Automobilelayout

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Inautomotivedesign,theautomobilelayoutdescribeswhereonthevehicletheengineanddrivewheelsare
found.Manydifferentcombinationsofenginelocationanddrivenwheelsarefoundinpractice,andthelocationof
eachisdependentontheapplicationforwhichthevehiclewillbeused.Factorsinfluencingthedesignchoice
includecost,complexity,reliability,packaging(locationandsizeofthepassengercompartmentandboot),weight
distribution,andthevehicle'sintendedhandlingcharacteristics.

Layoutscanroughlybedividedintotwocategories:frontorrearwheeldrive.Fourwheeldrivevehiclesmaytake
onthecharacteristicsofeither,dependingonhowpowerisdistributedtothewheels.

Contents
1 Frontwheeldrivelayouts
1.1 Characteristics
1.2 Advantages
1.3 Disadvantages
2 Rearwheeldrivelayouts
2.1 Characteristics
2.2 Advantages
2.3 Disadvantages
3 Fourwheeldrivelayouts
3.1 Advantages
3.2 Disadvantages
3.3 Unusual4WDlayouts
4 Historyandcurrentuse
5 Seealso
6 References

Frontwheeldrivelayouts
Frontwheeldrivelayoutsarethoseinwhichthefrontwheelsof
thevehiclearedriven.Themostpopularlayoutusedincarstoday
isthefrontengine,frontwheeldrive,withtheengineinfrontof
thefrontaxle,drivingthefrontwheels.Thislayoutistypically
chosenforitscompactpackagingsincetheengineanddriven
wheelsareonthesamesideofthevehicle,thereisnoneedfora
centraltunnelthroughthepassengercompartmenttoaccommodate
apropshaftbetweentheengineandthedrivenwheels.

Asthesteeredwheelsarealsothedrivenwheels,FF(frontengine,
frontwheeldrivelayout)carsaregenerallyconsideredsuperiorto FFlayout
FR(frontengine,rearwheeldrivelayout)carsinconditionssuch
assnow,mud,orwettarmac.Theweightoftheengineoverthedrivenwheelsalsoimprovesgripinsuch
conditions.However,powerfulcarsrarelyusetheFFlayoutbecauseweighttransferenceunderacceleration
reducestheweightonthefrontwheelsandreducestheirtraction,limitingthetorquewhichcanbeutilized.
Electronictractioncontrolcanavoidwheelspinbutlargelynegatesthebenefitofextratorque/power.
Atransverseengine(alsoknownas"eastwest")iscommonlyusedinFFdesigns,incontrasttoFRwhichusesa
longitudinalengine.TheFFlayoutalsorestrictsthesizeoftheenginethatcanbeplacedinmodernengine
compartments,asFFconfigurationsusuallyhaveInline4andV6engines,whilelongerenginessuchasInline6
and90V8willrarelyfit.Thisisanotherreasonluxury/sportscarsavoidtheFFlayout.Exceptionsdoexist,such
astheVolvoS80(FWD/4WD)whichusestransverselymountedinline6andV8engines,andtheFordTaurus
SHO,availablewitha60V8andfrontwheeldrive.

Characteristics

Frontwheeldrivegivesmoreinteriorspacesincethepowertrainisasingleunitcontainedintheengine
compartmentofthevehicleandthereisnoneedtodevoteinteriorspaceforadriveshafttunnelorreardifferential,
increasingthevolumeavailableforpassengersandcargo.[1]Therearesomeexceptionstothisasrearengine
designsdonottakeawayinteriorspace(seePorsche911,andVolkswagenBeetle).Italsohasfewercomponents
overallandthuslowerweight.[1]Thedirectconnectionbetweenengineandtransaxlereducesthemassand
mechanicalinertiaofthedrivetraincomparedtoarearwheeldrivevehiclewithasimilarengineandtransmission,
allowinggreaterfueleconomy.[1]Infrontwheeldrivecarsthemassofthedrivetrainisplacedoverthedriven
wheelsandthusmovesthecentreofgravityfartherforwardthanacomparablerearwheeldrivelayout,improving
tractionanddirectionalstabilityonwet,snowy,oricysurfaces.[1][2][3]Frontwheeldrivecars,withafrontweight
bias,tendtoundersteeratthelimitwhich,accordingtoSaabengineerGunnarLarsson,iseasiersinceitmakes
instinctcorrectinavoidingterminaloversteer,andlesspronetoresultinfishtailingoraspin.[3][4]

