Scott Hinderer

Adaptive suspension adjusts the ride characteristics of a vehicle on the fly through the dampers. Adaptive dampers placed at every corner of the car use sensors to monitor road conditions and adjust the response of the suspension system from rigid to plush based on the driver’s demands. Adaptive suspension settings can be predetermined with selectable drive modes, with names like comfort, normal, off-road, sport, or race, depending on the type of vehicle.

Auto-leveling headlights are an anti-glare safety measure for a vehicle carrying a heavy load that tips the headlamps’ projection angle. Auto-leveling, or self-leveling, headlights adjust the cut-off line, which is the beams’ farthest boundary, to maintain proper visibility for the driver but avoid blinding other road users.

A block heater is an electrical device that warms a vehicle’s engine body and fluids to ensure the engine can start in winter conditions and freezing temps. Preconditioning the engine also puts less stress on the engine for driving through the cold. In such climates, engine block heaters are a popular option among truck buyers.

A limited-slip differential is a set of staggered gears that can divert more torque through the drive axle to the wheel that has more traction, thus limiting the amount of slippage a vehicle experiences driving on slick surfaces.