Pak Wheels

Honda Civic VTi Oriel Prosmatec Transmission - PKR 1,842,000

2009-12-03T05:25:00.000-08:00

What moves you? What drives you? What excites you? Honda seeks the pinnacle of technology in pursuit of answers. Now, Honda present a bold way to stir the body and soul, designed to quicken the pulse at first glimpse, and stimulate the senses with each and every encounter. The sporty new Honda Civic possesses rare spirit, and so do you. See, touch, feel, drive and discover.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4540
Overall Width (mm)	1755
Overall Height (mm)	1435
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	1799
Power (PS@rpm)	140 [141.94] @ 6,300
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	173.44 [17.664] @ 4,300
Transmission Type	Automatic
Gears/Speeds	Compact 5-
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	2.67
Tyres	195/65 R 15

Honda Accord 2.4 I-VTEC A/T - PKR 5,703,000

2009-12-03T05:20:00.001-08:00

Witness the debut of the astonishing new Honda Accord: the outcome of our all-out pursuit of sedan excellence, successfully uniting all contradictory elements. A bold exterior presence with a luxury air, yet a sporty youthful feeling. An expansive upper-class cabin with comfortable travel space for five adults and panoramic visibility. A larger body with sportier performance than ever before, and powerful i-VTEC engines designed for high fuel economy. A renowned global car with all advanced Honda technologies for driving command, plus eco-performance for increased recyclability. And, Honda's world-leading safety protection, which even extends to pedestrians and those in other vehicles. Experience its overall quality, riding comfort, and details for yourself, and you'll know why the new Accord represents a distinct status upgrade for the sedan.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4954
Overall Width (mm)	1845
Overall Height (mm)	1475
Kerb Weight (kg)	1560
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	2354
Power (PS@rpm)	178 [180] @ 6,500
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	222 [22.6] @ 4,300
Transmission Type	Automatic
Gears/Speeds	5
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5.64
Tyres	225/60 R17

Honda City 1.3 L Automatic - PKR 1,352,000

2009-12-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

See it coming, like an arrow. Striking good looks, cutting-edge design, sharply focused tension. See it shoot straight ahead. What is it? Discover the compact sedan breakthrough with strength to open a new era and outlast fleeting trends. Sleek styling and strong performance, with swift, gutsy response to the driver's pedal action. Class-leading* spaciousness and relaxing ride for outstanding comfort. Imagine the pride of driving and owning this distinctive new-generation standard. Get ahead in the new City. People will be watching. *1.3-liter compact sedan class

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4395
Overall Width (mm)	1695
Overall Height (mm)	1480
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	1300
Power (PS@rpm)	120 (88) @ 6600
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	145 (14.8) @ 4800
Transmission Type	Automatic
Gears/Speeds	5-speed fo
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5.3 m
Tyres	175 / 65 R 15

Honda CR-V 2.4 Litre - PKR 5,303,000

2009-12-03T05:14:00.000-08:00

Dynamic styling appeal. Elevated SUV outlook. Premium driving refinement. And an exhilarating yet stable feeling. The new Honda CR-V has all you want, and more. A spacious cabin and utilities, due to packaging innovation. Plus superb i-VTEC response, quietness, and safety. Discover delightful CR-V driving. Now, all roads are exciting.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4530
Overall Width (mm)	1820
Overall Height (mm)	1680
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	2354
Power (PS@rpm)	161[158.79] @ 5,800
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	218 [22.2] @ 4,200
Transmission Type	Automatic
Gears/Speeds	Electronic
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5.5 m
Tyres	225/60 R17

Toyota Corolla 2.0D SALOON SR - PKR 1,754,000

2009-11-30T00:30:00.000-08:00

Best-selling mid-sizer, about to get an update. Fast, comfy, prestigious and likeable, except for unsorted chassis. Build quality not hot .

