Front-Engine, Rear-Wheel-Drive Layout
Front-Engine, Rear-Wheel-Drive Layout
wheel-drive layout
In automotive design, a FR, or front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout is one where the engine is
located at the front of the vehicle and driven wheels are located at the rear via a drive shaft. This
was the traditional automobile layout for most of the 20th century.[1] Modern designs commonly
use the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout (FF). It is also used in high-floor buses and school
buses.
FR layout
In automotive design, a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout (FMR) is one that places the
engine in the front, with the rear wheels of vehicle being driven. In contrast to the front-engine,
rear-wheel-drive layout (FR), the engine is pushed back far enough that its center of mass is to
the rear of the front axle. This aids in weight distribution and reduces the moment of inertia,
improving the vehicle's handling. The mechanical layout of an FMR is substantially the same as
an FR car. Some models of the same vehicle can be classified as either FR or FMR depending on
the length of the installed engine (e.g. 4-cylinder vs. 6-cylinder) and its centre of mass in relation
to the front axle.
Characteristics
FMR cars are often characterized by a long hood and front wheels that are pushed forward to
the corners of the vehicle, close to the front bumper. Grand tourers often have FMR layouts, as
a rear engine would not leave much space for the rear seats.
FMR should also not be confused with a "front midships" location of the engine, referring to
the engine being located fully behind the front axle centerline, in which case a car meeting the
above FMR center of mass definition could be classified as a FR layout instead. The V35
Nissan Skyline / Infiniti G35 / Nissan 350Z are FR cars.
FMR layout came standard in most pre–World War II, front-engine / rear-wheel-drive cars.
All Chevrolet Corvette from the second generation (model year 1963) through the seventh
generation (model year 2019) are FMR layouts as seen in the engine bay of the Chevrolet Corvette
ZR-1.
The Honda S2000 engine sits clearly behind the top of the shock towers.
The Morgan +4 and 4/4 are classic "front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layouts".
Dodge Viper showing its 8.4l V10 positioned behind the car’s front axle
References
Last edited 4 months ago by Gilo1969