Ages 9 to 12 years. An invention of dramatic impact, the automobile led to the creation of new industries, changed the way roads and cities were built, and required a system of laws to protect drivers and pedestrians. This colourful book describes the eventful history of the automobile and the inventors who helped develop it. Readers will learn about: the basic parts of a car; how the engine works; how the industry grew rapidly through mass production; threats to the environment; possible fuel alternatives such as biodiesel and ethanol.