What self-propelled machine did Leonardo da Vinci design, often regarded as an ancestor of the modern car?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a self-propelled cart that is often regarded as an ancestor of the modern car.

The cart was powered by coiled springs rather than an engine. Its mechanism could be wound before release, and a system of gears transferred the stored energy to the wheels. Steering could be set in advance, allowing the cart to follow a predetermined path.

Leonardo drew the design around 1478–1480. It may have been intended for theatrical performances or court entertainments rather than transportation. The original machine has not survived, so historians study the drawing and later reconstructions to understand its mechanism.

The cart was not an automobile in the modern sense: it had no combustion engine, pedals, or system for continuous driver control. Its importance lies in combining stored mechanical energy, gearing, wheels, and programmable movement.