A motor car, also called an automobile, is a vehicle propelled by an internal-combustion engine using fuel as its primary energy source. Typical designs are four-wheeled and designed to transport two to six passengers.
The invention of the internal combustion engine, developed by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in the late 1600s, is often credited with being the origin of modern automobiles. But before the advent of this new technology, vehicles had been powered by steam engines.
During the 1870s, German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz patented improvements that made the use of an internal combustion engine practical for powering a vehicle. These innovations allowed cars to be built and operated more efficiently, enabling them to travel longer distances with lower fuel costs than earlier designs.
While Daimler and Benz achieved a great deal, their work did not create a truly modern automobile. This is not to say that these pioneers were wrong or unimportant.
In fact, they both helped shape a culture that produced many of the technological innovations and economic developments of the 20th century. Their inventions led to a period of mass production that resulted in the rise of American manufacturers, such as Henry Ford and General Motors.
By the turn of the twentieth century, the United States had become the world’s leading automotive market. Its large and rapidly growing cities were home to many automobile factories, producing a variety of products for the American consumer, from automobiles and auto parts to vulcanized rubber.
America’s industrial growth and urbanization fueled a strong demand for vehicles, especially those that were affordable and durable. Manufacturers responded to this growing need for automobiles by adopting assembly-line techniques and establishing overseas subsidiaries.
As production of cars grew, competition intensified between producers. Foreign and common-market producers increasingly encroached on American firms, cutting labor costs by heightening factory regimentation and automating assembly lines.
A booming automobile industry spawned thousands of spin-off industries, including vulcanized rubber and road construction, creating jobs in many cities around the country. It also contributed to the development of a nationwide motor-car culture, making the automobile an essential part of everyday life in the United States.
Automobiles are a complex system that consists of thousands of component parts. These parts perform specific design functions, including:
They are constructed with tires and a suspension system that helps the vehicle absorb shocks and bumps in the road. This allows the vehicle to be more stable and reduces friction with the surface of the road, thus reducing wear and tear on the tires.
SAVES YOU TIME: Having an automobile saves you time on your daily commute or shopping trips, as well as visits with friends and family. It frees up your time to enjoy the things that you love, as well as saving you the expense and inconvenience of public transportation.
ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR AUTOMOBILE: To be able to drive your car, you need accessories such as:
The most important accessory in an automobile is the driver’s seat. The driver’s seat is a comfortable place to sit, which allows the driver to feel more in control of his or her vehicle.
