Vehicle technical specs API: power, CO2, dimensions and more

A vehicle's technical specifications encompass all its measurable characteristics: engine, power, torque, dimensions, weight, fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and much more. The AutomotivAPI technical specs API provides access to this data for any vehicle in the European fleet, in a single request.

What technical data is available?

The vin.specs endpoint returns a comprehensive set of structured technical data across several categories:

Engine

• Fuel type (petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric, LPG, E85)
• Displacement in cc
• Number of cylinders and configuration (inline, V, boxer)
• Maximum power in hp and kW
• Maximum torque in Nm
• Maximum power and torque engine speed
• Emission standard (Euro 6d, Euro 6d-TEMP, etc.)

Transmission

• Gearbox type (manual, automatic, automated, CVT)
• Number of gears
• Drivetrain (front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive)

Dimensions and weight

• Length, width and height in mm
• Wheelbase
• Kerb weight and gross vehicle weight
• Boot capacity (in litres, seats up and folded)
• Fuel tank capacity

Performance and consumption

• Top speed
• 0-100 km/h acceleration
• Combined, urban and extra-urban fuel consumption (WLTP and/or NEDC)
• CO2 emissions in g/km
• Electric range (for hybrids and EVs)

WLTP and NEDC: two standards, two values

Vehicles type-approved before September 2018 were measured under the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) standard. More recent vehicles use the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure), which is more representative of real-world driving conditions.

The API returns values according to the applicable standard for the vehicle. For transitional models, both values may be present. This is an important point for taxation-related applications (ecological penalty, company car tax) as the tariff schedule is based on the standard in force. For more on this topic, see our article on CO2 data and WLTP/NEDC regulations.

Integration examples

Technical specs are used in many application contexts:

• Online product sheets — marketplaces and listing sites display technical specifications to enrich vehicle listings and improve SEO
• Tax calculations — fleet management applications automatically calculate the ecological penalty, company car tax and depreciation based on CO2 data and fiscal horsepower
• Comparison tools — vehicle comparison tools rely on technical data to generate side-by-side comparison tables
• Insurance — power, weight and performance data feed pricing and risk assessment models

The vin.specs endpoint costs 2 credits per request. This is a more affordable alternative to the full VIN decode (3 credits) when you only need technical data without equipment and options. See our pricing page for details.

To integrate the technical specs API into your application, follow our integration guide for Python, JavaScript and cURL.