Accordingtoasalesbrochureforthe1989LotusElan,therideandhandlingengineersatLotusfoundthat"fora
givenvehicleweight,powerandtyresize,afrontwheeldrivecarwasalwaysfasteroveragivensectionof
road."[5]However,thismayonlyapplyforcarswithmoderatepowertoweightratio.[2][6][7]Accordingtoroadtest
withtwoDodgeDaytonas,oneFWDandoneRWD,theroadlayoutisalsoimportantforwhatconfigurationisthe
fastest.[3]

Weightshiftinglimitstheaccelerationofafrontwheeldrivevehicle.Duringheavyacceleration,weightisshifted
totheback,improvingtractionattherearwheelsattheexpenseofthefrontdrivingwheelsconsequently,most
racingcarsarerearwheeldriveforacceleration.However,sincefrontwheeldrivecarshavetheweightofthe
engineoverthedrivingwheels,theproblemonlyappliesinextremeconditionsinwhichcasethecarundersteers.
Onsnow,ice,andsand,rearwheeldrivelosesitstractionadvantagetofrontorallwheeldrivevehicleswhich
havegreaterweightoverthedrivenwheels.Rearwheeldrivecarswithrearengineormidengineconfiguration
retaintractionoverthedrivenwheels,althoughfishtailingremainsanissueonhardaccelerationwhileinaturn.
Somerearenginecars(e.g.,Porsche911)cansufferfromreducedsteeringabilityunderheavyacceleration,since
theengineisoutsidethewheelbaseandattheoppositeendofthecarfromthewheelsdoingthesteering.Arear
wheeldrivecar'scentreofgravityisshiftedrearwardwhenheavilyloadedwithpassengersorcargo,whichmay
causeunpredictablehandlingbehavior.[4]

Onfrontwheeldrivecars,theshortdriveshaftmayreducedrivetrainelasticity,improvingresponsiveness.[4]

Advantages

Interiorspace:Sincethepowertrainisasingleunitcontainedintheenginecompartmentofthevehicle,there
isnoneedtodevoteinteriorspaceforadriveshafttunnelorreardifferential,increasingthevolumeavailable
forpassengersandcargo.[1]
Instead,thetunnelmaybeusedtoroutetheexhaustsystempipes.
Weight:Fewercomponentsusuallymeanslowerweight.
Improvedfuelefficiencyduetolessweight.[8]
 Cost:Fewermaterialcomponentsandlessinstallationcomplexityoverall.However,theconsiderableMSRP
differentialbetweenaFFandFRcarcannotbeattributedtolayoutalone.Thedifferenceismoreprobably
explainedbyproductionvolumesasmostrearwheelcarsareusuallyinthesports/performance/luxury
categories(whichtendtobemoreupscaleand/orhavemorepowerfulengines),whiletheFFconfigurationis
typicallyinmassproducedmainstreamcars.Fewmodern"family"carshaverearwheeldriveasof2009,so
adirectcostcomparisonisnotnecessarilypossible.AcontrastcouldbesomewhatdrawnbetweentheAudi
A4FrontTrak(whichhasanFFlayoutandfrontwheeldrive)andarearwheeldriveBMW3Series(which
isFR),bothwhichareinthecompactexecutivecarclassificationanduselongitudinallymountedengines.[1]
Improveddrivetrainefficiency:thedirectconnectionbetweenengineandtransaxlereducethemassand
mechanicalinertiaofthedrivetraincomparedtoarearwheeldrivevehiclewithasimilarengineand
transmission,allowinggreaterfueleconomy.[1]
Assemblyefficiency:thepowertraincanoftenbeassembledandinstalledasaunit,whichallowsmore
efficientproduction.
Placingthemassofthedrivetrainoverthedrivenwheelsmovesthecentreofgravityfartherforwardthana
comparablerearwheeldrivelayout,improvingtractionanddirectionalstabilityonwet,snowy,oricy
surfaces.[1][2][3]
Predictablehandlingcharacteristics:frontwheeldrivecars,withafrontweightbias,tendtoundersteerat
thelimit,which(accordingtoSAABengineerGunnarLarsson)iseasiersinceitmakesinstinctcorrectin
avoidingterminaloversteer,andlesspronetoresultinfishtailingoraspin.[3][4]
Askilleddrivercancontrolthemovementofthecarevenwhileskiddingbysteering,throttlingandpulling
thehandbrake(giventhatthehandbrakeoperatestherearwheelsasinmostcases,withsomeCitroenand
Saabmodelsbeingnotableexceptions).
Itiseasiertocorrecttrailingthrottleortrailingbrakeoversteer.[3]
Thewheelbasecanbeextendedwithoutbuildingalongerdriveshaft(aswithrearwheeldrivencars).

