List of automotive superlatives

Automobiles are frequently judged in their industry by many superlatives: the smallest, largest, fastest, lightest, best-selling, and so on. They vary greatly in size, engine displacement, power, price, and many other traits.

In order to keep the entries relevant, the list (except for the firsts section) is limited to automobiles built after World War II, and lists superlatives for earlier vehicles separately. The list is also limited to production road cars that:
 * 1) are constructed principally for retail sale to consumers, for their personal use, and to transport people on public roads (no commercial or industrial vehicles are eligible);
 * 2) have had 20 or more instances made by the original vehicle manufacturer, and offered for commercial sale to the public in new condition (cars modified by either professional tuners or individuals are not eligible); and;
 * 3) are street-legal in their intended markets, and capable of passing any official tests or inspections required to be granted this status.

Overall

 * Longest
 * Current production car - 6165 mm - 2010 Maybach 62
 * Production car - 6248 mm - 1964 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine
 * Limited-production car - 6426 mm - 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine
 * Pickup Truck - 6650 mm - 2010 Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed
 * Commercial - 7345 mm - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter LWB / Volkswagen Crafter LWB
 * Widest
 * Production car - 2058 mm - 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV
 * Pickup Truck - 2438 mm - 2010 Dodge Ram 3500
 * Commercial - 2474 mm - 2010 Unimog U5000
 * Tallest
 * Production car - 1632 mm - 2006 Rolls Royce Phantom
 * Pickup Truck - 2057 mm - 2006 Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed
 * SUV - 2083 mm - 2003 Hummer H2
 * Commercial - 2676 mm - 2010 Unimog U5000
 * Shortest
 * Limited-production car - 1340 mm - 1962 Peel P50 (3 wheels)
 * Production car - 2500 mm - 1998 Smart Fortwo
 * Current production car - 2695 mm - 2010 Smart Fortwo
 * Lowest
 * Limited-production car - 736.6 mm - 1969 Probe 15
 * Current limited-production car - 1041 mm - 2010 Saleen S7
 * Current production car - 1135 mm - 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago

Wheelbase

 * Longest
 * Production car - 3893 mm - 1964 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine
 * Pickup Truck - 4379 mm - 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab
 * Commercial - 5080 mm - 2005 Ford F-550 Super Duty Chassis Crew Cab
 * Shortest
 * Limited-production car - 1270 mm - 1962 Peel P50
 * Production car - 1500 mm - 1956 Isetta
 * Current production car - 1867 mm - 2010 Smart Fortwo

Track

 * Widest Front
 * Production car - 1685 mm - 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom (2003)
 * Pickup truck - 1742 mm - 2010 Dodge Ram 2500
 * Commercial - 1930 mm - 2010 Dodge Ram 4500 Chassis Cab
 * Widest Rear
 * Production car - 1695 mm - 2003 Maybach 57/62
 * Pickup truck - 1925 mm - 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab Dual Rear Wheels
 * Commercial - 1927 mm - 2009 Unimog U4000
 * Narrowest Front
 * Limited-production car - 990 mm - Peel P50
 * Production car - 1275 mm - 1998 Smart Fortwo
 * Narrowest Rear
 * Production car - 521 mm - Isetta

Weight

 * Heaviest Curb Weight
 * Production car - 2855 kg - 2003 Maybach 62
 * SUV - 3428 kg] - 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Wagon
 * Pickup truck - 3544 kg - 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab 4wd Short Bed Dual Rear Wheel
 * Limited-production car - 4536 kg - 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine (estimated)
 * Commercial - 5350 kg - 2009 Unimog U5000 Long Wheelbase
 * Lightest
 * Limited-production car - 59 kg DIN - 1962 Peel P50 (3 wheels)
 * Production car - 406 kg - 1964 Mini Moke
 * Current production car - 825 kg - 2010 Smart Fortwo
 * Current production racecar - 456 kg - 1996 Ariel Atom

