General Awareness

Automotive and Motorsport Trivia

2,671 Questions

Automotive and motorsport trivia covers global car manufacturers, racing championships, and brand taglines. Test takers encounter these facts in general knowledge and current affairs papers. This subject assesses familiarity with commercial vehicles and historical racing records.

Formula 1 racing recordsCar brand taglinesAutomobile commercial failuresEuropean car rentalsEngine technology innovationsStreet circuits

Automotive and Motorsport Trivia Questions

Multiple choice technology
  1. MOPAR, Chrysler, JEEP, Chevrolet

  2. Dodge ,Chrysler, Sprinter

  3. Chrysler , MOPAR , Dodge , JEEP

  4. None of the Above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Chrysler's brand portfolio includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and MOPAR (their parts and service division). Option A incorrectly includes Chevrolet (GM brand). Option B excludes Jeep and MOPAR. Option C correctly lists all four Chrysler brands.

Multiple choice technology testing
  1. True

  2. False

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Q&I system has limitations on the number of vehicles that can be added to a single auto policy. Since the maximum is typically 4 vehicles per policy (as established in related questions), a 5th car cannot be added to the same policy. The system would require creating a separate policy for the additional vehicle.

Multiple choice
  1. Hindustan Motors

  2. Premier Automobiles

  3. Standard Motor Products of India

  4. TELCO

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Hindustan Motors, established in 1942, was indeed the first car manufacturing company in India. It produced the iconic Ambassador car. Premier Automobiles (1944), TELCO (1945), and Standard Motor Products (1950) started later, making Hindustan Motors the correct answer.

Multiple choice
  1. Apollo Tyres

  2. Goodyear

  3. MRF

  4. Balakrishna Tyres

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Amazer XL is a radial tyre brand from Apollo Tyres, an Indian multinational tyre manufacturing company headquartered in Gurgaon. Apollo Tyres is one of India's leading tyre manufacturers, and Amazer is their popular passenger car tyre range known for durability and performance.

Multiple choice
  1. France

  2. Germany

  3. India

  4. Poland

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The term automobile combines Greek 'autos' (self) and Latin 'mobilis' (moving), coined in French during the 19th century. France is the correct origin as French usage predates English adoption by decades.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and choose the option that replaces the following.

Something added to something

THE AGE OF THE CLASSIC CARS
The 1920s saw the emergence of the great European producers—Austin, Morris, Singer, Fiat, and Citroën. Universal motor transportation, that is, transportation for all, was a long way off, but the idea of the small car was made real in the Austin Seven and the Fiat Topolino. These two cars were modelled on the Italian Ettore Bugatti's tiny Bébé Peugeot of 1911, which was to have a very deep effect.
The decade 1925–35 was notable not only for the appearance of many new small automobiles but also for the building of many ultra-large ones. The years from 1925 to 1942 are remembered by collectors of automobiles as the classic years, a period that saw the rise of the luxurious fast motorcar to a peak it seemed unlikely to reach again.
The first name in this field was Rolls-Royce, founded in 1904. Most Rolls-Royce chassis are designed for limousine and large sedan bodies, but the firm once made a comparatively light car, called the Twenty, and it has throughout its history produced fast models in addition to its regular line—e.g., after World War II, the Continental, built under the Bentley Motors Ltd. label.
Other motorcars of this type included the Hispano-Suiza of Spain and France; the Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Talbot (Darracq), and Voisin of France; the Duesenberg, Cadillac, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow of the United States; the Horch, Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz of Germany; the Belgian Minerva; and the Italian Isotta-Fraschini. These were costly machines, priced roughly from $7,500 to $40,000; fast (90 to 130 miles per hour); as comfortable as the state of the art would allow; and limited in luxury only by the purse of the purchaser. The great custom coach (made according to the demands of the customer) builders of England who made bodies for Rolls-Royce machines, were able to meet any thing that their clients asked, and were prepared to satisfy any request, whether for upholstery in matched ostrich hide with ivory buttons or for a dashboard in rosewood.
The most expensive standard automobile of which there exists convincing record was the Type 41 Bugatti, produced in the 1920s by Ettore Bugatti, an Italian of extraordinary gifts who built cars in France, most of them racing and sports types, from 1909 to 1939. The Type 41 Bugatti, also called La Royale, was cataloged at a chassis price of 500,000 francs, about $20,000. Only six of the cars were built.