Disadvantages
Frontenginefrontwheeldrivelayoutsare"noseheavy"withmoreweightdistributionforward,which
makesthempronetoundersteer,especiallyinhighhorsepowerapplications.
Ifafrontenginefrontwheeldrivelayoutisfittedwithafourwheeldrive,plusenthusiastdriveraids,
suchasactivefrontdifferential,activesteering,andultraquickelectricallyadjustableshocks,this
somewhatnegatetheundersteerproblemandallowthecartoperformaswellasafrontenginerear
wheeldrivecar.Thesetrickdifferentials,whicharefoundontheAcuraTLSHAWDandAudiS43.0
TFSIquattro,andAudiRS54.2FSIquattro,areheavy,complex,andexpensive.[9][10]Whilethese
aidsdotamefrontendplow,carsfittedwiththesesystemsarestillatadisadvantagewhentracktested
againstrearwheeldrivevehicles(includingthosewithaddedfourwheeldrive[11]).[12]
Torquesteeristhetendencyforsomefrontwheeldrivecarstopulltotheleftorrightunderhard
acceleration.Itisaresultoftheoffsetbetweenthepointaboutwhichthewheelsteers(itisalignedwiththe
pointswherethewheelisconnectedtothesteeringmechanisms)andthecentroidofitscontactpatch.The
tractiveforceactsthroughthecentroidofthecontactpatch,andtheoffsetofthesteeringpointmeansthata
turningmomentabouttheaxisofsteeringisgenerated.Inanidealsituation,theleftandrightwheelswould
generateequalandoppositemoments,cancelingeachotherouthowever,inreality,thisislesslikelyto
happen.Torquesteercanbeaddressedbyusingalongitudinallayout,equallengthdriveshafts,halfshafts,a
multilinksuspensionorcentrepointsteeringgeometry.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Inavehicle,theweightshiftsbackduringacceleration,givingmoretractiontotherearwheels.Thisisone
ofthemainreasonsnearlyallracingcarsarerearwheeldrive.However,sincefrontwheeldrivecarshave
theweightoftheengineoverthedrivingwheels,theproblemonlyappliesinextremeconditionssuchas
attemptingtoaccelerateupawethillorattemptingtobeatanotherRWDcarofftheline.
Insometowingsituations,frontwheeldrivecarscanbeatatractiondisadvantagesincetherewillbeless
weightonthedrivingwheels.Becauseofthis,theweightthatthevehicleisratedtosafelytowislikelytobe
lessthanthatofarearwheeldriveorfourwheeldrivevehicleofthesamesizeandpower.
 Duetogeometryandpackagingconstraints,theCVjoints(constantvelocityjoints)attachedtothewheel
hubhaveatendencytowearoutmuchearlierthantheuniversaljointstypicallyusedintheirrearwheel
drivecounterparts(althoughrearwheeldrivevehicleswithindependentrearsuspensionalsoemployCV
jointsandhalfshafts).Thesignificantlyshorterdriveaxlesonafrontwheeldrivecarcausesthejointtoflex
throughamuchwiderdegreeofmotion,compoundedbyadditionalstressandanglesofsteering,whilethe
CVjointsofarearwheeldrivecarregularlyseeanglesandwearoflessthanhalfthatoffrontwheeldrive
vehicles.
TurningcircleFFlayoutsalmostalwaysuseaTransverseengine("eastwest")installation,whichlimits
theamountbywhichthefrontwheelscanturn,thusincreasingtheturningcircleofafrontwheeldrivecar
comparedtoarearwheeldriveonewiththesamewheelbase.AnotableexampleistheoriginalMini.Itis
widelymisconceivedthatthislimitationisduetoalimitontheangleatwhichaCVjointcanbeoperated,
butthisiseasilydisprovedbyconsideringtheturningcircleofcarmodelsthatusealongitudinalFForF4
layoutfromAudiand(priorto1992)Saab
TheFFtransverseenginelayout(alsoknownas"eastwest")restrictsthesizeoftheenginethatcanbe
placedinmodernenginecompartments,soitisrarelyadoptedbypowerfulluxuryandsportscars.FF
configurationscanusuallyonlyaccommodateInline4andV6engines,whilelongerenginessuchasInline6
and90bigboreV8willrarelyfit,thoughthereareexceptions.Onewayaroundthisproblemisusinga
staggeredengine.
Itmakesheavieruseofthefronttyres(i.e.,accelerating,braking,andturning),causingmorewearinthe
frontthaninarearwheeldrivelayout.
Underextremebraking(likeforinstanceinapanicstop),thealreadyfrontheavylayoutfurtherreduces
tractiontotherearwheels.Thisresultsindisproportionategrippingforcesfocusedatthefrontwhiletherear
doesnothaveenoughweighttoeffectivelyuseitsbrakes.Becausethereartyres'capabilitiesinbrakingare
notveryhigh,asignificantnumberofcheaperfrontdrivevehiclesusedrumbrakesinthereareventoday.
Thesteering'feel'ismorenumbedthanaRWDcar.ThisisduetotheextraweightofdriveshaftsandCV
jointcomponentsthatincreaseunsprungweight.

