How Have Car Engines Evolved Over The Years?

One of the most significant milestones in technology is the evolution of car engines. Without the development of machines, the cars that we know today wouldn't be the same. Modern vehicles and their robust engines result from the efforts of pioneers of engineers. But the modern-day engines vastly differ from the past ones. This article discusses the evolution of car engines through these years!
The Transformation Era
The story of car engines started back in 1206 when Al-Jazari, a mechanical engineer, invented a crankshaft that he integrated with a crank-connecting rod in a twin-cylinder pump. Jazari's crankshaft mechanism is still a part of modern-day crankshafts.
More engines were introduced when a Dutch physicist attempted to create the first internal combustion in 1680. After this successful attempt, Thomas Mead and Robert Street patented an internal combustion engine and a gas engine.
Years later, Karl Benz, the father of the automobile industry, also filed a patent for two-stroke gas engines. In the year 1892, Rudolf Diesel, a German scientist, developed the first compressed, charged and compression ignition engine. This invention led to the introduction of diesel car engines. Rudolf's invention is still considered one of the most extraordinary contributions to the world of automobiles.

The First Automobile Engines
Now, let's talk about the first-ever engine for cars. Karl Benz was the first person to create the gasoline engine for vehicles. This engine ran on the eve of the New Year in 1879. Later in 1885, Benz built a four-stroke engine, which he equipped in his automobile. Benz also received a patent for this engine in 1886.
This four-stroke engine was the beginning of the automobile industry. This invention by Benz received remarkable appreciation. It was the first engine to be commercially used and powered lightweight cars using gasoline. In the first vehicle, the engine and chassis formed the single unit. The first-ever engine produced 0.75 horsepower.
In a later design patent, Karl Benz used horizontally opposed pistons. This engine was notorious for being sharper and lower but also became a commercial success.

Advancements
The ongoing use of engines has resulted in several advancements and changes in car engines. There have been advancements in power machines that can even drive large ships and vehicles. Recent vehicles such as Nissan, Honda, Toyota use turbocharged diesel engines. These engines have increased power output and highly desirable performance. The machines use the mechanism of air induction through super-charging and turbocharging. The newer vehicles also come with V6 engines to improve vehicle mileage and fuel efficiency.

Did you find the evolution of car engines interesting? Don't forget to share this exciting piece of info with your fellow car enthusiasts!
Latest News
car&bike Team | Jan 29, 2026Hyundai Exter Facelift Spied Testing Ahead Of India DebutUpdated Exter is expected to make its debut later in the year as Hyundai will look to better compete with the Punch.1 min read
Janak Sorap | Jan 29, 20262023 World Superbike Championship-winning Ducati Panigale V4 R: Photo GalleryThis one is not tribute bike or a factory replica, but the very machine ridden by Álvaro Bautista during his record-breaking WorldSBK title in the 2023 season.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jan 29, 2026Skoda Kylaq Crosses 50,000 Units Production MilestoneThe sub-compact SUV has played a major role in Skoda’s 107 per cent sales growth in 2025.2 mins read
Janak Sorap | Jan 29, 2026KTM 390 Adventure R Launched in India at Rs. 3.78 LakhKTM has quietly expanded its adventure lineup in India with the launch of the more off-road-focused 390 Adventure R.1 min read
Hansaj Kukreti | Jan 28, 2026Nissan Reveals Solar-Powered Ariya EV ConceptNissan has showcased a new Ariya crossover concept that utilises solar energy to reduce dependency on fixed charging.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jan 28, 2026BMW X3 30 xDrive Petrol India Launch On Feb 16More powerful variant of the X3 will be offered in M Sport Pro trim with pre-bookings set to open on January 30.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Jan 21, 2026Tata Punch Facelift Review: New Turbo Engine; Same Old SoulWith the update, the Tata Punch facelift retains its character of being a healthy runabout, which is perfect for Indian roads. But have these changes made it any better?7 mins read
Amaan Ahmed | Jan 17, 2026Bajaj Chetak C25 First Ride Review: Basic, Likeable E-Scooter For First-Time RidersThe Chetak C25, in quite a few ways, is poles apart from the larger and more powerful 30 and 35 Series models, but in its mannerisms, it is very much a Chetak.8 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Jan 9, 2026Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder: 10,000 km Long-Term ReviewAfter spending over three months and 10,000 km with the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid, we were impressed by its real-world mileage, seamless hybrid, practical comfort, and Toyota reliability. Is it the best C-SUV then?5 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jan 8, 20262026 Mahindra XUV 7XO Review: Big On Tech, Bigger On ComfortThe new Mahindra XUV 7XO is flashier, feature packed, and comes with more advanced tech. But are the changes just incremental or actually substantial?1 min read
Preetam Bora | Jan 10, 2026Simple One Gen 2 First Ride Review: 265 km Claimed Range!The Gen 2 model of Simple Energy’s first electric scooter gets a fair few updates, including new features, tech, more range and lighter weight. We spent a couple of hours with the Simple One Gen 2 to find out if it manages to impress.6 mins read

















































































































