20 Innovations That Changed Cars Forever – Part 1

Summary by Krater

The history of automotive innovation over 100 years is explored on a Route 66 road trip, highlighting 10 milestone inventions from spark plugs to oxygen sensors.

From the video

Answers: What are 10 of the most important automotive innovations of the last 100 years?

• Automotive history
• Route 66
• Engine innovations
• Vehicle safety features

What it concludes

• Bosch's high-voltage magneto ignition system with spark plugs solved early cars' battery power and ignition consistency issues.
• The electric starter motor eliminated manual hand cranking and could double as a generator to recharge the battery.
• Henry Ford's moving assembly line reduced car production time from 12 hours to 90 minutes, dropping the Model T price from $850 to $260.
• Bosch ICON wiper blades feature a dual synthetic rubber blend resistant to heat and ozone cracks, providing up to 40% longer life.
• The Hydra-Matic automatic transmission introduced in 1940 Oldsmobile eliminated the clutch pedal using fluid coupling.
• Disc brakes provide superior heat dissipation and fade resistance compared to drum brakes, making them ideal for high-performance vehicles with heavy weights and high horsepower.