Rearwheeldrivelayouts
Rearwheeldrive(RWD)typicallyplacestheengineinthefrontof
thevehicleandthedrivenwheelsarelocatedattherear,a
configurationknownasFrontengine,rearwheeldrivelayout(FR
layout).Thefrontmidengine,rearmidengineandrearengine
layoutsarealsoused.Thiswasthetraditionalautomobilelayout
formostvehiclesupuntilthe1970sand1980s.[20]Nearlyall
motorcyclesandbicyclesuserearwheeldriveaswell,eitherby
driveshaft,chain,orbelt,sincethefrontwheelisturnedfor
steering,anditwouldbeverydifficultandcumbersometo"bend"
thedrivemechanismaroundtheturnofthefrontwheel.A
FRlayout
relativelyrareexceptioniswiththe'movingbottombracket'type
ofrecumbentbicycle,wheretheentiredrivetrain,includingpedals
andchain,pivotwiththesteeringfrontwheel.

Characteristics

Thevastmajorityofrearwheeldrivevehiclesusealongitudinallymountedengineinthefrontofthevehicle,
drivingtherearwheelsviaadriveshaftlinkedviaadifferentialbetweentherearaxles.SomeFRlayoutvehicles
placethegearboxattherear,thoughmostattachittotheengineatthefront.

TheFRlayoutisoftenchosenforitssimpledesignandgoodhandlingcharacteristics.Placingthedrivewheelsat
therearallowsampleroomforthetransmissioninthecentreofthevehicleandavoidsthemechanical
complexitiesassociatedwithtransmittingpowertothefrontwheels.Forperformanceorientedvehicles,theFR
layoutismoresuitablethanfrontwheeldrivedesigns,especially
withenginesthatexceed200horsepower.Thisisbecauseweight
transferstotherearofthevehicleduringacceleration,whichloads
therearwheelsandincreasestheirgrip.

AnotheradvantageoftheFRlayoutisrelativelyeasyaccesstothe
enginecompartment,aresultofthelongitudinalorientationofthe
drivetrain,ascomparedtotheFFlayout(frontengine,frontwheel
drive).PowerfulenginessuchastheInline6and90bigboreV8
areusuallytoolongtofitinaFFtransverseengine("eastwest")
layouttheFFconfigurationcantypicallyaccommodateatthe RRlayout
maximumanInline4orV6.Thisisanotherreasonluxury/sports
carsalmostneverusetheFFlayout.

