Cars Quiz

Answer: Benz. Karl Benz created the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1885, considered the first car. Yes, before that... it was mostly horses (organic and without ABS).

Answer: Toyota. The Toyota Prius, launched in 1997, is the first mass-produced hybrid car.

Answer: Airbag. The airbag was invented in the 1950s, but only became widespread in the 1990s.

Answer: Fiat 126. The Fiat 126, despite its success in Eastern Europe, was criticized for its lack of power.

Answer: 4-wheel drive. It means the engine sends power to all four wheels of the vehicle.

Answer: Red. 'Rosso Corsa' is the historic color of Italian racing cars.

Answer: Drifting. Drifting involves maintaining a controlled slide angle of the rear wheels through corners. A spectacular motorsport practiced in competition (Formula Drift, D1 Grand Prix), it demands perfect control of the vehicle.

Answer: Two fiscal horsepower, an administrative power rating. Its design brief became famous: carry two farmers in clogs and 50 kg of potatoes, and cross a ploughed field with a basket of eggs without breaking a single one.

Answer: Platinum, palladium and rhodium. These metals, coated in a thin layer inside the converter, trigger the reactions that turn toxic gases into less harmful ones. Their very high prices, with rhodium sometimes worth more than gold, have made converters a target for thieves who cut them off in minutes.

Answer: Ease off the accelerator, keep the wheel straight and avoid braking sharply. The tyres are surfing on a film of water and no longer touch the road. By slowing gently, they regain contact; a stab on the brakes or a sharp turn at that moment could spin the car when grip returns.

Answer: Suspension. The suspension is in direct contact with the road. It affects handling, steering, and the vehicle's behavior. Understanding how it works and diagnosing it correctly are essential for occupant safety and comfort.

Answer: Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz produced the 260 D in 1936, the first mass-produced diesel car.

Answer: Packard. Packard introduced automotive air conditioning in 1939.

Answer: Porsche 550 Spyder. James Dean died in a crash while driving his Porsche 550 Spyder in 1955.

Answer: Independent suspension. Independent suspension was invented in the 1930s, but only became widespread in the 1950s.

Answer: Peugeot. Peugeot won at Le Mans notably in 2009 with its 908 HDi. However, Porsche dominates the overall standings across all brands. Among French makers, Peugeot is the most decorated with its diesels.

Answer: Messerschmitt KR200. The KR200 (Kabinenroller) borrowed the idea of an aircraft cockpit: tandem seats and a tilting canopy. Barred from building aircraft after the war, Messerschmitt had switched trades.

Answer: Its torque converter, a hydraulic coupling, passes on a little power even at idle. In the converter, a turbine driven by the engine churns oil that spins a second turbine connected to the gearbox, with no mechanical contact. At idle, this churning is enough to make the car 'creep', which is very handy in traffic jams and when manoeuvring.

Answer: It responds instantly, even at low revs, since it is linked directly to the engine. A mechanical supercharger turns with the engine, so boost is immediate, with no lag. On the other hand it takes some power to drive, whereas a turbo recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted out of the exhaust.

Answer: It supplies high-power direct current straight to the battery, bypassing the car's charger. The battery stores direct current. On an ordinary socket, the car's onboard charger, of limited power, converts the alternating current. A rapid charger does this conversion itself with far more powerful equipment and can deliver over 100 kW.