Page 229 - Automotive Engineering Powertrain Chassis System and Vehicle Body

Types of suspension and drive CHAPTER 8.1

8.1.6 Front-wheel drive

The engine, differential and gearbox form one unit,
which can sit in front of, over, or behind the front axle.
The design is very compact and, unlike the standard
design, means that the vehicle can either be around
100–300 mm shorter, or the space for passengers and
luggage can be larger. These are probably the main rea-
sons why, worldwide, more and more car manufacturers
Fig. 8.1-47 The low cargo area on the Peugeot light have gone over to this design. In recent years only a few
commercial vehicle J 5/J 7 is achieved due to front-wheel drive saloons of up to 2 l capacity without front-wheel drive
and a semi-trailing link axle to the rear (similar to the one in
Fig. 8.1-63). have come onto the market. Nowadays, front-wheel -
drive vehicles are manufactured with V6 and V8 engines
and performances in excess of 150 kW.
However, this type of drive is not suitable for com-
the VW Transporter, Fig. 8.1-45, has not been built since mercial vehicles as the rear wheels are highly loaded and
1991) and, in so doing, obtain the following benefits: the front wheels only slightly. Nevertheless, some light
commercial vehicle manufacturers accept this disad-
very agile handling properties as a result of the small vantage so they can lower the load area and offer more
yawing moment;
space or better loading conditions (Fig. 8.1-47). The
very good drive-off and climbing capacity, almost propshafts necessary on standard passenger cars would
irrespective of load;
not allow this.
a short power flow because the engine, gearbox and
differential form one compact unit;
light steering due to low front axle load; 8.1.6.1 Types of design
good braking force distribution;
simple front axle design; 8.1.6.1.1 Engine mounted longitudinally
easy engine dismantling (only on rear engine); ‘north–south’ in front of the axle
no tunnel or only a small tunnel in the floor pan; In-line or V engines mounted in front of the axle –
a small overhang to the front is possible. regardless of the wheelbase – give a high front axle load,

Fig. 8.1-48 In front-wheel drive vehicles the engine can be mounted longitudinally in front of the front axle with the manual gearbox
behind. The shaft goes over the transverse differential (illustration: Renault).

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