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4540
Overall Width (mm)	1760
Overall Height (mm)	1480
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	1975
Power (PS@rpm)	95.21[96.53] @ 4,600
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	131 [13.35] @ 2,800
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5.3 m
Tyres	195/65

Toyota Altis 1.8L CRUISETRONIC SR - PKR 1,839,000

2009-11-30T00:25:00.000-08:00

Best-selling mid-sizer, about to get an update. Fast, comfy, prestigious and likeable, except for unsorted chassis. Build quality not hot .

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4540
Overall Width (mm)	1760
Overall Height (mm)	1480
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	1794
Power (PS@rpm)	130[131.81] @ 6,000
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	170 [17.17] @ 4,200
Transmission Type	Automatic
Gears/Speeds	4
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5.3 m
Tyres	195/65 R 15

Toyota Prado 3.0L N-turbo - PKR 6,450,000

2009-11-30T00:21:00.000-08:00

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4715
Overall Width (mm)	1790
Overall Height (mm)	1850
Kerb Weight (kg)	1870
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	5
Displacement (cc)	2982
Power (PS@rpm)	96
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	34.9762
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5.7
Tyres	N/A

Toyota Hilux 4x4 D/C F/L (LAN-09) - PKR 3,140,000

2009-11-30T00:16:00.000-08:00

Toyota Hilux in a class of its own, is proven for its performance, quality and durability capable of mastering the smooth and rough terrains alike. In addition to its intrinsic strengths , the elegant & stylish bonnet type design and soft contours sets it apart from the conventional commercial vehicles.Its high tensile steel body and galvanealed body panels provide strength , durability and rust protection ensuring that the mighty Hilux lasts for years and years.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	5255
Overall Width (mm)	1760
Overall Height (mm)	1795
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	6
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	2986
Power (PS@rpm)	93.87[70] @ 4,000
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	197 [19.19] @ 2,200
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	N/A
Tyres	255 R 15 C

Toyota Camry 2400 CC Petrol A/T - PKR 6,299,000

2009-11-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

One of the best lookers around, the Camry is quite sharp. The headlamp is like a blade and the snout is pronounced with that Toyota badge falling into the grille which in itself is quite eye-catching! There a hint of BMW 7-Series too, with the boot having a step-like design like the BMW. The tail lamps too are modern and give a bulging stance to the rear. The interior is equally good looking. There aluminium, fake wood and luxurious-looking plastics all over. The centre console is luminescent blue which gives it quite a unique look. The seats are large and easily one of the best this side of Rs 30 lakh.The 2.4l, 167bhp engine is extremely smooth and has an instant-power-delivery nature to it. The auto box is also quite quick to react and works brilliantly. The suspension is well sorted out and soaks in all the torture you throw at it with aplomb. Although you do not feel any bumps, the suspension thud is quite audible in the cabin. The handling is taut and the body roll is well controlled giving the Camry a planted feel all the time, but we wish the steering could have been a bit better and had more heft at speed. The 2.4l engine and an automatic tranny affect the fuel efficiency and the Camry will return 7kpl in the city.It is a car that lets you arrive in style. It is comfortable and quite manageable in the city. The ride quality is good and handling sharp. It is a very comfortable and refined machine that is not really value for money.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4815
Overall Width (mm)	1820
Overall Height (mm)	1480
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	2362
Power (PS@rpm)	165[123] @ 6,000
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	224 [22.8] @ 4,000
Transmission Type	Automatic
Gears/Speeds	5
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	5
Tyres	215/R60

Suzuki Liana LXI 1.3L Manual Transmission (CNG) - PKR 1,129,000

2009-11-28T07:01:00.000-08:00

Liana MT / AT ( Life In A New Age )Liana takes you out of the ordinary and into a realm where your imagination and sense of adventure have free reign. On another level, it something entirely different, a car that in style, dimensions and comfort will inspire you to see every day as an open door to new age.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	4350
Overall Width (mm)	1690
Overall Height (mm)	1545
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	1328
Power (PS@rpm)	88.50 [88.73] @ 5,750
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	116[11.71] @ 4,750
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	N/A
Tyres	185/65R14

