's questions as best
you can. Here is some information about the new
808 model.
• 6-cylinder in-line engine
• 15.7 mpg urban fuel consumption
• optional extras: parking heating, active seats,
3D navigation, sport suspension
• £36,120 for the saloon, £38.430 for the estate
Partner B - Technical Department
• The steel tailgate can be painted with the body,
but the plastic cannot. This involves more work
and problems with matching colours afterwards.
• The plastic tailgate needs to be recycled
separately.
• Plastic parts cannot be produced in great
quantities because the production cycle time is
longer. If you want to produce more than 100
parts per day, you need another set of tools.
• Steel is cheaper than plastic.
Partner B - Director of Technical Development
• You believe it is entirely the driver's fault.
•
In-company tests have found no technical faults
with the car.
• This is a relatively cheap sports car, and
customers who don't have enough money for a
Porsche buy this one. These customers are simply
driving too fast.
• The company should hold a press conference to
explain the above point.
• The company can offer driver training at a special
price but doesn't need to take any further action.
Partner B
A = Advantage
T = Disadvantage
Small 'green' car
A The company needs a car for the 'green' target
group. These people are not interested in high-
performance cars, but want a car that fits their
lifestyle.
T Not enough people are really interested in the
environment.
Roadster
A There is a lot of potential
for exciting
advertising.
T This is an expensive car with a very limited
target group.
T It is noisy when you drive fast.
SUV
A It is spacious and good for transporting things.
T Drivers seldom need the off-road functions.
Partner B
Length - 4547 mm
Body width including mirrors - 1937 mm
Front overhang - 921 mm
Wheel base - 2650 mm
Ask about: boot height, height, body width, and
rear overhang.
Group B
• Your company is well-known for its sporty cars.
A speed limit would limit personal freedom and
the right to drive as fast as you want.
•
If drivers can't drive really fast, why build
powerful engines and aerodynamic cars?
• There are already enough rules and regulations.
Partner C - Production Department
• Plastic parts are injection-moulded so we can get
exactly the design we want.
• Lower weight is better for fuel consumption.
• The tools for making plastic parts are cheaper.
• Plastic has the same dent-resistant properties as
steel.
Partner D - Director of Production
• You believe there is no technical problem .
• The company should wait and see what happens.
• In a couple of weeks the newspapers will forget
about the story.
• If the company recalls the cars and fits them with
ESP,it's a sign that the company has made a
mistake and more cases will be reported.
_L-_A_n_s_w_e_r_k_e_Y
_
page 5
1 status symbol: Gertrude
lifestyle product: Giles
functional
product: Michael
danger to the environment:
Pauline
1 colour,
interior
2 brand, boot
3 engine, equipment
4
transport,
exhaust
page 6
21d
2a
4 a coupe
f
hatchback
b estate (car)
g SUV
c
limousine
h sports car
d convertible
saloon
e pick up
Note: An MPV is also called a people carrier
in the UK
and a minivan
in the USA.
Suggested answers
1 estate car, hatchback,
limousine, SUV
2 pick up, SUV
3 hatchback, convertible,
coupe, pick up, sports
car
4 convertible
5 hatchback
6 hatchback
7 sports car, convertible
8 estate car, MPV, pick up
Driver airbag
Yes
Passenger airbag
Yes
Lateral airbags
No
ABS
Yes
No. of cylinders
4
mpg
40
Top speed
140
CD-autochanger
Yes
Satellite navigation
Yes
Sports steering wheel
No
Leather seats
No
6 1 b
7e
page 9
1 resale value
2 standard equipment
3 diesel engine
4 crash tests
5 brand image
6
fuel consumption
7 passenger airbags
8
leather seats
7 Suggested answers
1 coupe or a roadster
2 estate or MPV
3
limOUSine or sports car
4 estate or MPV
5 hatchback
6 sports car or convertible
page 10
101
resale value
2 engine
3 performance
4 pollution
5
fuel consumption
6
top speed
7 price
8 brand
9 safety
The expensive
type of car is LIMOUSINE.
