Season 1

In his quest to discover how we, the people, got our wheels, James travels to Germany, Italy and Russia to reveal the extraordinary story of how dictators kick-started the mobilisation of the masses. It is a tale of design brilliance, abject failure, war, fraud and double dealing, featuring some of the best (and worst) cars and characters of the 20th century. James discovers how the British motor industry blew a gift-wrapped chance to rule the world and he gets his own back with a stunt that means bad news for one of the planet's most hated cars.

A look at two extremes: the massive American gas-guzzling "automotive palaces" with their excess of chrome and fins, and the low-powered three-wheeler microcars which could be driven without a driving licence or on a motorbike licence.

James continues to take a look at the examination of the social significance of cars by taking a look at how aspiration and new wealth were behind the development of some of the greatest cars ever built.