This is the size of the engine, generally expressed as something like 1.6 litres (or 1600cc).

It is the combined volume of the engine’s cylinders and is worked out mathematically as the bore x stroke x number of cylinders.

In the United States, capacity is often listed as cubic inches (one cubic inch equals 16.387cc).

In simple terms, the bigger the capacity, the more power and torque it produces.