Automobile Performance
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the automobile was still a novelty. In the United States more cars were then powered by steam engines and battery-electric systems than by internal-combustion engines. By the end of the twentieth century, the automobile had become an integral part of the American lifestyle, with approximately one privately owned passenger vehicle in operation for every two people. Practically all of these vehicles were powered by internal-combustion engines burning a fuel derived from petroleum.
New cars are purchased on the basis of such qualities as performance, fuel economy, reliability, durability, ride quality, noise and vibration, comfort, convenience, maintenance requirements, styling, safety, environmental qualities, price, and resale value. Many of these attributes conflict. The conflict between performance and fuel economy serves as an example. The typical driver wants a vehicle with sufficient power to merge safely into high-speed freeway traffic, or to pass a slowly moving highway truck on an upgrade. To maintain performance when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load, or pulling a trailer, or operating at high altitude can call for even more installed engine power. That desire for performance potential persists with the typical consumer even though it is used only very occasionally in normal driving.
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