Advantages
EvenweightdistributionThelayoutofarearwheeldrivecarismuchclosertoanevenforeandaft
weightdistributionthanafrontwheeldrivecar,asmoreoftheenginecanliebetweenthefrontandrear
wheels(inthecaseofamidenginelayout,theentireengine),andthetransmissionismovedmuchfarther
back.[21]
WeighttransferduringaccelerationDuringheavyacceleration,weightisplacedontherear,ordriving
wheels,whichimprovestraction.
Notorquesteer[22](unlessit'sanallwheelsteerwithanoffsetdifferential).
SteeringradiusAsnocomplicateddriveshaftjointsarerequiredatthefrontwheels,itispossibletoturn
themfurtherthanwouldbepossibleusingfrontwheeldrive,resultinginasmallersteeringradiusforagiven
wheelbase.
Betterhandlingatthehandsofanexpertthemoreevenweightdistributionandweighttransferimprove
thehandlingofthecar.Thefrontandreartyresareplacedundermoreevenloads,whichallowsformore
gripwhilecornering.[23]
Betterbrakingthemoreevenweightdistributionhelpspreventlockupfromtherearwheelsbecoming
unloadedunderheavybraking.[23]
TowingRearwheeldriveputsthewheelswhicharepullingtheloadclosertothepointwhereatrailer
articulates,helpingsteering,especiallyforlargeloads.[24]
ServiceabilityDrivetraincomponentsonarearwheeldrivevehiclearemodularanddonotinvolve
packingasmanypartsintoassmallaspaceasdoesfrontwheeldrive,thusrequiringlessdisassemblyor
specializedtoolsinordertoservicethevehicle.
Robustnessduetogeometryandpackagingconstraints,theuniversaljointsattachedtothewheelhub
haveatendencytowearoutmuchlaterthantheCVjointstypicallyusedinfrontwheeldrivecounterparts.
Thesignificantlyshorterdriveaxlesonafrontwheeldrivecarcausesthejointtoflexthroughamuchwider
degreeofmotion,compoundedbyadditionalstressandanglesofsteering,whiletheCVjointsofarear
wheeldrivecarregularlyseeanglesandwearoflessthanhalfthatoffrontwheeldrivevehicles.
Canaccommodatemorepowerfulenginesasaresultofthelongitudinalorientationofthedrivetrain,suchas
theInline6,90bigboreV8,V10andV12makingtheFRacommonconfigurationforluxuryandsports
cars.TheseenginesareusuallytoolongtofitinaFFtransverseengine("eastwest")layouttheFF
configurationcantypicallyaccommodateatthemaximumanInline4orV6.
Roadgripfeedbackfrontwheelsarenotaffectedbyengineandgearbox,thusallowingforbetterfeeling
oftyregriponroadsurface.

