The automobile is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. It has seating for one to seven people and is generally built to run primarily on roads.
Automobiles are a form of transportation that has had a significant impact on the history, economy and social life of most of the world’s countries. They are derived from the internal combustion engine, invented by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in the 1600s.
Early engines used steam or battery-powered electric power, but by 1900 there was little doubt that the gasoline internal combustion engine would dominate the automobile market. Gasoline engines ran much faster and had a higher output than their electrical counterparts, but they also required fuel.
There are many different types of engines in an automobile, including two-cylinder, four-cylinder, six-cylinder, eight-cylinder and 12-cylinder. The number of cylinders depends on the size of the car and how much power it needs.
Engine design combines several factors, such as engine power, efficiency and performance, speed, comfort, safety, durability and stability. The optimum balance of these factors is achieved through the use of a number of systems.
Independent front suspension, for example, enables the automobile to absorb the shocks and variations of the road surface so that it can remain stable on the ground. In addition, most automobiles have independent rear suspension as well.
Auto manufacturers are constantly trying to find new ways to improve their cars. They are doing this by increasing fuel efficiency, improving driving dynamics and by making the vehicles more environmentally friendly.
