Cars with mid engine FWD layout?

[DKS]

saaby93 said:

Strange I thought it was obvious when I posted it up
Mid engine FWD has the engine behind the front wheels with gearbox and diff up ahead

What do you call this SAAB 99 layout with the engine on top of the FWD?

The clutch is way over there up at the front if I can move these arrows over > > > > > > > > ^ ^ ^

Front engined, FWD. And all it achieved was making the bespoke chocolate gearboxes extremely hard to get hold of now and one day they'll run out. But I still love mine.

[kambites]

If we take the definition that anything with the engine's centre of mass between the axle lines is mid-engined, how many front engined RWD cars can people name?

[carl_w]

kambites said:

If we take the definition that anything with the engine's centre of mass between the axle lines is mid-engined, how many front engined RWD cars can people name?

I don't think it's the centre of mass of the engine, it's the whole engine.

[FeelingLucky]

carl_w said:

kambites said:

If we take the definition that anything with the engine's centre of mass between the axle lines is mid-engined, how many front engined RWD cars can people name?

I don't think it's the centre of mass of the engine, it's the whole engine.

This.

[Mr2Mike]

Gaz. said:

So we sound normal? A strut brace for my S2000 passes infront of the engine, but I'm damned if I'm calling it mid engined even if Comic Book Guy says it is. If I check the oil, which end of the car am I going to stand at?

If you check the oil on an MR2, which end of the car do you stand at? If you check the oil on a 911, which end of the car do you stand at?

[JonnyVTEC]

doogz said:

The whole engine, mounted longitudinally, in front of the front axle, in a RWD car?

Can you name one?

Honda S2000.

[kambites]

JonnyVTEC said:

Honda S2000.

I think you'll find the S2000's engine is not mounted in front of the front axle line. Rather the opposite in fact.

Loads and loads of FR cars have the entire engine behind the axle line, but that wasn't the question.

[kambites]

Going back to the original question (sort of) does anyone know why manufacturers of transverse front engined car always seem to put the engine in front of the gearbox? Why not swap the drive-train around, with the gearbox in front of the engine and move the front axle forwards? They could leave the block in the same place it is now but increase the wheelbase significantly, which would presumably aid stability and probably handling plus it would remove the awful looking front overhang that blights modern FWD cars.

[Toltec]

doogz said:

kambites said:

Going back to the original question (sort of) does anyone know why manufacturers of transverse front engined car always seem to put the engine in front of the gearbox? Why not swap the drive-train around, with the gearbox in front of the engine and move the front axle forwards? They could leave the block in the same place it is now but increase the wheelbase significantly, which would presumably aid stability and probably handling plus it would remove the awful looking front overhang that blights modern FWD cars.

Routing the steering column to the rack? Weight? Moving the axle forwards moves weight forwards, as well as increasing it as you'll need some stiffening to support all your suspension mounting points.

Probably lots of little reasons.

I was wondering about that too. The steering would be particularly difficult for RHD as you might be able to sneak it above the gearbox on LHD. Are some transverse engines slanted rearwards to put more of the mass behind the axle?

[JonnyVTEC]

kambites said:

I think you'll find the S2000's engine is not mounted in front of the front axle line. Rather the opposite in fact.

Loads and loads of FR cars have the entire engine behind the axle line, but that wasn't the question.

DOH! yes,

I remember borrowing a Mazda van and being sat on the engine..... I think it was FWD aswell.

[JonnyVTEC]

kambites said:

Going back to the original question (sort of) does anyone know why manufacturers of transverse front engined car always seem to put the engine in front of the gearbox? Why not swap the drive-train around, with the gearbox in front of the engine and move the front axle forwards? They could leave the block in the same place it is now but increase the wheelbase significantly, which would presumably aid stability and probably handling plus it would remove the awful looking front overhang that blights modern FWD cars.

Toyota iQ then ? :P

[JonnyVTEC]

doogz said:

Not all transverse front engined set ups have the gearbox on the nearside.

Honda CRX is one that comes to mind, presumably Civics of the same age are similar.

My old Prelude had the engine angled back, although as I understand it, it was more about reducing height to keep the bonnet line low, than moving mass aft.

Thats principally due to the engine rotating the other direction, same package really as other cars with the half shaft running behind the block..... just mirrored.

[paralla]

Toyota IQ engine is behind the front axle line and is front wheel drive.