The technical initiative - in hands of France

While in Germany Benz experienced crisis, and the Daimler, despite of everything, aspired to perfection of the models, France has accepted relay race of the technical initiative. The strong was firm " Panhard et Levassor " which firstly specialized on release of tape saws and woodworking machine tools. In 1890 it has started manufacture of two-cylinder V-shaped engine " Daimler " and then has presented public two crews, prototype of the best car in the world, in each of which instead of animal-drawn draft engine " Daimler " installed in the middle of a body was used.

Next year there was one more car with the vertical engine, but located already in front. Such design raise stability of the car, as well as character of management (with rotary cams and a trapeze), however other technical decisions were still kept from horse crews. The car had also lacks: coupling represented the rough mechanism though in a box of transfers unknown persons earlier sliding gears were used. The main transfer was chain, and the differential was the most simple design.

Despite of conservative technical decisions, in 1891 "Panhard" has put in pawn a basis of a design of the easy car, prototype of the best car in the world, to which could become almost universal on sixty the next years: the engine located in front and back driving wheels. "System Panhard" in the first embodiment was the unhandy car, in comparison with unpretentious "slow mover" "Benz". But it had a potential for infinite perfection.

Process of modernization passed in following sequence: first there were lateral circuits and differential with conical pinion gears, then - a bevel clutch, similar that was used on lathes. Then, in 1898, there was a control by means of a sterring wheel which actuates system of levers, pull-rods and the hinges, transferring movement from a steer to controlled wheels. Designers have gradually learned to select an inclination of an axle pin in a longitudinal plane, making the car obedient to a rudder. Such the germ of the modern car appears at us.

Almost at the same time columns De Dion (Comte Albert de Dion) (1856-1946) unites efforts with engineer George Butonom (Georges Bouton) (1847-1938). Result of such tandem was the firm " De Dion-Bouton ". Having started with designing steam machines, " De Dion-Bouton " in 1885 has designed modest on a kind the engine power 0,5 h.p., than has brought the essential contribution to creation of the car: it was the first high-speed automobile engine working in a mode of 1500 «i./mines., but capable to work and on 3000 «i./mines., thus not collapsing on a part. For comparison: engine " Daimler " could brag only 700-900 «i./mines. This facilitated power{force} unit at once has put the gasoline engine ahead of gas and steam primogenitors, having bypassed them under the technical and high-speed characteristics: Design cranking the mechanism, reasonableness of a mechanical part and, the main thing, the breaker of ignition (for prevention of any growth of number of revolutions). Such engine has been installed on De Dion's three-wheeled car of 1895, and its power constantly increased: from 0,75 h.p. up to more impressive 2,75 h.p.

New vehicles, inexpensive, light in service and simple in circulation, used steady demand. Soon some firms began to alter them in four-wheel cars, constructing a place for the passenger above a new front axle. " De Dion-Bouton " at once has responded to inquiries of the market and in 1899 has exhausted the four-wheel car ("voiturette").

The new improved version by power 3,5 h.p. represented known model " De Dion ", with an original design of the rear axle and successfully grouped, that has allowed to reduce its weight. It was not opening - such decision was already used on steam cars, - for it and did not apply Dion, the Bud; but the successful scheme of the rear axle - in this engineers of a lot of known firms, such as "Lancia" and "Rover" has been thought up, many years later were convinced. Carefully developed by De Dion and the Bud small one-cylinder cars have won popularity and have held on in the market till 1912, despite of occurrence of two-cylinder and four-cylinder models. The reason for that were reliability, comfort, simplicity in steering and sufficient power. Besides it the engine " De Dion-Bouton " with 1898 for 1908 has given a life to one hundred different versions, and they, in turn, - to many the best car's of the world.