Evolution of the car?

Evolution of the car?

I invite you to meditate, bearing in mind that whoever writes these lines is passionate about American classics such as the Cobra and the Corvette, when reading this article reflects.

The car, as it is known today, conceived as much more than a means of transport, is nothing more than a whim. One of the most fervent and blindly defended whims by man. This is, in personal opinion, undeniable. At times I ask myself: - How can we admire these obviously imperfect objects so much?

Since its inception, the car captured the attention of the public from all over the world. Everyone wanted something from him. Some spent hours improving their performance to get the fastest, others the most elegant. The most ambitious, or those with a big ego, thought of making their own cars.

Many were aiming to place their names on the front of the best-selling vehicle. Some simply wanted a custom car, not to compare itself with a supposed rival, but to enjoy the feeling of driving their own machine, different from all the others (this is what we know today as custom or tuning).

The cars currently circulating in the streets are an attack against the principles of aerodynamics. Large automobiles taught us how to consume sketches and photos of cars with angular protrusions with the ridiculous idea that they “cut better in the air”, have an “aggressive look”, are novelties of “sharp design” and other hoaxes they use as marketing arguments.

It is not necessary to be an experienced engineer to realize that a machine that has 40% efficiency and is highly polluting of the environment, is not precisely the brightest creation of human beings, even worse is that it is the most massively used type of vehicle in the world.

As knowledge of the environmental impact of the car grew, such as noise and air pollution, technical innovations, restrictions on permissible levels of emissions and generated decibels were followed.

The discoveries in safety issues, both for passengers and pedestrians victims of accidents, made the car a little safer, because considering that they are increasingly powerful, fast and agile but less heavy, the temptation to play with their capabilities is very great... The probability of having an accident is even higher... And accident statistics don't lie.

The question is: did you learn over time to correct mistakes? It may seem childish... but the answer is yes and no. Technically, great barriers have been overcome, but root evil is always present. The machine we call car was born with hundreds of defects, now it has only a few dozen left. It's less imperfect. Sometimes correcting errors on an object is much more difficult than doing a clean slate.

But the willingness of the human being to accept great changes is much less than we manifest. Or do 100 HP hybrid and/or electric cars have the same acceptance as a 200 HP gasoline powered V6 car? “I must point out that it would be very wrong of me not to mention the enormous effort of the oil companies to thwart any alternative attempt that does not include them in the business.”

The same person who considers the electric car a breakthrough because it is silent and does not emanate toxic substances (not the hybrid), when making the purchase decision chooses the combustion engine. And of course, he would not resign the acceleration and speed performance of a modern car, the ability to throw recesses in a corner and feel the sound of the exhaust... against the slow acceleration of an electric car moving quietly, replacing the steering wheel with a joystick, which does not require a gearbox...

Now remember my invitation to reflection...

© Adrián Blanco 2004 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —

Historical evolution of the automobile and its manufacture

A quick overview of the historical evolution of the automobile, from the era of carriages to the modern concept of automobiles. The internal combustion engine, its patents for invention and observations of the development of the automotive industry. Follow the link below and get to know the story: See Historical evolution of the car —