Disadvantages

Underheavyacceleration(asinracing),oversteerandfishtailingmayoccurastherearwheelsbreakfree
andspin.Thecorrectiveactionistoletoffthethrottle(thisiswhattractioncontrolautomaticallydoesfor
 RWDvehicles).
Onsnow,iceandsand,rearwheeldrivelosesitstractionadvantagetofrontorallwheeldrivevehicles,
whichhavegreaterweightonthedrivenwheels.Thisissueisparticularlynoticeableonpickuptrucks,asthe
weightoftheengineandcabwillsignificantlyshifttheweightfromthereartothefrontwheels.Rearwheel
drivecarswithrearengineormidengineconfigurationdonotsufferfromthis,althoughfishtailingremains
anissue.Tocorrectthissituation,ownersofRWDvehiclescanloadsandbagsinthebackofthevehicle
(eitherinthebed,orboot)inordertoincreasetheweightovertherearaxle,howeverspeedsshouldbe
restrictedtocorrectlypredictedavailablegripoftheroad.
Somerearenginecars(e.g.,Porsche911)cansufferfromreducedsteeringabilityunderheavyacceleration,
becausetheengineisoutsidethewheelbaseandattheoppositeendofthecarfromthewheelsdoingthe
steeringalthoughtheengineweightovertherearwheelsprovidesoutstandingtractionandgripduring
acceleration.
DecreasedinteriorspaceThoughindividualdesignsvarygreatly,rearwheeldrivevehiclesmayhave:
Lessfrontlegroomasthetransmissiontunneltakesupaspacebetweenthedriverandfrontpassenger,less
legroomforcentrerearpassengers(duetothetunnelneededforthedriveshaft),andsometimeslessboot
space(sincethereisalsomorehardwarethatmustbeplacedunderneaththeboot).Rearenginedesigns(such
asthePorsche911andVolkswagenBeetle)donotinherentlytakeawayinteriorspace.
Arearwheeldrivevehiclewithfourwheeldrive,comparedtoafrontwheeldrivevehiclewithfour
wheeldrive,willhavealessefficientinteriorpackagingsincethetransmissionisoftenunderthefront
passengercompartmentbetweenthetwoseats,whereasthelattercanpackageallthecomponents
underthehood.[11]
IncreasedweightThecomponentsofarearwheeldrivevehicle'spowertrainarelesscomplex,butthey
arelarger.Thedriveshaftaddsweight.Thereisextrasheetmetaltoformthetransmissiontunnel.Thereisa
rearaxleorrearhalfshafts,whicharetypicallylongerthanthoseinafrontwheeldrivecar.Arearwheel
drivecarwillweighslightlymorethanacomparablefrontwheeldrivecar(butlessthanfourwheeldrive).
RearbiasedweightdistributionwhenloadedArearwheeldrivecar'scentreofgravityisshiftedrearward
whenheavilyloadedwithpassengersorcargo,whichmaycauseunpredictablehandlingbehavioratthe
handsofaninexperienceddriver.[4]Itneedstobenotedthatrearenginecarsarebytheirverynature,rear
weightbiased.
HigherinitialpurchasepriceModernrearwheeldrivevehiclesaretypicallymoreexpensivetopurchase
thancomparablefrontwheeldrivevehicles.Partofthiscanbeexplainedbytheaddedcostofmaterialsand
increasedlaborputintoassemblyofFRlayouts,asthepowertrainisnotonecompactunit.However,the
differenceismoreprobablyexplainedbyproductionvolumesasmostrearwheelcarsareusuallyinthe
sports/performance/luxurycategories(whichtendtobemoreupscaleand/orhavemorepowerfulengines),
whiletheFFconfigurationistypicallyinmassproducedmainstreamcars.
Thepossibilityofaslightlossinthemechanicalefficiencyofthedrivetrain(approximately17%coastdown
lossesbetweenengineflywheelandroadwheelscomparedto15%forfrontwheeldrivehoweverthese
lossesarehighlydependentontheindividualtransmission).Carswithrearengineormidengine
configurationandatransverseenginelayoutdonotsufferfromthis.
Thelongdriveshaft(onfrontenginecars)addstodrivetrainelasticity.[4]Thedriveshaftmustalsobe
extendedforcarswithastretchedwheelbase(e.g.limousines,minivans).

Fourwheeldrivelayouts
Note:inNorthAmerica,AustraliaandNewZealandtheterm"fourwheeldrive"usuallyrefersonlytodrivetrains
whichareprimarilytwowheeldrivewithaparttimefourwheeldrivecapability,astypicallyfoundinpickup
trucksandotheroffroadvehicles,whiletheterm"allwheeldrive"isusedtorefertofulltimefourwheeldrive
systemsfoundinperformancecarsandsmallercarbasedSUVs.Thissectionusesthetermfourwheeldriveto
refertoboth.

Most4WDlayoutsarefrontengineandarederivativesofearlierfrontengine,twowheeldrivedesigns.Theyfall
intotwomajorcategories:
 Frontengine,rearwheeldrivederived4WDsystems,
standardinmostsportutilityvehiclesandinpassengercars,
(usuallyreferredtofrontengine,rearwheeldrive/four
wheeldrive),forerunnersoftoday'smodelsincludethe
JensenFF,AMCEagleandMercedesBenzW124withthe
4MaticsystemandSuzukiGrandVitarawith/without4
modetransfercase.
Transverseandlongitudinalengine4WDsystemsderived
almostexclusivelyfromfrontengine,frontdrivelayouts,
fittedtoluxury,sportingandheavydutysegments,for
examplethetransverseengineMitsubishi3000GTVR4 Frontengine,rearwheeldrivederivedF4
andToyotaRAV4andthelongitudinalengineAudiQuattro layout
andmostoftheSubaruline.