The market collapse of 1929 ended the era of the really luxurious motorcar. After World War II even Rolls-Royce abandoned its policy of producing a standard chassis with custom-made bodies and offered a standard sedan that could be bought straight off the showroom floor.
  1. Grand

  2. Total

  3. Addition

  4. Deduce

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'Something added to something' is the definition of 'addition'. This is a vocabulary question testing whether you understand that 'addition' means the act or process of adding something to something else. While the passage doesn't use this specific word, the question tests independent vocabulary knowledge.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct answer for the following according to the reading passage.

Which of the following is true about the Rolls Royce Company?

THE AGE OF THE CLASSIC CARS
The 1920s saw the emergence of the great European producers—Austin, Morris, Singer, Fiat, and Citroën. Universal motor transportation, that is, transportation for all, was a long way off, but the idea of the small car was made real in the Austin Seven and the Fiat Topolino. These two cars were modelled on the Italian Ettore Bugatti's tiny Bébé Peugeot of 1911, which was to have a very deep effect.
The decade 1925–35 was notable not only for the appearance of many new small automobiles but also for the building of many ultra-large ones. The years from 1925 to 1942 are remembered by collectors of automobiles as the classic years, a period that saw the rise of the luxurious fast motorcar to a peak it seemed unlikely to reach again.
The first name in this field was Rolls-Royce, founded in 1904. Most Rolls-Royce chassis are designed for limousine and large sedan bodies, but the firm once made a comparatively light car, called the Twenty, and it has throughout its history produced fast models in addition to its regular line—e.g., after World War II, the Continental, built under the Bentley Motors Ltd. label.
Other motorcars of this type included the Hispano-Suiza of Spain and France; the Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Talbot (Darracq), and Voisin of France; the Duesenberg, Cadillac, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow of the United States; the Horch, Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz of Germany; the Belgian Minerva; and the Italian Isotta-Fraschini. These were costly machines, priced roughly from $7,500 to $40,000; fast (90 to 130 miles per hour); as comfortable as the state of the art would allow; and limited in luxury only by the purse of the purchaser. The great custom coach (made according to the demands of the customer) builders of England who made bodies for Rolls-Royce machines, were able to meet any thing that their clients asked, and were prepared to satisfy any request, whether for upholstery in matched ostrich hide with ivory buttons or for a dashboard in rosewood.
The most expensive standard automobile of which there exists convincing record was the Type 41 Bugatti, produced in the 1920s by Ettore Bugatti, an Italian of extraordinary gifts who built cars in France, most of them racing and sports types, from 1909 to 1939. The Type 41 Bugatti, also called La Royale, was cataloged at a chassis price of 500,000 francs, about $20,000. Only six of the cars were built.

The market collapse of 1929 ended the era of the really luxurious motorcar. After World War II even Rolls-Royce abandoned its policy of producing a standard chassis with custom-made bodies and offered a standard sedan that could be bought straight off the showroom floor.
  1. It was known only for its limousines and sedans.

  2. It never made light cars.

  3. It made cars that were mostly slow.

  4. It was also sometimes known under the name of Bentley Motors Ltd.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The passage explicitly states that after World War II, Rolls-Royce produced the Continental 'under the Bentley Motors Ltd. label.' This directly supports option D, showing that Rolls-Royce was sometimes known under the Bentley Motors name. Options A, B, and C are contradicted by the passage.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and choose the option that best relates to underlined word(s).

After World War II even Rolls-Royce abandoned its policy of producing a standard chassis.

THE AGE OF THE CLASSIC CARS
The 1920s saw the emergence of the great European producers—Austin, Morris, Singer, Fiat, and Citroën. Universal motor transportation, that is, transportation for all, was a long way off, but the idea of the small car was made real in the Austin Seven and the Fiat Topolino. These two cars were modelled on the Italian Ettore Bugatti's tiny Bébé Peugeot of 1911, which was to have a very deep effect.
The decade 1925–35 was notable not only for the appearance of many new small automobiles but also for the building of many ultra-large ones. The years from 1925 to 1942 are remembered by collectors of automobiles as the classic years, a period that saw the rise of the luxurious fast motorcar to a peak it seemed unlikely to reach again.
The first name in this field was Rolls-Royce, founded in 1904. Most Rolls-Royce chassis are designed for limousine and large sedan bodies, but the firm once made a comparatively light car, called the Twenty, and it has throughout its history produced fast models in addition to its regular line—e.g., after World War II, the Continental, built under the Bentley Motors Ltd. label.
Other motorcars of this type included the Hispano-Suiza of Spain and France; the Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Talbot (Darracq), and Voisin of France; the Duesenberg, Cadillac, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow of the United States; the Horch, Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz of Germany; the Belgian Minerva; and the Italian Isotta-Fraschini. These were costly machines, priced roughly from $7,500 to $40,000; fast (90 to 130 miles per hour); as comfortable as the state of the art would allow; and limited in luxury only by the purse of the purchaser. The great custom coach (made according to the demands of the customer) builders of England who made bodies for Rolls-Royce machines, were able to meet any thing that their clients asked, and were prepared to satisfy any request, whether for upholstery in matched ostrich hide with ivory buttons or for a dashboard in rosewood.
The most expensive standard automobile of which there exists convincing record was the Type 41 Bugatti, produced in the 1920s by Ettore Bugatti, an Italian of extraordinary gifts who built cars in France, most of them racing and sports types, from 1909 to 1939. The Type 41 Bugatti, also called La Royale, was cataloged at a chassis price of 500,000 francs, about $20,000. Only six of the cars were built.