JIMNY 4X4 JEEP

2009-11-28T06:56:00.000-08:00

JIMNY 4X4 JEEP (Imported)Steady, sturdy and smart, Suzuki Jimny with new wide tread brings you the ultimate pleasure of a real 4-wheel drive. It has got all the sporting spirit to go along for adventurous free souls.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	3645
Overall Width (mm)	1600
Overall Height (mm)	1705
Kerb Weight (kg)	1060
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	4
No of Doors	2
Displacement (cc)	1328
Power (PS@rpm)	80.46 [81.58] @ 5,500
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	110[11.11] @ 4,500
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	4.9 m
Tyres	205 / 70 R 15

Suzuki Bolan

2009-11-28T06:53:00.000-08:00

BOLAN VAN ( Double the Edge-Double the Pleasure )The Suzuki Bolan Hi-roof gives you everything you ever wanted in a van. Spacious interior for comfort, tough engine to carry large loads and plenty of room for passengers to enjoy a comfortable day long ride. Air-conditioned model (dual thrust) has been recently introduced.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	3195
Overall Width (mm)	1395
Overall Height (mm)	1845
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	8
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	797
Power (PS@rpm)	37.39
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	6.32
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	4-forward,
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	4.1 m
Tyres	4.50-12.8 PR

Cultus 2009

2009-11-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

CULTUS 1000 cc ( Exceeding your Expectations )Cultus is a blend of space and craft. Its trim body conceals ample space, flexibility for both passengers and storage. Suzuki Cultus assures everyone, exceptional value and quality.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	3845
Overall Width (mm)	1590
Overall Height (mm)	1380
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	993
Power (PS@rpm)	61.18
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	7.9537
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5-speed Al
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	4.8
Tyres	155/80 R 13 78S

Mehran VXR

2009-11-28T06:42:00.000-08:00

MEHRAN 800 cc ( The Small Wonder ) Unrivalled in its class, Mehran is Pakistan largest selling car. More smart features like head turning lamp, matching front grill and a two spoke steering wheel gives it the tidy look. Functional economy, peak performance or unmatched fuel efficiency, Mehran VXR is the leader.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	3300
Overall Width (mm)	1405
Overall Height (mm)	1410
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	796
Power (PS@rpm)	40 [39.5] @ 5,500
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	59[5.6] @ 3,000
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	4-forward,
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	4.4m
Tyres	145 / 70 SR 12

Alto car

2009-11-28T06:35:00.000-08:00

Alto 1000 cc ( Smart Choice - Futuristic Look )Alto has bright, roomy, comfortable cabin which keeps body relaxed and has a strong and lighter body shell resulting in smooth drive due to reduction of unpleasant noise harshness and vibration. It has tiny turning radius and compact body make parking a breeze.

Feature	Availability
Air Conditioner
Power Windows
Power Steering
Anti-Lock Braking System
Air-Bags (Driver \| Passenger)	\|
Leather Seats
CD Player

Specs	Availability
Overall Length (mm)	3395
Overall Width (mm)	1475
Overall Height (mm)	1460
Kerb Weight (kg)	N/A
Mileage Overall (km/liter)	N/A
Seating Capacity (person)	5
No of Doors	4
Displacement (cc)	970
Power (PS@rpm)	54.31[55.06] @ 5,500
Torque ( Nm@rpm)	83.4 [8.4] @ 2,500
Transmission Type	Manual
Gears/Speeds	5-speed al
Minimum Turning Radius (meter)	4.2 m
Tyres	145 / 80 R 12

Automobile

2009-11-28T05:59:00.000-08:00

"Car" and "Cars" redirect here. For other uses, see Car (disambiguation).

Karl Benz's "Velo" model (1894) - entered into an early automobile race

Passenger cars in 2000

World map of passenger cars per 1000 people.

An automobile, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods.^[1] However, the term automobile is far from precise, because there are many types of vehicles that do similar tasks.

