The first motor vehicles were designed thinking in carts to which they put a engine, there was powered steam, electric, Otto cycle internal combustion cycle and Diesel. The thought was majorly about the idea of making something very similar to the carts moved with the engines of the industrial age.
Obviously, not being in harmony with the times technology motorized carts, they did not prosper, but were good try. Motor vehicles designed prospered until taking advantage of advances in all branches of science and technology of its time, ie, they were brought into line with the times.
