Automobiles are self-propelled motor vehicles that can carry passengers or goods. They typically have four or eight wheels.
Automobiles are an important part of modern society. The modern automobile is a technical system with thousands of components. Manufacturers work to improve the body, engine, and safety systems of their cars.
Cars are the most common form of transportation. Americans travel three trillion miles each year. Some 70 million new passenger cars are built each year worldwide. In the United States, one quarter of all passenger cars are made in the country.
There are two types of automobiles: Those with a rear engine and those with front engines. One of the earliest was the Stout Scarab, which was created by William Bushnell Stout for his engineering firm. It featured a rear engine and a beetle-like shape.
The modern automobile was developed during the late 1800s. It was based on an internal combustion engine invented by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens.
Automobiles evolved over time from the invention of gasoline and the development of safety legislation. Today, manufacturers introduce more designs and innovations into the automobile market.
Cars are easier to tow than motorcycles. Towing a motorcycle requires winching a motorcycle onto a trailer.
Cars can also cause traffic jams when traveling on narrow roads. Often, automobiles can be stuck in traffic and must wait for the proper flow of traffic to resume before moving.
Motorcycles can be customized to fit personal tastes. Some motorcycles come with sidecars and trailers. These can make a road trip more fun.