Forafullexplanationof4WDengineeringconsiderations,seethemainarticleonfourwheeldrive

Advantages

Intermsofhandling,tractionandperformance,4WDsystemsgenerallyhavemostoftheadvantagesofbothfront
wheeldriveandrearwheeldrive.Someuniquebenefitsare:

Tractionisnearlydoubledcomparedtoatwowheeldrivelayout.Givensufficientpower,thisresultsin
unparalleledaccelerationanddriveabilityonsurfaceswithlessthanidealgrip,andsuperiorenginebraking
onloosesurfaces.Thedevelopmentof4WDsystemsforhighperformancecarswasstimulatedprimarilyby
rallying.
HandlingcharacteristicsinnormalconditionscanbeconfiguredtoemulateFWDorRWD,orsomemixture,
eventoswitchbetweenthesebehavioursaccordingtocircumstance.However,atthelimitofgrip,awell
balanced4WDconfigurationwillnotdegenerateintoeitherundersteeroroversteer,butinsteadbreak
tractionofall4wheelsatthesametimeintoafourwheeldrift.Combinedwithmodernelectronicdriving
aids,thisflexibilityallowsproductioncarengineersawiderangeoffreedominselectinghandling
characteristicsthatwillallowa4WDcartobedrivenmoresafelyathigherspeedsbyinexpertmotorists
than2WDdesigns.

Disadvantages

4WDsystemsrequiremoremachineryandcomplextransmissioncomponents,andsoincreasethe
manufacturingcostofthevehicleandcomplexityofmaintenanceproceduresandrepairscomparedto2WD
designs
4WDsystemsincreasepowertrainmass,rotationalinertiaandpowertransmissionlosses,resultingina
reductioninperformanceinidealdryconditionsandincreasedfuelconsumptioncomparedto2WDdesigns
Thehandbrakecannotbeusedtoinduceoversteerformaneuveringpurposes,asthedrivetraincouplesthe
frontandrearaxlestogether.Toovercomethislimitation,somecustompreparedstagerallycarshavea
specialmechanismaddedtothetransmissiontodisconnectthereardriveifthehandbrakeisappliedwhile
thecarismoving.

Unusual4WDlayouts
From1989onwards,somemodelsofPorsche911featurearearengine4WDlayout,whichisakintoa
longitudinalfrontengine4WDlayoutinstalledbackwardswiththeengineattherearofthecar
From2007onwards,theNissanGTRfeaturesafrontengine4WDlongitudinallayout,butwiththegearbox
attherearofthevehicle.Thisprovidesamoreidealweightbalance,andimprovesdirectionalstabilityat
veryhighspeedsbyincreasingthevehicle'smomentofinertiaaroundtheverticalaxis.Thislayout
necessitatesasecondpropshafttocarrypowertothefrontwheels.
 Sometypesoffarmtractorsandconstructionsitemachineryusea4WDlayoutwherethewheelsoneach
sidearecoupledtogether,ratherthanthewheelsoneachaxle,allowingthesevehiclestopivotabouttheir
centrepoint.Suchvehiclesarecontrolledinafashionsimilartoamilitarytank.
TheCitronSaharahada4WDsystemusingcompleteCitron2CVdrivetrainsatbothendsofthecar,such
thattheengineatthefrontpoweredthefrontwheelsandtheengineatthebackpoweredtherearwheels.[25]
A'throughtheroad'hybridvehicleusesaconventionalpistonenginetopowertwowheels,withelectric
motor/generatorsontheothertwowheels,givingaformofparttime4WD.
The2005JeepHurricaneconcepthadanallwheeldrivelayoutthatfeaturedtwoV8enginespoweringa
singledriveshaft,withagearboxmountedinthecentreofthevehicle.Thegearsconnectedtotwoadditional
driveshafts,oneoneachsideofthevehicle,thatdeliveredpowertothewheelsviadriveshaftjoints.[26]This
wasdesignedinordertoaccommodatethevehicle'suniquesteeringsystem.
TheFerrariFFfeaturesafrontengine4WDlayoutinwhichaseparatetransmissionisusedforeachpairof
drivenwheels,[27]ratherthanthemoreconventionalsetupinwhichasingletransmissionisused,followed
byacentredifferentialorviscouscouplingunittosplitpowerbetweenthefrontandrearwheels.