Smallest

 * 49 cc - 1963 Peel P50
 * (100+ produced) - 322 cc - 1956 Berkeley SA322

Largest

 * 1911 Fiat S76 28.3 Litres
 * 1912 Benz 82/200, 21.5 litre (1,312 in3) inline-four engine
 * (Currently produced) - 2008+ Dodge Viper, 8.4 litre (510 in3) V10 engine
 * (Crate engine only) - GM Performance ZZ572, 9.4 litre (572 in3) V8 engine

Highest power

 * Petrol/Gasoline engine (naturally-aspirated) - 500 kW - 1995 McLaren F1 LM (5 built) V12 engine
 * Note: Cadillac Sixteen (one-off) V16 engine - 750 kW
 * Note: Ferrari FXX Evoluzione (30 built) V12 engine - 633 kW
 * Note: Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce V12 engine - 661 hp
 * Petrol/Gasoline engine (forced-induction) - 1287 horsepower SSC Ultimate Aero TT
 * Diesel engine - 368 kW DIN - Audi V12 TDI in the Audi Q7

Highest specific power (power to weight ratio)

 * 1045 hp/metric ton (1.91 lb/hp) - 2007 Caparo T1 V8 engine 429 kW and 470 kg

Highest specific engine output (power/unit displacement)

 * Production engine- Rotax 124cc,as seen in the Aprilia RS125cc motorcycle.Piston ported 2 stroke, normally aspirated.Makes 33bhp in unrestricted form giving a specific output of 264 bhp per litre.


 * Petrol/Gasoline (naturally-aspirated) piston engine - 106.2 kW per litre - 1994 JDM Suzuki Cultus Suzuka edition R13B 138 kW 1.3 L I4
 * Petrol/Gasoline (forced-induction) piston engine - 151 kW per litre - 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400 302 kW 2.0 L I4
 * Diesel engine (naturally-aspirated) - 33.4 kW per litre - 1995 Mercedes E 300 D 100 kW DIN 3.0 L I6
 * Diesel engine (forced-induction) - 75.2 kW per litre - 2007 BMW new 2.0 L I4 twin-turbo 150 kW DIN
 * Naturally-aspirated pistonless rotary engine - 140.5 kW per litre - Mazda RX-8 Renesis 184 kW JIS 1.3 L

Highest torque

 * Petrol engine - 1507 Nm, SSC Ultimate Aero TT
 * Diesel engine - 1000 Nm, Audi Q7 V12 TDI 6.0 L - 5934 cc twin-turbo V12 engine

Highest specific torque (torque/unit displacement)
The mean effective pressure (MEP) is a useful comparison tool, giving the average cylinder pressure exerted on the piston.
 * Petrol engine (naturally-aspirated) - MEP 15.1 bar, 120 Nm per litre - Ferrari 458 Italia 540 Nm
 * Petrol engine (forced-induction) - MEP 34 bar, 271 Nm per litre - 2009 Mitsubishi Evo X MR FQ-400 542 Nm
 * Petrol engine (naturally-aspirated pistonless rotary engine) - MEP 21.5 bar, 170.8 Nm per litre - 2005 Mazda RX-8 222 Nm
 * Petrol engine (forced-induction pistonless rotary engine) - MEP 28.4 bar, 226.3 Nm per litre - 1995 Mazda RX-7 Turbo 294 Nm
 * Diesel engine (forced-induction) - MEP 29 bar, 233 Nm per litre - 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 250CDI BlueEfficiency 500 Nm

Economy

 * USA measurements
 * Highest USA EPA mileage - 48 mpgus/60 mpgus - 2001 Honda Insight 5-speed
 * Note: in 2007 the EPA changed its measurement standards, changing the rating to 48 mpgus/58 mpgus
 * Lowest USA EPA mileage - 6 mpgus/10 mpgus - 1986-1990 Lamborghini Countach
 * European Union measurements
 * Lowest EU fuel consumption - 2.99 L/100 km - 2002 Volkswagen Lupo 1.2 TDI 5-speed
 * Highest EU fuel consumption - 24.1 L/100 km combined city/hwy 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
 * Longest 90% range - 1658 km - 2010 Volkswagen Passat 77 kW TDI BlueMotion with 6-speed manual and 70 L fuel tank, calculated by using extra-urban Euro cycle mileage of 3.8 L/100 km