As of 2002, there were 590 million passenger cars worldwide (roughly one car per eleven people).^[2] Around the world, there were about 806 million cars and light trucks on the road in 2007; they burn over 260 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel yearly. The numbers are increasing rapidly, especially in China and India.[3

History

2009-11-28T05:57:00.000-08:00

Ferdinand Verbiest, a member of a Jesuit mission in China, built the first steam-powered vehicle around 1672 which was of small scale and designed as a toy for the Chinese Emperor, that was unable to carry a driver or a passenger, but quite possibly, was the first working steam-powered vehicle ('auto-mobile').^[6]^[7]

Although Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot is often credited with building the first self-propelled mechanical vehicle or automobile in about 1769, by adapting an existing horse-drawn vehicle, this claim is disputed by some^{[citation needed]}, who doubt Cugnot's three-wheeler ever ran or was stable. What is not in doubt is that Richard Trevithick built and demonstrated his Puffing Devil road locomotive in 1801, believed by many to be the first demonstration of a steam-powered road vehicle, although it was unable to maintain sufficient steam pressure for long periods, and would have been of little practical use.

In Russia, in the 1780s, Ivan Kulibin developed a human-pedalled, three-wheeled carriage with modern features such as a flywheel, brake, gear box, and bearings; however, it was not developed further.^[8]

François Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss inventor, designed the first internal combustion engine, in 1806, which was fueled by a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen and used it to develop the world's first vehicle, albeit rudimentary, to be powered by such an engine. The design was not very successful, as was the case with others, such as Samuel Brown, Samuel Morey, and Etienne Lenoir with his hippomobile, who each produced vehicles (usually adapted carriages or carts) powered by clumsy internal combustion engines.^[9]

In November 1881, French inventor Gustave Trouvé demonstrated a working three-wheeled automobile that was powered by electricity. This was at the International Exhibition of Electricity in Paris.^[10]

Although several other German engineers (including Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach, and Siegfried Marcus) were working on the problem at about the same time, Karl Benz generally is acknowledged as the inventor of the modern automobile.^[9]

An automobile powered by his own four-stroke cycle gasoline engine was built in Mannheim, Germany by Karl Benz in 1885, and granted a patent in January of the following year under the auspices of his major company, Benz & Cie., which was founded in 1883. It was an integral design, without the adaptation of other existing components, and included several new technological elements to create a new concept. This is what made it worthy of a patent. He began to sell his production vehicles in 1888.

Karl Benz

A photograph of the original Benz Patent Motorwagen, first built in 1885 and awarded the patent for the concept

In 1879, Benz was granted a patent for his first engine, which had been designed in 1878. Many of his other inventions made the use of the internal combustion engine feasible for powering a vehicle.

His first Motorwagen was built in 1885, and he was awarded the patent for its invention as of his application on January 29, 1886. Benz began promotion of the vehicle on July 3, 1886, and about 25 Benz vehicles were sold between 1888 and 1893, when his first four-wheeler was introduced along with a model intended for affordability. They also were powered with four-stroke engines of his own design. Emile Roger of France, already producing Benz engines under license, now added the Benz automobile to his line of products. Because France was more open to the early automobiles, initially more were built and sold in France through Roger than Benz sold in Germany.

In 1896, Benz designed and patented the first internal-combustion flat engine, called a boxermotor in German. During the last years of the nineteenth century, Benz was the largest automobile company in the world with 572 units produced in 1899 and, because of its size, Benz & Cie., became a joint-stock company.

Daimler and Maybach founded Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (Daimler Motor Company, DMG) in Cannstatt in 1890, and under the brand name, Daimler, sold their first automobile in 1892, which was a horse-drawn stagecoach built by another manufacturer, that they retrofitted with an engine of their design. By 1895 about 30 vehicles had been built by Daimler and Maybach, either at the Daimler works or in the Hotel Hermann, where they set up shop after disputes with their backers. Benz and the Maybach and the Daimler team seem to have been unaware of each other's early work. They never worked together because, by the time of the merger of the two companies, Daimler and Maybach were no longer part of DMG.