The market collapse of 1929 ended the era of the really luxurious motorcar. After World War II even Rolls-Royce abandoned its policy of producing a standard chassis with custom-made bodies and offered a standard sedan that could be bought straight off the showroom floor.
  1. Bugatti

  2. Hispano Suiza

  3. Rolls Royce

  4. War

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In this sentence, 'its' refers to Rolls-Royce, which is the subject of the passage. The sentence states that after World War II, Rolls-Royce abandoned its previous policy of producing custom chassis with custom bodies. Rolls-Royce is clearly the company that changed its manufacturing approach, making option C correct. The other options (Bugatti, Hispano Suiza, War) are not the subject of this sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and choose the option that replaces the following.

A huge bird

THE AGE OF THE CLASSIC CARS
The 1920s saw the emergence of the great European producers—Austin, Morris, Singer, Fiat, and Citroën. Universal motor transportation, that is, transportation for all, was a long way off, but the idea of the small car was made real in the Austin Seven and the Fiat Topolino. These two cars were modelled on the Italian Ettore Bugatti's tiny Bébé Peugeot of 1911, which was to have a very deep effect.
The decade 1925–35 was notable not only for the appearance of many new small automobiles but also for the building of many ultra-large ones. The years from 1925 to 1942 are remembered by collectors of automobiles as the classic years, a period that saw the rise of the luxurious fast motorcar to a peak it seemed unlikely to reach again.
The first name in this field was Rolls-Royce, founded in 1904. Most Rolls-Royce chassis are designed for limousine and large sedan bodies, but the firm once made a comparatively light car, called the Twenty, and it has throughout its history produced fast models in addition to its regular line—e.g., after World War II, the Continental, built under the Bentley Motors Ltd. label.
Other motorcars of this type included the Hispano-Suiza of Spain and France; the Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Talbot (Darracq), and Voisin of France; the Duesenberg, Cadillac, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow of the United States; the Horch, Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz of Germany; the Belgian Minerva; and the Italian Isotta-Fraschini. These were costly machines, priced roughly from $7,500 to $40,000; fast (90 to 130 miles per hour); as comfortable as the state of the art would allow; and limited in luxury only by the purse of the purchaser. The great custom coach (made according to the demands of the customer) builders of England who made bodies for Rolls-Royce machines, were able to meet any thing that their clients asked, and were prepared to satisfy any request, whether for upholstery in matched ostrich hide with ivory buttons or for a dashboard in rosewood.
The most expensive standard automobile of which there exists convincing record was the Type 41 Bugatti, produced in the 1920s by Ettore Bugatti, an Italian of extraordinary gifts who built cars in France, most of them racing and sports types, from 1909 to 1939. The Type 41 Bugatti, also called La Royale, was cataloged at a chassis price of 500,000 francs, about $20,000. Only six of the cars were built.

The market collapse of 1929 ended the era of the really luxurious motorcar. After World War II even Rolls-Royce abandoned its policy of producing a standard chassis with custom-made bodies and offered a standard sedan that could be bought straight off the showroom floor.
  1. Parrot

  2. Ostrich

  3. Rabbit

  4. Eagle

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

An ostrich is a large flightless bird, and the passage mentions 'upholstery in matched ostrich hide' as an example of the extreme luxury features available. The question asks for 'A huge bird,' and ostrich fits this description as the largest living bird species. The other options (parrot, rabbit, eagle) are incorrect - rabbit isn't a bird, parrot and eagle are not characterized as 'huge' in the same way.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct answer for the following according to the reading passage.

What was special about cars made in the 1920s?