Price

 * Most expensive - $6,000,000 Maybach Exelero
 * Most inexpensive - $125 – 1922 Briggs & Stratton Flyer ($1,364.22 in 2006, inflation adjusted)

Acceleration

 * Quickest 0 to 100 km/h - 2.46 seconds - 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
 * Quickest 0 to 161 km/h - 5.3 seconds - Ultima GTR
 * Quickest 0 to 200 km/h - 7.4 seconds - Auto Motor und Sport - 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
 * Quickest 0 to 300 km/h - 18.2 seconds - Auto Motor Und Sport - 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
 * Quickest 0 to 400 km/h - 55 seconds - 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Top speed

 * Highest top speed: SSC Ultimate Aero {287.41 MPH / Official Average: 256.15 MPH}

Highest Redline

 * Internal Combustion Production Vehicle: 1964-66 Honda S600 10,000 rpm
 * Electric Production Vehicle: 2008 Tesla Roadster 14,000 rpm

Sales

 * See also List of bestselling vehicle nameplates


 * Best-selling models:
 * Best-selling vehicle nameplate - Toyota Corolla (more than 32,000,000 sold in nine generations since 1966)
 * Best-selling single model - Volkswagen Beetle (21,529,464 of the same basic design sold worldwide between 1938 and 2003)
 * Best single-year sales - 1.36 million - 2005 Toyota Corolla
 * Best single-month sales - 126,905 - July 2005 Ford F-Series

Firsts
Full-production vehicles are listed here. Many were preceded by racing-only cars. This list only includes developments that lead to widespread adoption across the automotive industry.

Industry

 * First automobile manufacturer - Benz (1871), Panhard et Levassor (1889) (followed by Peugeot in 1891)
 * First standardized automobile - Benz Velo (1894) or Duryea Motor Wagon (1893)
 * First mass-produced automobile - Oldsmobile Curved Dash (1901)
 * First auto company technical institute - General Motors Institute (now Kettering University)
 * First automotive proving ground - Dodge Brothers Hamtramck, MI Test Track 1915

Engine types

 * first V engine
 * 1904 Marmon V8 engine (few produced)
 * first commercially successful V - 1910 de Dion CJ (V8)
 * first straight engine
 * 1903 Napier & Son straight-six engine (few produced)
 * first twelve cylinder diesel engine
 * 368kW Audi 6.0 V12 TDI CR 48v DPF in the 2008 Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro

Engine technologies

 * engine configuration & other miscellaneous fundamental construction details
 * first variable displacement engine — 1905 Sturtevant 38/45 six
 * first diesel engined production car — 1935 Citroen Rosalie
 * first crankcase ventilation — 1926 Cadillac V8 engine
 * first flat engine — 1905 Knox
 * first square engine — 1906 Premier
 * first engine with removable cylinder head — 1908 Ford Model T
 * first counterbalanced crankshaft — 1908 Mercer Type 35
 * first split-plane crankshaft — 1923 Cadillac V8 engine
 * first gas turbine car — 1950 Rover JET 1 (experimental only; no gas turbine car ever reached real production)
 * first Miller cycle engine — 1996 Mazda Millenia
 * first Atkinson cycle engine — 1997 Toyota Prius
 * first Hydrogen vehicle — BMW Hydrogen 7 (Germany)
 * Wankel engines
 * first Wankel engine — 1964 NSU Spider
 * first 2-rotor Wankel engine — 1966 NSU Ro 80
 * first 3-rotor Wankel engine — 1988 Vaz 513
 * first turbocharged Wankel engine — 1982 Mazda Luce / Cosmo
 * first front-wheel drive car with Wankel engine — 1966 NSU Ro 80


 * valvetrain
 * first sleeve valve — 1909 Daimler (used Charles Knight 1903 design)
 * first overhead camshaft (OHC) engine — 1898 Wilkinson
 * first double overhead camshaft (DOHC) engine — 1921 Ballot
 * multi-valve engines
 * first 3-valve engine — 1924 Bugatti Type 35 (Type 18 had a 3-valve in 1912, but only 6 or 7 were made. The Type 35 used the engine from the 1922 Type 29 racing car.)
 * first 4-valve engine — 1913 Peugeot Grand Prix
 * first 5-valve engine — 1989 Oettinger - Germany 5V, 1989 Mitsubishi Dangan ZZ (Peugeot had a triple overhead cam 5-valve Grand Prix car in 1921).
 * first 6-valve engine — 1985 Maserati Biturbo 2.0 L V6 36v 261 hp (prototype)
 * first 3-valve diesel engine — 1989 Citroën XM
 * first 4-valve diesel engine — 1993 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (OM604 engine)
 * first multi-valve turbocharged engine — 1980 Maserati Biturbo AM452


 * variable valve timing (VVT)
 * first VVT engine — 1980 Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 L
 * first electronic VVT — 1987 Nissan 300ZX VG30DE NVCS V6
 * first VVT passenger car diesel engine — 2010 Mitsubishi ASX 4N13 1.8 L DOHC I4


 * aspiration
 * first supercharged car — 1921 Mercedes 6/25/40 hp
 * first turbocharged car — 1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Turbo Jetfire
 * first application of a wastegate to regulate a turbocharger's boost — 1975 Porsche 911 Turbo
 * first turbocharged diesel car — 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300SD
 * first variable-nozzle turbocharger — 1989 Shelby CSX-VNT / Garrett AiResearch
 * first twin-turbocharged car — Porsche 959
 * first quad-turbocharged car — Bugatti EB110
 * first supercharged and turbocharged car — 1985 Lancia Delta S4 (homologation special, 200 road cars produced for Group B regulations)
 * fuel systems
 * first carburetor — 1896 Daimler
 * first carburetor air filter — 1915 Packard Twin Six
 * first automatic choke — 1932 Oldsmobile
 * first four-barrel carburetor — 1941 Buick
 * fuel injection (FI)
 * first FI engine — 1910 Adams-Farwell Diesel
 * first non-diesel FI engine — 1952 Goliath GP 700 / Gutbrod Superior 600
 * first gasoline direct injection engine — 1952 Goliath GP 700 / Gotbrud Superior 600
 * first automotive application of Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) — Bendix "ElectroJector" - Prototype / Test Mule 1957 Rambler (never officially produced for consumption), followed by Chrysler (et. al.) in 1958.  Bosch developed their D-Jetronic FI from Bendix's design.
 * first electronic fuel injection — 1968 Bosch D-Jetronic - Volkswagen Type 3/Type 4
 * first Diesel direct injection engine — 1986 Fiat Croma Turbo D i.d.
 * first electronic gasoline direct injection — 1996 Mitsubishi Galant/Legnum 4G93 GDI I4
 * first passenger car common rail diesel direct injection engine — 1997 Alfa Romeo 156 JTD
 * first turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine — 2005 Audi A3 Sportback
 * first turbocharged diesel direct injection engine — 1986 Fiat Croma Turbo D i.d.


 * ignition systems
 * first contact breaker point ignition — 1910 Cadillac Model Thirty / Delco
 * first electronic ignition — 1960 General Motors / Delco
 * first distributor-less ignition — Citroën 2CV?
 * general miscellany
 * first alternator — 1960 Chrysler Corporation, Plymouth Valiant
 * first California Ultra Low Emission Vehicle — 1995 Honda Accord
 * first California Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle — 2005 (General Motors/3800 Buick V6) powered cars: Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick LaCrosse, Buick Lucerne

Hybrid vehicles

 * First gas-electric hybrid - 1899 Lohner-Porsche Mixte (about 300 produced)
 * First modern hybrid car - 1904 Auto-Mixte (Belgium)
 * First mass-produced hybrid car - 1997 Toyota Prius
 * First hybrid bus - 1997 Hino (Japan)
 * First all-wheel drive hybrid - 2004 Ford Escape Hybrid
 * First hybrid SUV - 2004 Ford Escape Hybrid
 * First hybrid luxury car - 2005 Lexus RX 400h (introduced January 2004)
 * First mild hybrid pickup truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Hybrid
 * First full hybrid pickup truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra Hybrid

Body

 * First sedan/saloon &mdash; 1911 Speedwell Motor Car Company
 * First motorized truck &mdash; October 1896 Daimler
 * First production closed-body car - 1910 Cadillac Model Thirty
 * First monocoque - 1924 Lancia Lambda
 * First shatter-resistant windshield glass - 1926 Cadillac
 * First coupé convertible - 1934 Peugeot 401 D Eclipse
 * First Pickup / Utility vehicle (Ute) - 1934 Ford Coupé utility
 * First fully boxed frame - 2004 Ford F150 (???)
 * First safety windshield - 1948 Tucker Torpedo (popout safety glass)
 * First fiberglass body - 1952 Woodill Wildfire (low production)
 * First MPV - 1956 Fiat 600 Multipla
 * First retractable hardtop - 1934 Pourtout Lancia Belna Eclipse-coachbuilt
 * First hatchback - 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4
 * First fiberglass monocoque - 1956 Berkeley SA322


 * First Crossover - 1955 GAZ M72
 * First all-aluminium body - 1932 Riley Kestrel
 * First all-aluminium space frame - 1990 Honda NSX
 * First carbon fibre monocoque - 1993 McLaren F1
 * First stress-bearing engine acting like a structural member - 1995 Ferrari F50
 * First aerodynamic design - 1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen
 * First body made of recycled material - 1954 Trabant P70
 * First tricar - 1902
 * First cyclecar - 1910 GN/1910 Bédélia
 * First production station wagon (estate) - 1908 Ford Model T
 * Honorable mention: 1923 Star
 * First SUV - 1908 Ford Model T
 * First fully boxed frame [pick-up] - 2004 Ford F150 (???)

Transmission

 * Manual transmissions
 * First synchronized transmission - 1929 Cadillac
 * First overdrive - 1934 Chrysler Airflow
 * First modern cone synchromesh transmission - 1952 Porsche 356
 * First 5-speed manual - 1948 Lancia Ardea
 * First 6-speed manual - 1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
 * First 8-speed manual - 1960 Moskvitch 410/411
 * Automatic transmissions
 * First automatic transmission - May 1939 Oldsmobile Hydra-Matic (also the first 4-speed automatic)
 * First torque converter automatic - 1948 Buick Dynaflow
 * First non-planetary automatic - 1968 Honda Hondamatic
 * First 5-speed automatic - 1991 BMW E34 5-Series and E36 320i/325i ZF 5HP18
 * First 6-speed automatic - 2002 BMW E65 7-Series ZF 6HP26
 * First 7-speed automatic - 2003 Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic
 * First 8-speed automatic - 2007 Lexus LS 460
 * First limited slip differential - 1956 Studebaker
 * First continuously variable transmission - 1958 DAF 600 "A-Type"
 * First toroidal continuously variable transmission - 1999 Nissan Cedric and Nissan Gloria
 * First dual clutch transmission - 2003 Volkswagen Golf Mk4 R32 (Direct-Shift Gearbox)
 * First active differential - 1986 Porsche 959 PSK (limited production of 200 vehicles)

Layout

 * First FR layout car - 1895 Panhard et Levassor
 * First RR layout car - 1896 Hertel
 * First front-wheel drive - 1924 Tracta (Gregoire-Tracta)
 * honorable mention: 1928 Alvis FWD
 * First transverse front-wheel drive - 1931 DKW F1
 * First transverse front-wheel drive I5 - 1993 Volvo 850
 * First transverse front-wheel drive I6 - 1970 Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman
 * First transverse front-wheel drive V8 - 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
 * First transverse all-wheel drive - 1968 Austin Ant (never entered production)
 * First four-wheel drive vehicle - 1910 Caldwell Vale or 1911 Four Wheel Drive
 * First four-wheel drive car - 1966 Jensen FF
 * First FR layout transaxle - 1950 Lancia Aurelia (the 1914 Stutz Bearcat featured a primitive transaxle)
 * First MR car - 1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen
 * First MR four-wheel drive car - 1984 Ford RS200 (homologation special, 200 road cars produced for Group B regulations.)

