Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 119: Automobile Advance Prototype

June 25th, 1830. At the Versailles Palace, Napoleon II’s office.

Napoleon II was reading out the report of Marshal Davout who was still in Algiers, serving as its military governor.

According to it, they have fully controlled Algiers using his advice but there were still beys outside the capital who did not recognize French authority. There’s still the Bey of Constatine in the eastern provinces and the Bey of Oran in the western provinces.

With those still ruling those provinces meant that Algiers was not yet fully conquered by the French. But it will not last for long as Marshal Davout pledged that he will do everything to make them submit or face similar consequences like they did to the Bey of Algiers. What he only needed was an authorization from the Emperor.

Napoleon II sighed. He thought it would be bad news from the Algiers but it wasn’t. The beys and his armies are primitive compared to the modern French forces so there’s no problem with carrying out another expedition.

"Authorization huh? Very well, I’ll give it to you Marshal," Napoleon II said as if the Marshal was there in his office.

He set down the report and grabbed another paper where he would write his authorization granting Marshal Davout expanded authority beyond the capital.

It took him ten minutes to write the authorization, and once he is done, he called Charles-Louis who was on standby outside.

"Charles!"

Charles promptly entered the office and closed the door behind him.

He stood straight, hands behind his back.

"Your Imperial Majesty."

"The authorization for Marshal Davout," he said, holding out the sealed document. "It is to be sent immediately."

Charles stepped forward and accepted the paper carefully.

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Also, after you have done that, prepare the carriage for me, we are going to the Ministry of Science and Technology for a visit," Napoleon II said.

"At once, Your Imperial Majesty."

He bowed slightly and exited the office, the sealed authorization in hand.

Ten minutes later, a knock came at the door.

"The carriage is ready, Your Imperial Majesty," Charles said from outside.

Napoleon took his gloves from the table and adjusted his coat.

"Very well."

Two hours later, the carriage rolled through the iron gates of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Guards at the entrance snapped to attention as the carriage halted.

Charles stepped down first and opened the door.

Napoleon descended without assistance. He glanced once at the facade before walking toward the entrance.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Lemaine, approached at a brisk pace.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Lemaine said, bowing quickly. "We were not informed of your visit."

"That is because the intention of my visit is to see how the brothers were doing in their projects," Napoleon II said. "Are they inside?"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty," Lemaine answered at once. "They have been working since morning."

"Good," Napoleon II said. "Take me to them."

The sound reached them before the door opened.

Lemaine pushed the door inward.

Inside the laboratory, the Niépce siblings stood beside a reinforced test frame. The gas engine was mounted on a steel stand bolted to the floor. The flywheel turned at a moderate speed. A belt connected it to a secondary shaft where a load device absorbed power.

Claude was adjusting a gauge. Nicéphore was writing numbers in a ledger.

They noticed the Emperor and immediately stopped.

"Your Imperial Majesty," they said in unison.

"We are working on an experiment."

"How about the task I gave you? You know the automobile?" Napoleon II asked.

"It’s in the garage, Your Imperial Majesty," Nicéphore answered quickly.

"Wait, you have done it? All the assembly within six months’ deadline?"

"Well with the funding and the team you have given us Sire, we did it in five. The design is based on your schematics. We can take you there now."

Napoleon II did not show surprise, but his steps became quicker.

"Take me there."

The garage was a separate wing at the back of the complex. Its doors were taller than the laboratory doors, built to allow large prototypes to pass through without dismantling.

Nicéphore pushed one of the doors open.

The automobile stood at the center of the floor.

Long body. Four doors. A solid metal frame stretched from front to rear with clean panel alignment. The hood was extended, housing a larger engine. The grille at the front stood upright and squared, flanked by circular headlamps encased in polished metal housings.

The body panels were smooth and evenly pressed.

Napoleon II slowed his steps.

The machine was large. Larger than any carriage in the palace fleet. The roofline ran straight and confident from front to rear. The wheelbase was extended for stability. Steel bumpers were mounted at both ends, not decorative, but functional.

Claude watched his expression carefully.

"This is the executive variant," she said. "Built according to your second set of drawings."

Napoleon II was looking at the replica of the Mercedes-Benz 600 from the 1960s design.

Since it was entirely mechanical in nature and did not rely on electronic control systems, it was something that could be built in this era as long as the tools, precision machining, and metallurgy were available. France already possessed those.

Napoleon II walked slowly around the automobile.

The chassis was a full ladder-frame construction made from high-grade steel rails, riveted and reinforced with crossmembers. The body panels were mounted on top of the frame rather than integrated into it, allowing easier repair and manufacturing. The wheelbase measured roughly 3.2 meters, longer than standard carriages, giving it stability at speed. Overall length was close to 5.5 meters. Width slightly over 1.9 meters. It had presence.

Under the long hood sat a six-cylinder inline gas engine. Displacement was approximately 5.5 liters. Cast iron block. Forged steel crankshaft. Overhead valve configuration using pushrods and rocker arms. Mechanical carburetor. Mechanical fuel pump driven off the camshaft. Compression ratio modest by later standards, around 6.5:1, suitable for the refined fuel blends they had developed.

Output was estimated at around 130 to 150 horsepower at 3,500 revolutions per minute.

That was more than enough.

Torque delivery was strong at lower revolutions, making it suitable for a heavy vehicle. The engine was mounted longitudinally at the front, with power transmitted through a heavy-duty clutch to a four-speed manual gearbox. From there, a driveshaft carried rotation to a rear differential and solid rear axle.

Rear-wheel drive.

Suspension at the front used independent double wishbone arms with coil springs. At the rear, a reinforced live axle supported by coil springs and trailing arms. Hydraulic shock absorbers were fitted on all four corners to control rebound and oscillation. This was not a simple carriage with leaf springs. This was stable.

Braking was mechanical-hydraulic hybrid. A master cylinder actuated drum brakes at each wheel. The drums were large in diameter to handle the mass of the vehicle. Parking brake was cable-operated and mechanically independent.

Steering used a recirculating ball mechanism. Heavy but precise. Designed for durability.

Napoleon II moved toward the rear and examined the trunk compartment. It was large enough to carry luggage for long-distance travel. The fuel tank was mounted toward the rear for balance, holding approximately 90 liters of fuel. At moderate driving speeds, estimated range would exceed 500 kilometers before refueling.

The weight of the vehicle was substantial. Nearly 2,500 kilograms. Yet the engine power compensated for it.

Inside, the interior was built for state use. Thick seating cushions supported by coil springs. Upholstered in leather. Floorboards reinforced with steel beneath. Dashboard constructed from finished wood panels with embedded analog gauges. Speedometer calibrated up to 160 kilometers per hour, though actual top speed would likely reach around 130 kilometers per hour under ideal conditions.

More than enough for 1830 roads.

Napoleon II opened the rear door and sat briefly in the back seat. He could imagine himself riding in this vehicle when he has to go to different places. Those engineers had done a great job.