Car (automobile)

A lot of different cars.

Within the context of automotive journalism, a car is a passenger vehicle designed by a manufacturer for the purposes of transporting its owner, as well as being aesthetically pleasing or specialising in one or more areas of performance, such as speed or off-road ability.

Throughout much of their history (though not always), cars typically possess 4 wheels, bodywork made out of metal or fibreglass, a cockpit with a standard steering and pedal arrangement, and are powered by an internal combustion engine. Typically in media concerning automotive journalism, cars are driven by reviewers for the purpose of assessing their individual qualities, strengths, and weaknesses.

With the advent of television, car programming started to become more popular and less of a novelty through series such as BBC's Wheelbase and rival broadcaster Thames Television's Drive-In, which included televisual reviews of new cars, as well as reports on racing series and other events within the motoring industry.