Suspension

 * First torsion bar suspension - 1921 Leyland
 * First front independent suspension - 1911 Morgan three wheeler
 * First hydraulic shock absorbers - 1933 Hudson (Monroe)
 * First coil spring / shock absorber suspension - 1934 Cadillac, Chrysler, and Hudson
 * First MacPherson strut suspension - 1949 Ford Vedette
 * First Chapman strut suspension - 1958 Lotus Elite
 * First air suspension - 1958 Cadillac Brougham
 * First self-levelling suspension - 1955 Citroën DS
 * First electronic adjustable suspension dampers - 1981 Nissan Skyline
 * First electronically-controlled suspension - 1983 Toyota Soarer (Japan-market model) / 1983 Mitsubishi Galant ECS
 * First active air suspension - 1987 Mitsubishi Galant active ECS
 * First active hydraulic suspension - 1990 Nissan Infiniti Q45a (FAS-fully active suspension)
 * First active anti-roll bars - 1994 Citroen Xantia Activa (Active Roll Stabilisation)

Brakes

 * First four wheel brakes - 1909 Argyll (developed by Arrol-Johnson)
 * First power brakes - 1919 Hispano-Suiza H6 (mechanically assisted)
 * First four wheel power brakes - 1919 Hispano-Suiza H6
 * First vacuum-assist power brakes - 1928 Pierce-Arrow
 * First hydraulic power brakes - 1921 Duesenberg Model A
 * First standard disc brakes - 1949 Crosley Hot Shot
 * First antilock braking system - 1966 Jensen FF (Dunlop Maxaret system, previously used in aviation)
 * First electrical antilock braking system - 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III
 * First electronic antilock braking system - 1978 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
 * First electric parking brake - 2002 BMW E65/E66
 * First diagonally split, dual brake circuits - 1962 Saab 95/96
 * First asbestos-free brake pads - 1983 Saab Automobile
 * First electro-hydraulic brakes - 2002 Mercedes-Benz E-Class / 2001 Toyota Prius
 * First regenerative brakes - 1997 Toyota Prius

Driver-aids

 * First standard rear-view mirror - 1912 Marmon
 * First power steering - 1951 Imperial
 * First cruise control - 1957 Imperial
 * First traction control system/anti slip regulation - 1971 Buick LeSabre (MaxTrac)
 * First drive-by-wire throttle - 1988 BMW 750iL
 * First electrochromic rear-view mirror - 1989 Lexus LS
 * First Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers - 1984 Nissan 200SX/Nissan Silvia
 * First dynamic stability control system/Electronic Stability Programme/Vehicle Stability Control - 1995 BMW 7-Series/Mercedes-Benz CL-Class/Toyota Crown Majesta
 * First adaptive cruise control - 1997 Toyota Celsior
 * First heads-up display - 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme/1988 Nissan Silvia
 * First factory GPS navigation - 1990 Mazda Cosmo, 1986 GT Limited Toyota Soarer
 * First night vision - 2000 Cadillac DeVille
 * First power door locks - 1914 Scripps-Booth
 * First self parking - 2004 Toyota Prius
 * First Blind Spot Intervention System - 2010 Nissan Fuga/Infiniti M
 * First Synchronized down shift rev-matching system - 2009 Nissan 370Z/Nissan Fairlady Z

Passive Restraint

 * First car to come standard with safety belts - 1958 Saab GT 750

Active restraint

 * First airbags - 1974 Oldsmobile Toronado
 * First car to come standard with dual airbags - 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo
 * First six-airbag system - 1994 Audi A8
 * First head airbags - 1997 BMW 7-Series
 * First side airbags - 1995 Volvo 850

Tires/Tyres

 * First use of pneumatic tires - 1895 Peugeot L'Eclair (Michelin)
 * First standard pneumatic tires - 1896 Bollée Voiturette
 * First radial-ply tires - 1949 Michelin "X" ''(patented in 1946)
 * First self-repairing tires - 1950 Goodyear
 * First run flat tire - 1974 Mini 1275GT (Dunlop Denovo; optional)

