Front Engine Vs. Rear Engine
A performance vehicle is built for speed. Automakers work to enhance the capabilities of performance cars or sports cars by enhancing the design and layout. The aim – get it to go faster while handling the road like a champion! One of the ways some vehicles have adjusted to achieve this by changing the placement of the engine. Front engine or rear engine. This makes a difference in terms of weight distribution and center of gravity.
What was discussed:
Lets Have Fun
Most vehicles are typically front engine. This is so because they are front-wheel drive (FWD). Some automakers have placed engines in the rear because that position provides a lot of power and traction to the back wheels because of weight transfer, which makes them quick to accelerate. This is a feature usually preferred by racecar drivers who are burning rubber on the track. Its also preferred for making a fun “Sports Car” as well.
What’s the difference between a front engine and a rear-engine vehicle?
Front Engine
Front engines help to provide front-wheel drive vehicles with more traction and RWD sports cars with balanced weight distribution when accelerating. Front Engine FWD cars generally provide more room for passengers and cargo but tend to understeer due to the weight shifting to the rear wheels. This is Why Front Engine RWD set ups are preferred when making sports cars.
The Grand Sport !
The 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport comes in as a great example of a front-engine RWD vehicle that packs all the power. It’s often described as the sweet spot in the Corvette line-up. With a 6.2-liter V-8 engine and stellar bodywork, flared fenders, robust tires, and wide-track suspension, it’s a beast on the track, easily rocketing from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. The Grand Sport produces 460 horsepower and 465 lb. ft. of torque. Its excellent high-speed stability is enhanced by daring capabilities including 1.10 g of cornering grip and sub-140-foot braking distances from 70 mph, a feat resulting from carbon-ceramic brakes.
Best of Both
It’s a great cross-section between the Corvette Stingray and the mighty Corvette Z06 because it merges the high spec 6.2-liter V-8 engine of the Stingray, with the body and suspension of a Z06. This makes for a best-of-both-worlds scenario providing a good time on the track and equal fun on the streets.
Rear Engine
Rear-engine vehicles are usually rare, pun intended, and not many automakers steer into that lane. When a vehicle’s engine is mounted to the rear, it puts the weight and the power unit right next to the drive wheels. This weight helps to improve traction and acceleration.
The Carrera !
But what are you looking for in a rear-engine vehicle? Well if you had the 2018 Porsche Carrera 4s in mind, then congratulations! You’ve earned your stars. The famous Porsche 911 family to which the 2018 Porsche Carrera 4s belongs, is comprised of 24 high-performance luxury models. The Carrera 4s with its four-wheel drive capabilities would be considered the all-rounder of the family. It has a 3.0L H-6 engine and comes in at 420 hp and 368 lb.-ft of torque.
The Perfect Tool
The vehicle’s ABS and driveline traction control helps this vehicle handle well on the road. Its braking system includes six-piston aluminum monobloc fixed brake calipers at the front and four-piston units at the rear. The Carrera 4s missiles from 0 to 60 in 3.0 seconds. Making it just a little slower than the front engine 2018 Chevrolet Grand Sport. While the Grand Sport is the sweet spot of the Corvette line-up, the Carrera seems to be one of the most capable of the Porsche 911 line up. It’s like a well-sharpened knife that cuts on the first try, the Carrera 4s has been refined and one of the best tools for the job.
Concluding Thoughts
Whether you choose the 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport or the 2018 Porsche Carrera 4s you’re definitely in for a great ride. Each car carries its own way based on the design and layout. Front engine vehicles are more common and carry their own advantages especially for consumers, while rear-engine vehicles also carry their own strengths on the racetrack. Your choice will be guided by your own circumstance. So, are you a rear-engine or front-engine type a guy/gal?