Portal:Cars

A car or automobile is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for between one and six people, typically have four wheels and be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods. This definition includes cars and smaller SUVs - but not motorcycles, buses, trucks or vans. The term automobile is derived from Greek 'auto-' ("self") and Latin 'mobilis' ("movable"), referring to the fact that it "moves by itself".

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The Ford Taurus is a full-size, front-wheel drive automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in North America. Initially a mid-size car, it was introduced in December 1985 as a 1986 model, replacing the rear-wheel drive Ford LTD. Most Tauruses have either been built in Chicago, Illinois (until April 23, 2004, at which time the plant was retooled to build the Five Hundred) or in Ford's Hapeville Plant in Atlanta, Georgia.

The original Taurus was a milestone design for both Ford and the entire American automotive industry, as well as a very influential vehicle in the marketplace. During its 20 years of production, Ford has sold over 6.7 million Tauruses worldwide. Between 1992 and 1996, the Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States, prompting Honda to grow the US version of the Accord to a similar size. The Taurus eventually lost its best-seller status in 1997 to the Toyota Camry. (more...)

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Buick Roadmaster wagon

Did you know...

...that the racing version of the Dauer 962 Le Mans, winner of 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans, is a roadcar converted from a Porsche 962 racecar, which dominated Le Mans, Group C and IMSA during the 1980s.
...that the 25 Millionth VW Golf rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg in March 2007. The first Golf started production in 1974, 33 years later the 1.4 litre TSI version became the 25 Millionth car.
...that the nearly identical Ford Model T engines were produced for exactly 12,000 days, making this the longest-produced engine?
...that the first production turbocharged cars were General Motors' A-body 1962 Chevrolet Corvair and Oldsmobile F-85?
...that Jeep introduced the 1993 Grand Cherokee and 2007 Wrangler in the same way — by driving them through a plate glass window?
...that a small number of Renault 20s, badged as Dacia 2000, were made in the 1980s by Dacia in Romania for Romanian communist dignitaries of that time?
...that the Autobianchi Primula was the Fiat's first automobile with the front-wheel drive, transverse engine setup and rack and pinion steering?
...that the Plymouth Sundance is a liftback, even though the outside appearance might suggest that it is a sedan?

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Category:Automobiles

Car news

Report:Chinese company Geely to buy Volvo brand from Ford Motor Co.

2009-06-22

Geely will invest about $10 billion in Volvo and will produce a new vehicle with a Volvo badge in China. It also indicates the deal will only be made public when (and if, given Geely's track record of inking deals to make cars) the automakers can agree on technology transfers. Source: [1]

Selected biography

Nicolaus Otto

Nicolaus August Otto (June 14, 1832 Holzhausen, Nassau - January 26, 1891 Cologne) was the German inventor of the internal-combustion engine, the first engine to burn fuel directly in a piston chamber. Up until his invention, all engines were external-combustion engines and fuel was burned in a separate compartment.

In 1864, Otto co-founded an engine manufacturing business in Cologne. Along with his business partner Eugen Langen he established “N.A. Otto & Cie.”. This company exists today as “Deutz AG”, who boasts the fact that they are the world's oldest engine manufacturers, with over 140 years of experience. (more...)