all-wheel drive
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all-wheel drive
A technical system in a vehicle in which engine power is transmitted to all four wheels. This improves traction and stability, especially on difficult surfaces such as snow, mud, or off-road terrain.
Im Winter ist ein Auto mit Allradantrieb auf verschneiten Straßen von großem Vorteil.
In winter, a car with all-wheel drive is a major advantage on snowy roads.
The word is made up of three parts: 'All-' (all), '-rad-' (wheel/wheels), and '-antrieb' (drive). So it literally describes a drive system for all the wheels of a vehicle.
Viele SUVs sind serienmäßig mit Allradantrieb ausgestattet.
Many SUVs come equipped with all-wheel drive as standard.
The component '-antrieb' (drive) is very common in technical language. If you know it, you will also understand words like 'Vorderradantrieb' (front-wheel drive) or 'Heckantrieb' (rear-wheel drive), which describe which wheels are driven.
Bei Glatteis ist ein Heckantrieb manchmal schwer zu kontrollieren.
On black ice, rear-wheel drive is sometimes hard to control.
This word is most often used in the fixed combination 'ein Auto mit Allradantrieb' (a car with all-wheel drive) to describe a vehicle with this feature.
Für Fahrten in den Bergen empfiehlt sich ein Auto mit Allradantrieb.
For driving in the mountains, a car with all-wheel drive is recommended.
all-wheel drive
'der Allradantrieb' and 'der Allrad' mean the same system in the context of vehicles: the engine's power goes to all four wheels. This gives the vehicle more traction on snow, mud, or off-road terrain. 'Allradantrieb' is the precise, full term. 'Allrad' is the short, everyday form and is often used in conversations or ads. In technical texts, 'Allradantrieb' sounds more precise; in everyday language, 'Allrad' is often enough.
Bei schlechtem Wetter ist ein Allradantrieb auf Bergstraßen sehr hilfreich.
In bad weather, all-wheel drive is very helpful on mountain roads.
Für den Urlaub in den Bergen suchen sie ein Auto mit Allrad.
For their vacation in the mountains, they are looking for a car with all-wheel drive.