Everything about Fr Layout totally explained
In
automotive design, a
FR, or
Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive layout is one where the
engine is placed in the front of the vehicle and drive the 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, 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 performance-oriented vehicles with engine outputs of more than about 200
horsepower, as the weight transference during acceleration loads the rear wheels and increases grip. In addition, the longitudinal orientation of the drivetrain generally offers more clearance around the engine, and thus easier under-hood maintenance, than in an average
front engine/front-wheel-drive vehicle.
The
FMR layout is based on the FR layout.
History
The first FR car was an 1895
Panhard model, so this layout was known as the "Système Panhard" in the early years. Most American cars used the FR layout until the mid 1980s. The
Oil crisis of the 1970s and the success of small
FF cars like the
Mini,
Volkswagen Golf, and
Honda Civic led to the widespread adoption of that layout.
Some manufacturers, such as Alfa Romeo, Porsche (944, 924, 928) and Chevrolet (C5 and C6 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.
After the
Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 and the 1979
fuel crises, a majority of American FR vehicles (station wagons, luxury sedans) were phased out for the FF layout - this trend would spawn the SUV/van conversion market. As for the American domestic automotive companies; Chrysler went 100% FF by 1990, GM and Ford retained FR for their luxury and performance vehicles.
GM phased out its FR luxury cars after the 1996 model year, and its
F-car (
Chevrolet Camaro/
Pontiac Firebird) in 2002. GM reintroduced North American FR luxury cars with the 2003
Cadillac CTS. This was followed by the reintroduction of the
Pontiac GTO (imported from Australia) between 2004 and 2006. Currently they produce the
Chevrolet Corvette/
Cadillac XLR and the
Cadillac CTS/
STS. GM
Holden continued to produce RWD cars through this period.
In Australia, FR cars have remained popular throughout this period, with the
Holden Commodore and
Ford Falcon having consistently strong sales.
Currently most cars are FF, including virtually all front-engined economy cars, though FR cars are making a return as an alternative to large sport-utility vehicles. Many of the newest models have adopted
four-wheel drive, and some, like the
Chrysler 300 are switching back to the FR layout. Most
sports cars and
luxury cars have always been FR.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Fr Layout'.
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