Daimler died in 1900 and later that year, Maybach designed an engine named Daimler-Mercedes, that was placed in a specially-ordered model built to specifications set by Emil Jellinek. This was a production of a small number of vehicles for Jellinek to race and market in his country. Two years later, in 1902, a new model DMG automobile was produced and the model was named Mercedes after the Maybach engine which generated 35 hp. Maybach quit DMG shortly thereafter and opened a business of his own. Rights to the Daimler brand name were sold to other manufacturers.

Karl Benz proposed co-operation between DMG and Benz & Cie. when economic conditions began to deteriorate in Germany following the First World War, but the directors of DMG refused to consider it initially. Negotiations between the two companies resumed several years later when these conditions worsened and, in 1924 they signed an Agreement of Mutual Interest, valid until the year 2000. Both enterprises standardized design, production, purchasing, and sales and they advertised or marketed their automobile models jointly, although keeping their respective brands.

On June 28, 1926, Benz & Cie. and DMG finally merged as the Daimler-Benz company, baptizing all of its automobiles Mercedes Benz, as a brand honoring the most important model of the DMG automobiles, the Maybach design later referred to as the 1902 Mercedes-35 hp, along with the Benz name. Karl Benz remained a member of the board of directors of Daimler-Benz until his death in 1929, and at times, his two sons participated in the management of the company as well.

In 1890, Émile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France began producing vehicles with Daimler engines, and so laid the foundation of the automobile industry in France.

The first design for an American automobile with a gasoline internal combustion engine was drawn in 1877 by George Selden of Rochester, New York, who applied for a patent for an automobile in 1879, but the patent application expired because the vehicle was never built. After a delay of sixteen years and a series of attachments to his application, on November 5, 1895, Selden was granted a United States patent (U.S. Patent 549,160) for a two-stroke automobile engine, which hindered, more than encouraged, development of automobiles in the United States. His patent was challenged by Henry Ford and others, and overturned in 1911.

In Britain, there had been several attempts to build steam cars with varying degrees of success, with Thomas Rickett even attempting a production run in 1860.^[11] Santler from Malvern is recognized by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain as having made the first petrol-powered car in the country in 1894^[12] followed by Frederick William Lanchester in 1895, but these were both one-offs.^[12] The first production vehicles in Great Britain came from the Daimler Motor Company, a company founded by Harry J. Lawson in 1896, after purchasing the right to use the name of the engines. Lawson's company made its first automobiles in 1897, and they bore the name Daimler.^[12]

In 1892, German engineer Rudolf Diesel was granted a patent for a "New Rational Combustion Engine". In 1897, he built the first Diesel Engine.^[9] Steam-, electric-, and gasoline-powered vehicles competed for decades, with gasoline internal combustion engines achieving dominance in the 1910s.

Although various pistonless rotary engine designs have attempted to compete with the conventional piston and crankshaft design, only Mazda's version of the Wankel engine has had more than very limited success.

Production

2009-11-28T05:56:00.000-08:00

The large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordable automobiles was debuted by Ransom Olds at his Oldsmobile factory in 1902. This concept was greatly expanded by Henry Ford, beginning in 1914.

As a result, Ford's cars came off the line in fifteen minute intervals, much faster than previous methods, increasing productivity eight fold (requiring 12.5 man-hours before, 1 hour 33 minutes after), while using less manpower.^[13] It was so successful, paint became a bottleneck. Only Japan black would dry fast enough, forcing the company to drop the variety of colors available before 1914, until fast-drying Duco lacquer was developed in 1926. This is the source of Ford's apocryphal remark, "any color as long as it's black".^[13] In 1914, an assembly line worker could buy a Model T with four months' pay.^[13]

Portrait of Henry Ford (ca. 1919)

Ford's complex safety procedures—especially assigning each worker to a specific location instead of allowing them to roam about—dramatically reduced the rate of injury. The combination of high wages and high efficiency is called "Fordism," and was copied by most major industries. The efficiency gains from the assembly line also coincided with the economic rise of the United States. The assembly line forced workers to work at a certain pace with very repetitive motions which led to more output per worker while other countries were using less productive methods.

