PNiddy: /* Overview */

2006-07-18T17:00:58Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:00, 18 July 2006
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	This layout is typically chosen for its simple design and weight distribution. Placing the engine at the front gives the vehicle a traditional long hood (in British English "bonnet") and engine cooling is simple to arrange. Placing the drive wheels at the rear allows ample room for the transmission in the center of the vehicle and avoids the mechanical problems of transmitting drive to steered wheels. The layout is still more suitable than front-wheel drive for engine outputs of more than about 200 bhp, as the weight transference during acceleration loads the rear wheels and increases grip.		This layout is typically chosen for its simple design and weight distribution. Placing the engine at the front gives the vehicle a traditional long hood (in British English "bonnet") and engine cooling is simple to arrange. Placing the drive wheels at the rear allows ample room for the transmission in the center of the vehicle and avoids the mechanical problems of transmitting drive to steered wheels. The layout is still more suitable than front-wheel drive for engine outputs of more than about 200 bhp, as the weight transference during acceleration loads the rear wheels and increases grip.

	The [[MF layout]] is based on the FR layout.		The [[FM layout]] is based on the FR layout.

	== History ==		== History ==

PNiddy at 17:00, 18 July 2006

2006-07-18T17:00:20Z

New page

In [[automobile]] design, an '''FR''', or '''front-engine, [[Rear-wheel drive|rear-wheel drive]]''' means a layout where the [[engine]] is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. This was the traditional automobile layout for most of the 20th century.

==Overview==
This layout is typically chosen for its simple design and weight distribution. Placing the engine at the front gives the vehicle a traditional long hood (in British English "bonnet") and engine cooling is simple to arrange. Placing the drive wheels at the rear allows ample room for the transmission in the center of the vehicle and avoids the mechanical problems of transmitting drive to steered wheels. The layout is still more suitable than front-wheel drive for engine outputs of more than about 200 bhp, as the weight transference during acceleration loads the rear wheels and increases grip.

The [[MF layout]] is based on the FR layout.

== History ==
The first FR car was an 1895 [[Panhard]] model, so this layout was known as the "Systeme Panhard" in the early years. Most American cars used the FR layout until the 1980s, exemplified by the [[Ford Mustang]], [[Chevrolet Corvette]], and originally German vehicles from [[BMW]] and [[Mercedes-Benz]]. The oil crisis of the 1970s and the success of small [[FF layout|FF]] cars like the [[MINI]], [[Volkswagen Golf|Volkswagen Rabbit]], and [[Honda Civic]] led to the widespread adoption of that layout.

Some manufacturers, such as [[Porsche]] (944,924,928) and [[Chevrolet]] (C5 and C6 [[Chevrolet Corvette|Corvettes]]), retained this layout but moved the gearbox from behind the engine to between the rear wheels, putting more weight over the driven axle. This configuration is often referred to as a [[transaxle]] since the transmission and axle are one unit.

Right after the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 and the 1979 fuel crises, a majority of American FR vehicles ([[station wagons]], [[Luxury Cars|luxury sedans]]) were being phased out for the [[FF layout]] - this trend would spawn the [[SUVs|SUV]]/van conversion market. [[Chrysler]] went 100% [[FF layout|FF]] by 1990; only [[General Motors|GM]] and [[Ford]] retained FR for their [[Luxury Cars|luxury]] and performance vehicles.

[[General Motors|GM]] phased out its FR [[Luxury Cars|luxury cars]] after the 1996 model year, and its [[GM F platform|F-car]] ([[Chevrolet Camaro]]/[[Pontiac Firebird]]) in 2002. [[General Motors|GM]] reintroduced North American FR luxury cars with the 2003 [[Cadillac CTS]]. Currently they produce the [[Pontiac GTO]] (imported from Australia), [[Chevrolet Corvette]]/[[Cadillac XLR]] and the [[Cadillac CTS]]/[[Cadillac STS|STS]]. [[General Motors|GM]] [[Holden]] continued to produce [[Rear-wheel drive|RWD]] cars through this period.

Today, most cars are [[FF layout|FF]], though the limitations of that layout, such as poor traction under acceleration and excessive nose weight, are beginning to become apparent. Many of the newest models have adopted [[All-wheel drive|all-wheel drive]], and some, like the [[Chrysler 300]] are switching back to the FR layout. Most [[sports cars]] and [[Luxury Cars|luxury cars]] have always been FR.

==See Also==
* [[All-wheel drive]]
* [[Front-wheel drive]]
* [[Rear-wheel drive]]
* [[FF layout]]
* [[FM layout]]
* [[MF layout]]
* [[MR layout]]
* [[RR layout]]

[[Category:Automobile layouts]]
[[Category:Automobiles]]

FR layout - Revision history

PNiddy: /* Overview */

PNiddy at 17:00, 18 July 2006