The Cars That Built the World

As early car makers gain traction and the car becomes more than a curiosity, they struggle to create a market for their inventions and beat out their competitors. WWI interrupts the budding auto industry, but the demand for mechanized vehicles and more powerful airplane engines catapults car-making into a whole new era of power, paving the way for a new generation of engineers. W.O. Bentley's need for speed leads to a rivalry with Henry Royce, while Paul Daimler struggles to make a name for himself at his father's company.

As the roaring twenties bring cars to the American masses, Germany lags far behind--and Japan struggles to modernize. The car could be the answer to the problems of both nations, as Germany searches for a "people's car" to help pull them from an economic depression, and a small group of industrialists and upstarts see the car as the way to claim Japan's rightful place in the world. Then World War II changes everything.

As German and Japanese car makers attempt to recover from the devastation of World War II, the car takes on a renewed importance for both nations. In Germany, Ferry Porsche attempts to create the first accessible sports car using parts from their people's car. While in Japan, Honda and Toyoda must fight for the mere ability to manufacture cars, hoping to unlock the potential for future world domination.