In the automotive industry, its success was dominating, and quickly spread worldwide seeing the founding of Ford France and Ford Britain in 1911, Ford Denmark 1923, Ford Germany 1925; in 1921, Citroen was the first native European manufacturer to adopt the production method. Soon, companies had to have assembly lines, or risk going broke; by 1930, 250 companies which did not, had disappeared.^[13]

Development of automotive technology was rapid, due in part to the hundreds of small manufacturers competing to gain the world's attention. Key developments included electric ignition and the electric self-starter (both by Charles Kettering, for the Cadillac Motor Company in 1910-1911), independent suspension, and four-wheel brakes.

Ford Model T, 1927, regarded as the first affordable American automobile

Since the 1920s, nearly all cars have been mass-produced to meet market needs, so marketing plans often have heavily influenced automobile design. It was Alfred P. Sloan who established the idea of different makes of cars produced by one company, so buyers could "move up" as their fortunes improved.

Reflecting the rapid pace of change, makes shared parts with one another so larger production volume resulted in lower costs for each price range. For example, in the 1930s, LaSalles, sold by Cadillac, used cheaper mechanical parts made by Oldsmobile; in the 1950s, Chevrolet shared hood, doors, roof, and windows with Pontiac; by the 1990s, corporate drivetrains and shared platforms (with interchangeable brakes, suspension, and other parts) were common. Even so, only major makers could afford high costs, and even companies with decades of production, such as Apperson, Cole, Dorris, Haynes, or Premier, could not manage: of some two hundred American car makers in existence in 1920, only 43 survived in 1930, and with the Great Depression, by 1940, only 17 of those were left.^[13]

In Europe much the same would happen. Morris set up its production line at Cowley in 1924, and soon outsold Ford, while beginning in 1923 to follow Ford's practise of vertical integration, buying Hotchkiss (engines), Wrigley (gearboxes), and Osberton (radiators), for instance, as well as competitors, such as Wolseley: in 1925, Morris had 41% of total British car production. Most British small-car assemblers, from Abbey to Xtra had gone under. Citroen did the same in France, coming to cars in 1919; between them and other cheap cars in reply such as Renault's 10CV and Peugeot's 5CV, they produced 550,000 cars in 1925, and Mors, Hurtu, and others could not compete.^[13] Germany's first mass-manufactured car, the Opel 4PS Laubfrosch (Tree Frog), came off the line at Russelsheim in 1924, soon making Opel the top car builder in Germany, with 37.5% of the market.^[13]

Petroleum fuels & Diesel

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Most automobiles in use today are propelled by gasoline (also known as petrol) or diesel internal combustion engines, which are known to cause air pollution and are also blamed for contributing to climate change and global warming.^[14] Increasing costs of oil-based fuels, tightening environmental laws and restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions are propelling work on alternative power systems for automobiles. Efforts to improve or replace existing technologies include the development of hybrid vehicles, and electric and hydrogen vehicles which do not release pollution into the air.

Petroleum fuels

Main article: Petroleum fuel engine

Diesel

Main article: Diesel engine

Diesel-engined cars have long been popular in Europe with the first models being introduced as early as 1922 ^[15] by Peugeot and the first production car, Mercedes-Benz 260 D in 1936 by Mercedes-Benz. The main benefit of diesel engines is a 50% fuel burn efficiency compared with 27%^[16] in the best gasoline engines. A down-side of the Diesel engine is that better filters are required to reduce the presence in the exhaust gases of fine soot particulates called diesel particulate matter. Manufacturers are now starting to fit^[when?] diesel particulate filters to remove the soot. Many diesel-powered cars can run with little or no modifications on 100% biodiesel and combinations of other organic oils.

