Is Rolls-Royce a Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle?
2 Answers
Rolls-Royce is not a four-wheel drive vehicle; all models from Rolls-Royce adopt a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The reason Rolls-Royce does not use a four-wheel drive system is due to considerations for the car's handling. The advantage of rear-wheel drive is its superior handling. In front-engine, rear-wheel-drive cars, the rear wheels are responsible for propulsion while the front wheels focus more on steering, making the car more responsive during driving. Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive cars have balanced weight distribution between the front and rear, resulting in excellent stability and smoothness. This layout also helps extend the lifespan of the car's tires. However, the production cost of rear-wheel-drive cars is relatively high, and space utilization is not very convenient. Additionally, during driving, rear-wheel-drive cars may sometimes exhibit oversteering tendencies. Since the car's power needs to be transmitted through the driveshaft, the power loss in rear-wheel-drive cars is greater compared to front-wheel-drive cars. However, this does not affect the normal driving experience of Rolls-Royce vehicles.
I've driven my friend's Rolls-Royce Ghost, which features a classic rear-wheel-drive layout. In fact, most Rolls-Royce models adhere to rear-wheel drive, such as the flagship Phantom and the classic Dawn. However, the SUV Cullinan is indeed equipped with a standard all-wheel-drive system across the lineup, as it needs to handle complex road conditions like snow and gravel. The all-wheel-drive version uses an intelligent full-time system that automatically distributes power between the front and rear axles. As for coupes like the Wraith, although they are all-wheel-drive, they primarily rely on the rear wheels for power, with the front wheels engaging only during rapid acceleration. When choosing a car, you need to consider the specific model—traditional sedans are mostly rear-wheel-drive, while SUVs and some coupes come with all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive offers more agile cornering, while all-wheel drive provides stronger traction, each with its own advantages.
