What are the common layout forms of automotive transmission systems?
2 Answers
There are 5 common layout forms of automotive transmission systems: front-engine rear-wheel drive, front-engine front-wheel drive, rear-engine rear-wheel drive, mid-engine rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive. Front-engine rear-wheel drive, abbreviated as FR, is a traditional layout form with relatively simple structure and high operational reliability, mostly used in trucks, some cars, and buses. Front-engine front-wheel drive, abbreviated as FF, is currently the more commonly used layout form in cars, featuring a compact structure, reduced vehicle weight, and improved high-speed stability by lowering the chassis height. Rear-engine rear-wheel drive, abbreviated as RR, is applied in medium and large buses, with the advantages of reducing interior noise and facilitating the interior layout of the vehicle body.
After all these years working in the repair shop, there are only a few common drivetrain layouts: Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the most common, like most family sedans—engine in the front, front wheels driving, low cost, spacious, and easy to repair, but prone to understeer on slippery roads. Front-engine rear-wheel drive (FR) is used by many sports cars—rear wheels pushing for agile handling, but the rear differential wears out easily and needs frequent maintenance. Rear-engine rear-wheel drive (RR) is the old Beetle style—rear-heavy and tends to drift. Mid-engine rear-wheel drive (MR) keeps the center of gravity balanced for stable cornering, often used by Porsche for high performance, but cramped and expensive. Four-wheel drive (4WD/AWD) can handle any road condition—no slipping in snow or rain—but guzzles fuel and costs more to repair. Remember, each has pros and cons—choose based on driving habits and maintenance costs to avoid breakdowns.