BmW

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Main article: Petrol engine

2007 Mark II (BMW) Mini Cooper

Gasoline engines have the advantage over diesel in being lighter and able to work at higher rotational speeds and they are the usual choice for fitting in high-performance sports cars. Continuous development of gasoline engines for over a hundred years has produced improvements in efficiency and reduced pollution. The carburetor was used on nearly all road car engines until the 1980s but it was long realised better control of the fuel/air mixture could be achieved with fuel injection. Indirect fuel injection was first used in aircraft engines from 1909, in racing car engines from the 1930s, and road cars from the late 1950s.^[16] Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) is now starting to appear in production vehicles such as the 2007 (Mark II) BMW Mini. Exhaust gases are also cleaned up by fitting a catalytic converter into the exhaust system. Clean air legislation in many of the car industries most important markets has made both catalysts and fuel injection virtually universal fittings. Most modern gasoline engines also are capable of running with up to 15% ethanol mixed into the gasoline - older vehicles may have seals and hoses that can be harmed by ethanol. With a small amount of redesign, gasoline-powered vehicles can run on ethanol concentrations as high as 85%. 100% ethanol is used in some parts of the world (such as Brazil), but vehicles must be started on pure gasoline and switched over to ethanol once the engine is running. Most gasoline engined cars can also run on LPG with the addition of an LPG tank for fuel storage and carburettor modifications to add an LPG mixer. LPG produces fewer toxic emissions and is a popular fuel for fork-lift trucks that have to operate inside buildings.

The hydrogen powered FCHV (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle) was developed by Toyota in 2005

History

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Biofuels

Main articles: Biofuel, Ethanol fuel, and biogasoline

Ethanol, other alcohol fuels (biobutanol) and biogasoline have widespread use as an automotive fuel. Most alcohols have less energy per liter than gasoline and are usually blended with gasoline. Alcohols are used for a variety of reasons - to increase octane, to improve emissions, and as an alternative to petroleum based fuel, since they can be made from agricultural crops. Brazil's ethanol program provides about 20% of the nation's automotive fuel needs, as a result of the mandatory use of E25 blend of gasoline throughout the country, 3 million cars that operate on pure ethanol, and 6 million dual or flexible-fuel vehicles sold since 2003.^[17] that run on any mix of ethanol and gasoline. The commercial success of "flex" vehicles, as they are popularly known, have allowed sugarcane based ethanol fuel to achieve a 50% market share of the gasoline market by April 2008.^[18]^[19]^[20]

Automobile

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Electric:

Main articles: Electric car, Hybrid vehicle, and Plug-in hybrid

The Henney Kilowatt, the first modern (transistor-controlled) electric car.

2007 Tesla electric powered Roadster

Tata/MDI OneCAT Air Car

A CNG powered high-floor Neoplan AN440A, run on Compressed Natural Gas

The first electric cars were built around 1832, well before internal combustion powered cars appeared.^[21] For a period of time electrics were considered superior due to the silent nature of electric motors compared to the very loud noise of the gasoline engine. This advantage was removed with Hiram Percy Maxim's invention of the muffler in 1897. Thereafter internal combustion powered cars had two critical advantages: 1) long range and 2) high specific energy (far lower weight of petrol fuel versus weight of batteries). The building of battery electric vehicles that could rival internal combustion models had to wait for the introduction of modern semiconductor controls and improved batteries. Because they can deliver a high torque at low revolutions electric cars do not require such a complex drive train and transmission as internal combustion powered cars. Some post-2000 electric car designs such as the Venturi Fétish are able to accelerate from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.0 seconds with a top speed around 130 mph (210 km/h). Others have a range of 250 miles (400 km) on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highway cycle requiring 3-1/2 hours to completely charge.^[22] Equivalent fuel efficiency to internal combustion is not well defined but some press reports give it at around 135 miles per US gallon (1.74 L/100 km; 162 mpg_-imp).