page 12
Starter
1 BMW
2 Vauxhall
3 VW
4 Mercedes
5 Porsche
6 Mini
1 1 sunroof
9
indicator
2
roof
10 wing
3 windscreen
11 wheel arch
4 windscreen wiper
12 sill
5 bonnet
13
tyre
6
logo
14 wheel trim
7 headlight
15 petrol
flap
8
front bumper
page 13
16 wing mirror
17 side window
18 aerial
19
rear window
20 badge
21 number plate
22 boot
23
rear bumper
24 exhaust pipe
25
rear light
26 door
27 door handle
2
1 bonnet
2 bumpers
3 aerial
4 boot
5 windscreen wipers/headlights
6 badge/logo
7
tyres
8
logo
9 sunroof
10
indicator
3 1 headlights
6 petrol cap
2 brake lights
7 windscreen wipers
3 exhaust pipe
8 wing mirror
4 wheel trim
9 door handle
5
front bumper
10 number plate
page 14
4 1 E - number plate
2 B - brake lights
3 D - petrol cap
4 A - wing mirror
5 C - exhaust pipe
page 15
5 a delivery date
b
(weekly and daily) Production schedules
c
(the company's own) pre-assembly stations
d Data carrier
e
floor pan
f
wheel arches
g
roof
h Add-on parts
paint shop
j
final assembly
k Quality control
I
Finished car
6 1
is produced
2 are sold
3 can be placed
4 are assembled
5 can be bought
6 are designed
7 should be replaced
page 16
8 The correct order is: e, b, h, i, f, i, d, g, a, c
page 17
111e
2b
7 g
8 i
There is an unacceptable
failure rate of around 5 per
cent with the consignment
of headlights.
Possible causes for the problem could include a
problem with the manufacturing
process, or faulty
components
from the manufacturer's
suppliers.
121 How's it going?
2
I'm calling about
....
3
... can you give it to me again ... ?
4 Let me just read that back to you.
5 After that you can reach me ....
6
I'll call you as soon as I know something.
7 Speak to you later.
page 18
141C
2d
3a
4e
Sf
6b
7h
8g
1 1 sun visor
2 airbag
3 steering wheel
4 horn
5 dashboard
6
ignition
7
rear-view mirror
8 hands-free
telephone
9 cigarette
lighter
10 glove compartment
11 air vent
12 door handle
13 door tray
14 car seat (headrest)
15 seat belt
16 cup holder
17 hand brake
18 gearstick
19 ashtray
20 accelerator
21 brake pedal
22
clutch pedal
page 21
2 1 cup holder
2 clutch pedal
3 sun visor
4 steering wheel
5 hands-free
telephone
6 glove compartment
7 cigarette
lighter
8 air vent
3 1 engine oil temperature
gauge
2
rev counter
3 warning/indicator
lights
4 coolant
temperature
gauge
5
fuel gauge
6 speedometer
7 voltmeter
8 driver
information
system
4 1 speedometer
2 engine oil temperature
gauge
3
indicator
lights
4
rev counter
5
fuel gauge
6 voltmeter
page 22
6 Suggested answer
1 Adjust seat (if necessary)
2 Check position of steering wheel and adjust
if
necessary
3
Check positions of rear-view and side mirrors
and adjust
if necessary
4
Switch on the headlights
if dark
5
Fasten seat belt
7 1
seat belt
2
pedals
3
rear-view
4 headlights
5
ignition
p'age 23
8 Open/Close
bonnet
boot
door
petrol cap
glove compartment
sunroof
Adjust
rear-view mirror
headrest
seat height
seat position
seat belt
side mirror
steering wheel
tyre press ure
Check
oil
level
fuel
tyre pressure
rear-view mirror
seat position
side mirror
Switch on/off
fog lights
headlights
indicator
windscreen wipers
9 1 Switch on the fog lights.
2 Adjust
the seat height.
3 Check the oil
level.
4 Open the door.
5 Adjust
the rear-view mirror.
6 Switch on the headlights.
7 Open the bonnet.
8 Adjust
the steering wheel.
9 Check the tyre pressure.
10 Open the glove compartment.
11 Open the sunroof.
12 Adjust
the seat position.
page 24
10 1 writing
5 sending
2 Unfortunately
6 attachment
3 possible
7
forward
4 appreciate
page 25
111C
2f
A SafetyjTechnology
B Seats
C Audio/Communication
D WheelsjTyres
E Interior equipment
F Exterior equipment
lJage 26
12 Across
1 ashtray
3 dashboard
5 brake
8 sun visor
9 gearstick
Down
2 headrest
4 hand brake
6 glove
7 mirror
page 27
Starter
1
front-wheel
drive
2 brake horsepower
3 grams per kilo metre
4 Gasoline Direct Injection
5 miles per gallon
6 miles per hour
7 Newton metre
8
revolutions
per minute
9
rear-wheel drive
10 spark ignition
11
turbo direct
injection
1 1 piston
4 clutch
2 crankshaft
5 gearbox
3 engine
6 propeller
shaft
page 28
2 1 combustion
6
torque
2
fuel
7 cylinders
3 spark plug
8 clutch
4 piston
9 distribution
5 crankshaft
page 29
3 a power
f
explosion
b powerful
g
rotate
c combustion
h
rotational
d
ignite
transmit
e explode
1
rotational
2
transmitted
3
ignites; explosion
4 powerful
5 combustion
4 1 V-engine
2 horizontally
opposed engine
3
in-line engine
page 30
61f
2g
3b
4a
5e
6c
7d
page 31
7 The order in which the key features are mentioned
is:
1 b design
2 g increased power of the engine
3 d six-speed automatic gearbox as standard
4 c top speed
5
f acceleration
from 0-60
in 6 seconds
6 a low fuel consumption
7 e optional extras included
in the price
The numbers refer to:
1 engine size in Iitres
2 engine power in brake horse power
3
top speed in miles per hour
4
the new engines available
later in the year
5
fuel consumption
around town in miles per
gallon
6
fuel consumption
for everyday driving
7 price in pounds
8 wheel size in inches
1 Because it is beautiful.
/ Because of the design.
