Transverse engine and RWD

[Mr Gear]

Does it exist on any car ever made?

I can't see the point if it does, it just niggles me that I don't know the answer to this question.

[EDLT]

Lots of mid engined cars have a transverse engine.

[Mr Gear]

EDLT said:

Lots of mid engined cars have a transverse engine.

Of course, and that makes sense, but that wasn't what I meant, apologies. Should have clarified.

[left to right]

lotus elise

[left to right]

Land Rover Freelander well not RWD but does have rear driver shafts

[paranoid airbag]

There was a front engined rwd aygo IIRC, as well as a mid-engined 'crazy' edition.

[Mr Gear]

left to right said:

Land Rover Freelander well not RWD but does have rear driver shafts

There are quite a lot of 4WD cars like this. Mitsubishi Evo, Audi TT etc etc etc. I think most are predominantly FWD but switch to 4WD if required, rather than being predominantly RWD.

[Mr Gear]

doogz said:

left to right, you're slightly missing the point. The OP meant, but didn't write, cars with engined mounted transversely in the front, and with only the rear wheels driven.

Correct, that is what I meant. Sorry I wasn't more clear in the OP.

[Alfanatic]

I can't think of any. There doesn't seem any reason to do that, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are no examples, unless the US companies did one. They seem more inclined to be adventurous with their layouts.

Or some military or commercial vehicle where for some reason the propshaft had to go down one side of the chassis instead of down the middle

[98elise]

I can't see any advantage or reason for it so the answer has got to be no. Thats assuming you mean a normal car, rather than some obscure vehicle.

The nearest thing I can think of is a BEC track car with the engine beside the driver (it was a one off iirc). Thats really a mid engine though.

[Mr Gear]

Ok, well that's that then!

[Alfanatic]

98elise said:

I can't see any advantage or reason for it so the answer has got to be no. Thats assuming you mean a normal car, rather than some obscure vehicle.

The nearest thing I can think of is a BEC track car with the engine beside the driver (it was a one off iirc). Thats really a mid engine though.

That's a point. I wonder if any old racing cars from the front engined age did that so that the propshaft could run beside the driver instead of under him, thus allowing the driver to be sat lower? I still can't think of any

[renrut]

I'm assuming the OP made the mistake of missing out "front mounted transverse engine" and RWD only. Then I'd say no except maybe in some crazy concept cars.

It just doesn't make sense from an engineering point of view if you were making a new car as you have to change the direction of drive twice for no reason or benefit. Direction changes will cost power and economy so no one would really want to do it.

You'll probably only gain a few inches of space once manifolds are accounted for on a 4 pot.