What are Front-Wheel Drive and Rear-Wheel Drive?
1 Answers
Front-wheel drive refers to a power distribution method where the engine only drives the front pair of wheels, while rear-wheel drive means the engine's power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a driveshaft, propelling the vehicle forward. Below are the specific differences between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive: 1. In terms of sharp turns: Front-wheel-drive cars have a heavier front and lighter rear, making them prone to understeer during sharp turns; rear-wheel-drive cars have a lighter front and heavier rear, making them prone to oversteer, or fishtailing. 2. Space-wise: With the same wheelbase, front-wheel-drive cars have a transversely mounted engine positioned further forward, resulting in more interior space; rear-wheel-drive cars use a longitudinally mounted engine, which can encroach on interior space. 3. Appearance-wise: Front-wheel-drive models have a longer front overhang; rear-wheel-drive models have a relatively shorter front overhang, giving the front end a sleeker appearance. 4. Center of gravity perspective: When encountering steep slopes, front-wheel-drive cars have their center of gravity at the front, making them more prone to slipping when climbing; rear-wheel-drive cars perform much better in this regard.