Historyandcurrentuse
ThefirstFRcarwasan1895Panhardmodel,sothislayoutwas
knownasthe"SystmePanhard"intheearlyyears.Most
AmericancarsusedtheFRlayoutuntilthemid1980s.TheOil
crisisofthe1970sandthesuccessofsmallFFcarsliketheMini,
VolkswagenGolf,ToyotaTercel,andHondaCivicledtothe
widespreadadoptionofthatlayout.

AftertheArabOilEmbargoof1973andthe1979fuelcrises,a
majorityofAmericanFRvehicles(stationwagons,luxurysedans)
werephasedoutfortheFFlayoutthistrendwouldspawnthe
SUV/vanconversionmarket.Throughoutthe1980sand1990s, FMRlayout,standardinmostFrontengine/
mostAmericancompaniessetasaprioritytheeventualremovalof RearwheeldrivecarspreWorldWarII,where
rearwheeldrivefromtheirmainstreamandluxurylineup.[28] theenginewaslocatedbehindthefrontaxle.
Chryslerwent100%FFby1990andGM'sAmericanproduction
wententirelyFFby1997excepttheFirebird,CorvetteandCamaro.Ford'sfullsizecars(theFordCrownVictoria,
MercuryGrandMarquis,andLincolnTownCar)havealwaysbeenFR,[29]aswastheLincolnLS.In2008
Hyundaiintroduceditsownrearwheeldrivecar,theHyundaiGenesis.

InAustralia,FRcarshaveremainedpopularthroughoutthisperiod,withtheHoldenCommodoreandFordFalcon
havingconsistentlystrongsales.InEurope,frontwheeldrivewaspopularizedbysmallcarsliketheMini,Renault
5andVolkswagenGolfandadoptedforvirtuallyallmainstreamcars.

UpscalemarqueslikeMercedesBenz,BMW,andJaguarremainedmostlyindependentofthistrend,andretained
alineupmostlyorentirelymadeupofFRcars.[30]JapanesemainstreammarquessuchasToyotaandNissan
becamemostlyorentirelyFFearlyon,whilereservingfortheirlatterlyconceivedluxurydivisions(Lexusand
Infiniti,respectively)amostlyFRlineup.Whilemanyautomakerslostsightofthetruesportscar,Mazda
introducedthehighlysuccessfulMiataroadsterin1990,atrue2seatersportscarusingthetraditionalFRlayout
whichledtoothercompainessuchasGeneralMotorstoproduceaFRsportscarbasedontheirKappaplatform.

CurrentlymostcarsareFF,includingvirtuallyallfrontengineeconomycars,thoughFRcarsaremakingareturn
asanalternativetolargesportutilityvehicles.InNorthAmerica,GMreturnedtoproductionoftheFRluxurycar
withthe2003CadillacCTS,andwiththeremovaloftheDTS,[31]CadillacwillbeentirelyFR(withfourwheel
driveavailableasanoptiononseveralmodels)by2010,andthe2010CamaroreturnsasaFRsportscar.Chrysler
returneditsfullsizecarstothislayoutwiththeChrysler300andrelatedmodels.[32][33]DespiteFord's2011
discontinuationoftherearwheeldrivePantherPlatformcars,theyareseekingtodevelopanewFR
replacement.[34]NissanisalsobringingbacktheSilviatotheirlineup,Mazdaissaidtobereleasinganewrotary
poweredFRcarintheirRXlineup,andToyotahasproducedtheFT86,anaffordableRWDcarwhichisthe
successortotheAE86.HyundaiintroducedtheiraffordableRWDcarbeingthe2009HyundaiGenesisand2010
HyundaiGenesisCoupe.

Inthe21stcentury,withsolutionstotheengineeringcomplexitiesof4WDbeingwidelyunderstood,andconsumer
demandforincreasingperformanceinproductioncars,frontengine4WDlayoutsarerapidlybecomingmore
common,andmostmajormanufacturersnowoffer4WDoptionsonatleastsomemodels.Manufacturerswitha
notableexpertiseandhistoryinproducing4WDperformancecarsareAudiandSubaru.

Seealso
Carhandling
Carclassification
Gyrocar

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