2 Because it is light.
/ Because it is made of
aluminium.
3 Brochure and card. To encourage the visitor
to
find out more about the car and maybe to buy it.
page 32
8 1d
2f
3b
4a
5 c
6e
10 Across
Down
1 fluid
2 diesel
3
fuel
4 piston
5 coolant
5 cylinder
7 crankshaft
6 washer
10 oil
8 acid
11 battery
9 spark plug
page 34
Starter
1 Lamborghini
2 Mini
3 BMW 7-series
1 not mentioned
b top speed
d body strength
j chassis length
page
1 True
2 False: The running costs are lower.
3 False: The urban consumption
is low.
4 True
2 1 urban consumption
6 boot capacity
2 Cd value
7
front suspension
3
running costs
8 disc brakes
4
resale value
9 kerb weight
5 braking distance
1d
2a
3 b
4f
5 h
6c
7g
8e
9i
page 36
3 a car 1
e car 1
b car 1
f
car 3
c car 2
g car 1
d car 2
page 37
4 1
faster
6 more spacious
2 most expensive
7 heavier
3 safer
8
fastest
4 noisier
9 more powerful
5 safest
10 most comfortable
page 38
Length
4993mm
Width
1857mm
Height
1398mm
Wheel base
2885mm
Boot height
690mm
page 39
7 1st steel
2nd
iron
3rd plastics
4th = aluminium
4th = rubber
6th fluids and lubricants
ih zinc, lead and copper
8th other
9th glass
•
steel
(55%)
•
iron
(13%)
plastics
(10%)
•
aluminium
(5%)
•
rubber
(5%)
fluids and lubricants
(4%)
•
zinc, lead, and copper
(3%)
•
other (fabrics, ceramics)
(3%)
•
glass
(2%)
page 40
8 Suggested answers
aluminium:
car body, car parts, wheel trim, engine
parts
foam: seats, padded interior parts
glass: windscreen, windows, mirrors
leather: seat covers, steering wheel
magnesium: engine parts, gearbox parts, steering
column components
plastic: body parts,
interior parts, dashboard,
gear
stick
rubber:
tyres, body stripping,
pedal covering
sheet metal: body parts
steel: body parts, wheel trim, axle parts,
suspension,
engine parts
textile: seat covers,
interior covers
wood: dashboard
9 1 natural
6 durable
2
light
7
rigid
3
flammable
8 malleable
4 elastic
9 heat-resistant
5 shatterproof
10 corrosion-resistant
page 42
1 The correct order is: D, B, C, A
page 43
Suggested answers
1 No, sorry. I said it only tests passive safety.
2
It provides
information
for consumers.
3
It's 64 kilo metres per hour.
4 No, I said that new cars are given a star rating.
5 Yes, that's right.
6 No, there's also a test which assesses the injury risk
for pedestrians.
page 44
2 active safety
ABS
adaptive cruise control
automatic emergency braking
ESP
lane departure warning system
xenon headlights
passive safety
airbags
crumple zone
highly rigid roof
retractable steering wheel
seat belt
shatterproof
windscreen
page 46
5 1
fault
5
injuries
2
fail
6 dealer
3
fitted
7 charge
4 handbrake
8
recall
page 48
1 1 Mini (D)
1 syllable
••
••
• ••
• ••
..•..
.•...
sleek
charming
unique muscular
distinctive
unconventional
contemporary
bold
stylish
striking
sporty
spacious
Model answers
Beetle: The distinctive
shape of this VW sedan gave
the car its name. The original car, produced
in 1939,
had an air-cooled engine and was very inexpensive.
The new model
is just as charming as the old and has
many of the same unconventional
features.
Boxster: A sleek, elegant car with a contemporary
design but one can feel and see the tradition
in this
famous sports car. The car has the pure spirit of a
roadster and promises a fantastic driving experience.
page 50
4 The correct order is: C, B, F,A, D, E
1
In the concept phase
2 First of all
3 We'll start by
4 After the concept
5 After that
phase
6 Secondly
1 True
2 False: Styling
is discussed during the first
meeting.
3 True
4 False: Volume does affect the cost.
5 False: The concept clinic is first.
6 False: It's made of clay.
page 51
5 1 C
2e
H
4a
5 f
6b
7d
7 a adapt
e design
b approve
f
development
c assembly
g prod uct/prod uction
d concept
h specify
1 adapt
4 assembly/production
2 approval
5 specify
3 concept
6 product