Transverse mid engined cars
Discussion
There have been various posts over the years disparaging transverse mid engined cars as somehow "not quite the real thing".
As an owner of a mk1 MR2, I feel obliged to question that.
Criticisms seem to focus on the engine being "too high up" in the car : as the sump is the lowest part of the rear in the MR2, only a dry sump would enable it to be lower.
So : how many transverse middy have there been, and are they proper sports cars?
Off the top of my head :
Fiat X1-9
Toyota MR2 (3 models)
Lamborghini Miura
Ferrari 328 (? Not sure of model)
Lancia Stratos
(Mini) Marcos I think it was
Gem
Clan crusader?
Ginetta (several? )
All recent Lotuses
I am sure there are many more, but my memory fails me and I can't be bothered to go web searching ATM.
As an owner of a mk1 MR2, I feel obliged to question that.
Criticisms seem to focus on the engine being "too high up" in the car : as the sump is the lowest part of the rear in the MR2, only a dry sump would enable it to be lower.
So : how many transverse middy have there been, and are they proper sports cars?
Off the top of my head :
Fiat X1-9
Toyota MR2 (3 models)
Lamborghini Miura
Ferrari 328 (? Not sure of model)
Lancia Stratos
(Mini) Marcos I think it was
Gem
Clan crusader?
Ginetta (several? )
All recent Lotuses
I am sure there are many more, but my memory fails me and I can't be bothered to go web searching ATM.
Honda NSX ? Am sure that was transverse and the only thing that limited that cars success was the badge on Its nose. Also the Cizeta Moroder V16 (?), though that was hardly a success.
Oh and lest we forget - the Pontiac Fiero. Enough said. Lol.
Oh and lest we forget - the Pontiac Fiero. Enough said. Lol.
Edited by Mr Daytona on Monday 25th August 14:59
Front engined, both of them.You are right about the Ferrari 328, every version. Also the 308s that came before it all the way back to the 308GT4. Also, every Mondial up to the T.
Also the Lamborghini Urraco, which is a mid mounted V8, and I think that remained transverse for the Jalpa?
So your MR2 has some esteemed company for the detractors to contemplate.
Also remember the early mid engined 12 cylinder cars all carried compromises due to their length. The Miura, as you mentioned, was transverse to keep the wheelbase down. The Countach was mounted back to front, with the gearbox in front of the engine, and the 365BB all the way through to the last Testarossas had the flat 12 mounted above the engine. Both Lambo's and Ferrari's solutions compromised the height of the centre of gravity to some extent. It was only with the McLaren F1, I think, that manufacturers started making longitudinal mid engined V12s fit, with the gearbox behind the engine, while keeping the wheelbase reasonably short. Or perhaps wheelbases are just longer now on cars like the Zonda and the F50 and all that.
Also the Lamborghini Urraco, which is a mid mounted V8, and I think that remained transverse for the Jalpa?
So your MR2 has some esteemed company for the detractors to contemplate.
Also remember the early mid engined 12 cylinder cars all carried compromises due to their length. The Miura, as you mentioned, was transverse to keep the wheelbase down. The Countach was mounted back to front, with the gearbox in front of the engine, and the 365BB all the way through to the last Testarossas had the flat 12 mounted above the engine. Both Lambo's and Ferrari's solutions compromised the height of the centre of gravity to some extent. It was only with the McLaren F1, I think, that manufacturers started making longitudinal mid engined V12s fit, with the gearbox behind the engine, while keeping the wheelbase reasonably short. Or perhaps wheelbases are just longer now on cars like the Zonda and the F50 and all that.
hondansx said:
They are compromised, for sure. But then so are all cars with bushings on suspension (I.e. all road cars)...
Rose jointing is a compromise, too. A significant one in terms of NVH. All elements of all cars are compromises to some extent; if anything was perfect, all cars would have it. 
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff