Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)

What does rpm mean in a car?

RPM stands for revolutions per minute and is a measure of how fast the engine is spinning. The faster an engine spins, the more power it makes. At a higher RPM, the engine is burning more fuel, so it makes more power and consumes more fuel. 

In the instrument display, RPM is shown in a tachometer (also known as a rev counter) in multiples of thousands.