Automobile
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
An automobile was "an ancient Earth device used primarily for transportation, also seen as a source of status and virility." They were "often a prime ingredient in teenage mating rituals." (TNG: "The Big Goodbye")
Typically, automobiles were self-propelled vehicles designed for land-based travel, and were in common usage during the 20th, 21st and early 22nd centuries.
The Ford Model T was considered the first production model automobile of the 20th century. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")
Automobiles typically had four wheels and an internal combustion engine, and were commonly used for the transportation of people, goods and materials. On Earth, this design predated the hovercar. (VOY: "The 37's")
When Jonathan Archer and T'Pol traveled back in time to 2004, T'Pol remarked that automobiles were draining the Earth of its natural fossil fuels and was bemused that nobody seemed to realize. Archer responded that Earth's governments did realize that fossil fuels were running out, but it wasn't until the 2060s that another fuel source was used. (ENT: "Carpenter Street")
After Jonathan Archer restored a damaged timeline, an early automobile could be seen in the time stream as the timeline realigned itself. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")
Examples of automobiles include, most commonly, cars, but also encompass jeeps, trucks, vans, and buses.
Automobiles were also present on several worlds other than Earth. The planet Sigma Iotia II possessed a technology level comparable to 1930s Earth, complete with paved roads and Model T type automobiles. (TOS: "A Piece of the Action") On Planet 4 of System 892, an internal combustion engine driven automobile, called the "Jupiter 8", was manufactured in 2268. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")
[edit] See also
| Ground vehicles |
|---|
| Automobiles: Car • Truck • Jeep • Van • Limousine • Bus • Motorcycle |
| Manufacturers: Chevrolet • Datsun • Dodge • Ford • Lincoln • Volkswagen |