THE AGE OF THE CLASSIC CARS
The 1920s saw the emergence of the great European producers—Austin, Morris, Singer, Fiat, and Citroën. Universal motor transportation, that is, transportation for all, was a long way off, but the idea of the small car was made real in the Austin Seven and the Fiat Topolino. These two cars were modelled on the Italian Ettore Bugatti's tiny Bébé Peugeot of 1911, which was to have a very deep effect.
The decade 1925–35 was notable not only for the appearance of many new small automobiles but also for the building of many ultra-large ones. The years from 1925 to 1942 are remembered by collectors of automobiles as the classic years, a period that saw the rise of the luxurious fast motorcar to a peak it seemed unlikely to reach again.
The first name in this field was Rolls-Royce, founded in 1904. Most Rolls-Royce chassis are designed for limousine and large sedan bodies, but the firm once made a comparatively light car, called the Twenty, and it has throughout its history produced fast models in addition to its regular line—e.g., after World War II, the Continental, built under the Bentley Motors Ltd. label.
Other motorcars of this type included the Hispano-Suiza of Spain and France; the Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Talbot (Darracq), and Voisin of France; the Duesenberg, Cadillac, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow of the United States; the Horch, Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz of Germany; the Belgian Minerva; and the Italian Isotta-Fraschini. These were costly machines, priced roughly from $7,500 to $40,000; fast (90 to 130 miles per hour); as comfortable as the state of the art would allow; and limited in luxury only by the purse of the purchaser. The great custom coach (made according to the demands of the customer) builders of England who made bodies for Rolls-Royce machines, were able to meet any thing that their clients asked, and were prepared to satisfy any request, whether for upholstery in matched ostrich hide with ivory buttons or for a dashboard in rosewood.
The most expensive standard automobile of which there exists convincing record was the Type 41 Bugatti, produced in the 1920s by Ettore Bugatti, an Italian of extraordinary gifts who built cars in France, most of them racing and sports types, from 1909 to 1939. The Type 41 Bugatti, also called La Royale, was cataloged at a chassis price of 500,000 francs, about $20,000. Only six of the cars were built.

The market collapse of 1929 ended the era of the really luxurious motorcar. After World War II even Rolls-Royce abandoned its policy of producing a standard chassis with custom-made bodies and offered a standard sedan that could be bought straight off the showroom floor.
  1. They were remarkably cheap.

  2. They could be made according to the needs of the customer.

  3. They were all heavy vehicles.

  4. They moved rather slowly.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage specifically mentions that custom coach builders 'were able to meet any thing that their clients asked, and were prepared to satisfy any request' - this means cars could be customized to customer needs. The cars were NOT cheap (they cost $7,500-$40,000), they were NOT all heavy (some were small like Austin Seven), and they were NOT slow (90-130 mph).

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and choose the option that replaces the following.

Important and deserving attention

THE AGE OF THE CLASSIC CARS
The 1920s saw the emergence of the great European producers—Austin, Morris, Singer, Fiat, and Citroën. Universal motor transportation, that is, transportation for all, was a long way off, but the idea of the small car was made real in the Austin Seven and the Fiat Topolino. These two cars were modelled on the Italian Ettore Bugatti's tiny Bébé Peugeot of 1911, which was to have a very deep effect.
The decade 1925–35 was notable not only for the appearance of many new small automobiles but also for the building of many ultra-large ones. The years from 1925 to 1942 are remembered by collectors of automobiles as the classic years, a period that saw the rise of the luxurious fast motorcar to a peak it seemed unlikely to reach again.
The first name in this field was Rolls-Royce, founded in 1904. Most Rolls-Royce chassis are designed for limousine and large sedan bodies, but the firm once made a comparatively light car, called the Twenty, and it has throughout its history produced fast models in addition to its regular line—e.g., after World War II, the Continental, built under the Bentley Motors Ltd. label.
Other motorcars of this type included the Hispano-Suiza of Spain and France; the Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Talbot (Darracq), and Voisin of France; the Duesenberg, Cadillac, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow of the United States; the Horch, Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz of Germany; the Belgian Minerva; and the Italian Isotta-Fraschini. These were costly machines, priced roughly from $7,500 to $40,000; fast (90 to 130 miles per hour); as comfortable as the state of the art would allow; and limited in luxury only by the purse of the purchaser. The great custom coach (made according to the demands of the customer) builders of England who made bodies for Rolls-Royce machines, were able to meet any thing that their clients asked, and were prepared to satisfy any request, whether for upholstery in matched ostrich hide with ivory buttons or for a dashboard in rosewood.
The most expensive standard automobile of which there exists convincing record was the Type 41 Bugatti, produced in the 1920s by Ettore Bugatti, an Italian of extraordinary gifts who built cars in France, most of them racing and sports types, from 1909 to 1939. The Type 41 Bugatti, also called La Royale, was cataloged at a chassis price of 500,000 francs, about $20,000. Only six of the cars were built.

