Does the layout of a car affect performance?

[FIA]

Does the layout of a car affect performance?

Whether the drive is:-
RWD
4WD
FWD

Whether the engine is:-
Front End
Mid-Ship
Rear End

Does it affect anything?

[Tomski]

Yes

[FIA]

How, and in what way?

eg.
Speed
Accelaration
Torque

[MrJan]

All to do with weight distribution and handling. Obviously moving the engine can't affect set things like power and torque but it can mean faster cornering speed.

RWD is also very good at exceleration as when you floor it the weight transfers to the back. Basically RWD has better traction while FWD scrabbles for grip.

As far as straighline speed goes it wouldn't make any difference really but for the most part overtaking is done in the braking zone and through corners so it is handling that is the most important feature.

[FIA]

So basically they cancel each other out, on different things. Or is there a superior WD or Engine Placement to have.

[AndySpeed]

Audi were so strong in Super touring around the world in 1996 running a 4WD car that for 1997 they had weight penalties to attempt to even the field out.

[MrJan]

So basically they cancel each other out, on different things. Or is there a superior WD or Engine Placement to have.

I suppose the best would be mid-engined, 4WD.

I wouldn't say that they cancel each other out in any way. Weight distribution is one of the most imporant things in going fast and Ford have spent a fortune lowering the centre of gravity on their World Rally Cars.

There will always be arguements over drivetrains and engine placement as to which is quicker but ultimately it comes down to how fast the driver can go in them and that will depend on the driver. RWD is more tail happy and FWD has a tendancy to understeer. Likewise if you have the engine in the front then the weight will push the nose out (understeer) and in the rear it acts like a pendulum trying to spin the car (oversteer).

Ultimately the speed and torque which you asked about just come from the tuning of the engine in respect of induction, echaust and size of engine.

[Eurotech]

Judging on F1, the best combination would be to have Mid-Engined and RWD for best balance. When was the last thime you saw a Front Engined FWD F1 Car?????

[Marc W]

There was a FWD Front engined F1 car once;

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2...99-Climax.html

F1 is dictated by the rules and FWD is outlawed. In touring car terms FWD would definately be and advantage but as far as I remember it's also outlawed in S200 rules. You also don't tend to get many mid engined saloon cars!

[Brown, Jon Brow]

There was a FWD Front engined F1 car once;

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2...99-Climax.html

F1 is dictated by the rules and FWD is outlawed. In touring car terms FWD would definately be and advantage but as far as I remember it's also outlawed in S200 rules. You also don't tend to get many mid engined saloon cars!

You mean 4WD not FWD