
                       Canadian Vehicle Specifications
                       -------------------------------


Introduction

The Canadian Vehicle Specifications System (WINSPECS) is a program which displays various dimensions of vehicles built and sold in Canada since 1971.
                                      

If you experience problems installing or running the program, contact:

      Jean-Louis Comeau, P.Eng.
      Chief, Collision Investigation and Research
      Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulations
      Transport Canada
      80 Noel Street
      Gatineau, Quebec, J8Z 0A1

      Telephone: (819) 994-3328  or  Toll Free: 1-800-333-0510
      Facsimile: (819) 994-3372

      E-Mail: jl.comeau@tc.gc.ca



Program Setup:

To install the program,  unzip the files to any folder,  then run the program winspecs.exe



Release Notes:

Current release notes can be accessed within the program from the "History" button located at the top-right of the screen.

Some dimensioning conventions have been utilized for the WINSPECS database in order to resolve possible confusion with respect to the inclusion of a rear bumper on some light trucks.

Manufacturers offer optional rear bumpers on some pick-up trucks, vans, and utility vehicles; however, there is no standard protocol for their published overall lengths. Consequently, the following convention has been adopted:

For full size trucks and vans, rear bumpers are not included with the measured dimensions for 1994 and later vehicles.  

For small trucks, vans, and light utility vehicles, rear bumpers are included in the measured dimensions.  Generally, bumpers on these vehicles are integrated into the body design, or are supplied as a standard item by the manufacturer.

Note also that, as in the past, bumperettes are excluded from all measurements.

The front-rear weight distribution (WDIST), is stated in percentages.




Distribution:

You can download the current version of WinSpecs from the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (CARSP) website.   See the Traffic Safety Sources page from CARSP's home page at: http://www.carsp.ca




Warnings and Disclaimer:

Transport Canada issues the following warnings and conditions on the use of the Canadian Vehicle Specifications System:

The data in the databases is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. It is possible that you may find errors in dimensions or weights.  We ask that you inform us of any such errors so that we can make the necessary corrections.

The version of the system supplied contains programs that only query the database.  We ask that you do not attempt to make any changes to the data.

Transport Canada provides this data and system free of charge and by so doing absolves itself of any requirement to guarantee the data under scrutiny from any source.




User's Guide:

The WinSpecs system displays and prints the specifications for a single vehicle model,  all models for a specific make,  or all vehicles sampled in a given year.

Select a vehicle year and vehicle make using the drop-down menus on the top line of the program window.  The system will display a list of available models with their associated dimensional data.

Vehicle specifications can be displayed in a number of ways using the buttons in the lower portion of the program window.  The output for the following reports is displayed in a web browser and can be printed from there.

The "View Year" button displays the data for all vehicles in the selected model year, structured by vehicle make.

The "View Make" button displays the data for all available models for the selected vehicle make and model year.

The "View Model" button displays the data for the selected model of vehicle.

The "Legend" button displays descriptions of the various dimensional parameters, often referred to in other displays as character elements (e.g., A, B... OL, OW... etc.)

The units may be toggled between metric and imperial using the radio buttons in the lower portion of the program window.