Lighting

 * First electrical lighting - 1898 Columbia electric
 * First standard lights - 1904 "Prest-O-Lite" acetylene
 * First standard electrical lights - 1908 Peerless
 * First integrated electrical and lighting system - 1912 Cadillac Model 1912 Delco
 * First "dipping" headlights - 1915 Guide Lamp Company
 * First dual-beam headlight - 1924 Bilux
 * First retractable headlights - 1936 Cord
 * First directional headlamps - 1930s Tatra
 * First fog lights - 1938 Cadillac
 * First auto-dimming headlights - 1952 Cadillac Autronic Eye
 * First auto-on/off headlights - 1964 Cadillac Twilight Sentinel
 * First headlight wipers - 1970 Saab (95, 96, 99)
 * First AC HID lights - 1991 BMW 7-series
 * First DC HID lights - 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII
 * First neon lights - 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII
 * First all-LED tail lights - 1998 Maserati 3200 GT
 * First bi-xenon HID headlamps - 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
 * First low beam, front position light and sidemarker LED headlights - 2008 Lexus LS600h
 * First all-LED headlights - 2008 Audi R8

Electrical system

 * First magneto - 1897 Lanchester
 * First twin-spark engine - 1921 Bentley 3 Litre
 * First electric self-starter - Arnold (copy of the Benz Velo) before 1900.
 * First electric windows - 1938 Buick Y
 * First combination key and ignition switch - 1949 Chrysler
 * First AC alternator - 1960 Valiant
 * First sealed battery - 1971 Pontiac "Freedom Battery"
 * First multiplexed wiring - 1987 Cadillac Allanté
 * First integrated car systems control - 1987 Toyota Soarer (Electro Multi Vision)

Climate control

 * First windshield defroster - 1928 Studebaker
 * First windshield washer - 1937 Studebaker
 * First air conditioning - 1938 Studebaker Commander
 * First rear window defogger - 1948 Cadillac
 * First heated seats - 1966 Cadillac
 * First automatic climate control - 1964 Cadillac
 * First digital climate control - 1975 Rolls-Royce Camargue
 * First ventilated seats - 1998 Saab 9-5

In-car electronics and entertainment

 * First original-equipment radio - 1923 Springfield
 * First navigation system - August 1981 Honda Accord (analog, dealer-installed)
 * First navigation system with voice controls - 2002 Infiniti Q45
 * First digital navigation system - 1990 Acura Legend
 * First GPS navigation system - 1990 Mazda Eunos Cosmo
 * First active audio volume control - 1990 Chevrolet Corvette Bose/Delco Gold Series
 * First telematics assist system - 1996 tie 1997-model Cadillac Seville (OnStar) and Lincoln Continental (Motorola RESCU)
 * First Bluetooth-capable audio system - 2000 Chrysler
 * First active noise cancellation - 2005 Acura RL
 * First steering wheel mounted audio controls - 1984 Nissan 300ZX AE

Other

 * First steering wheel - 1899 Packard
 * First speedometer - 1901 Oldsmobile
 * First tilt-away steering wheel - 1912 Peerless
 * First dash-mounted fuel tank gauge - 1914 Studebaker
 * First tilt-away steering column - 1928 Buick
 * First turn signals - 1939 Buick
 * First split folding rear seats - 1959 Auto Union Universal (Fiat patented the system in 1978)
 * First tilt/telescope steering wheel - 1965 Cadillac
 * First electronic four wheel steering - 1985 Nissan Skyline HICAS
 * First mechanical four wheel steering - 1988 Honda Prelude 4WS
 * First composite wheels - 1989 Shelby CSX
 * First active exhaust - 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT
 * First Production Car To Achieve 200 MPH 1987 Ferrari F40

Pre-War

 * Best-selling pre-war vehicle - Ford Model-T (15,000,000 sold between 1908 and 1928)
 * Least-expensive full-featured automobile - 1927 Ford Model-T ($300 is about $3500 in inflation-adjusted 2005 dollars)
 * Largest vehicle - Bugatti Royale - 21 ft (6.4 m) long, 180 in (4.57 m) or 170 in (4.32 m) wheelbase depending on model
 * Largest pre-war Straight-4 - 21495 cc (1312 in3) - 1912 Benz 82/200
 * Largest pre-war Straight-6 - 21112 cc (1288 in3) - 1905 Panhard et Levassor 50 CV
 * Largest pre-war Straight-8 - 12763 cc (779 in³) - 1929 Bugatti Royale production car; the prototype had a 14726 cc engine
 * Largest pre-war V12 - 11310 cc (690 in³) - 1933 Hispano-Suiza Type 68bis