The market collapse of 1929 ended the era of the really luxurious motorcar. After World War II even Rolls-Royce abandoned its policy of producing a standard chassis with custom-made bodies and offered a standard sedan that could be bought straight off the showroom floor.
  1. Notable

  2. Grand

  3. Stopping

  4. Indifferent

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'Important and deserving attention' describes something significant or noteworthy. 'Notable' means exactly this - worthy of attention or notice, important. 'Grand' means impressive but not necessarily important. 'Stopping' refers to halting motion. 'Indifferent' means not caring, the opposite.

Multiple choice
  1. Accord

  2. Jupiter

  3. C Planet

  4. Camry

  5. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Toyota launched a car sub-brand called 'C Planet' in the Indian market during this period. Accord and Camry are existing Toyota sedan models (not sub-brands for India). 'Jupiter' is not associated with Toyota's India lineup. The question refers specifically to the sub-brand name, not individual car models.

Multiple choice

Who was the originator of the oldest French car, which was seen in India by a professor, who was on his worldwide tour?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are in bold to help you to locate them while answering of the question.

One of the oldest cars seen in India was a Serpollet, a French car, named after its inventor. It was noticed by one Peter Moore, a Professor of mechanical engineering at the University of London, while he was wheeling through India on his worldwide tour.

The first car was imported by the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad in 1895. The first Rolls Royce, known as the pearl of the East, was brought into the country in 1908 by the then Maharaja of the Gwalior State, Madhava Rao Scindia, who was the grandfather of the Railway Minister during Mr. Rajeev Gandhi’s government, Mr. Madhav Rao Scindia. However, the market for the cars in India was very limited in those days.

Thus, the Indian market was monopolised by the two domestic manufacturers, who were manufacturing the foreign-designed Ambassador and Premier Cars. This went on for nearly forty years. While the automobile industry in the world had undergone a sea-change, in India,  it was still using the obsolete technology.

In 1959, the Government of India appointed on official committee, under the Chairmanship of an able administrator-economist, Mr. L. K. Jha, to study the possibility of manufacturing India’s own low budget car called the people’s car. A similar committee was again appointed under another official, Mr. G. Pande, in 1961.

A big nationwide debate followed as to what type of car India should have, whether it should be manufactured in the public or private sector. Those were the days when the public sector was the most acceptable form of economic system considered in India. Therefore, the general consensus was that the car should be produced in the public sector and it should be priced as to be within the reach of the growing middle class of the country.

Then come the oil crisis of the 1970s. It shook the whole world, especially India  and the western developed countries, which were dependent on imported oil. In Europe and the United States, public debates started, actuated by the environmentalists and government economists,  whether it was proper to have huge oil consuming big cars or to have small economical family cars which would not be petrol-guzzlers. The consensus, therefore emerged that India should manufacture a small fuel efficient car, which should be within the reach of the growing middle class of the country.

Thus, the debate, which had started during the time of India’s first Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru came to fruition in the late 1970s. The decision to set up the project to manufacture a small fuel efficient car was quickened because the late Sanjay Gandhi, the younger son of the former Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, took active interest in this project. He set up a company in the private sector to manufacture the car, named Maruti, in collaboration with the Japanese automobile market leader Suzuki.

After Mr. Sanjay Gandhi’s untimely death in an aircrash, the government took over the company, and thus the Maruti Udyog Limited was born in 1984. And ever since the Maruti car appeared on the Indian roads during the last few years, the automobile scene has witnessed a sea change. Now, nearly 70 percent of India’s domestic market is served by the Maruti Car. Maruti has become the status symbol for India’s burgeoning middle classes. Estimated to be 150 million, this segment of population is larger than Europe’s combined market, which emerged after the European community came into existence legally in 1992. The car has also brought about quality consciousness among the automobile consumers as well as dealers. The automobile sector, which was almost negligible earlier, has started expanding.

  1. Hugh

  2. Weber

  3. Serpollet

  4. Edison

  5. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The first line of the passage says: 'One of the oldest cars seen in India was a Serpollet, a French car, named after its inventor'. Hence, Serpollet was the name of the inventor after whom the car was named.