Engine Placement EXPLAINED | Why most car engines are in the front?

Cars, trucks, vans, after over a century of innovation, automakers all agree to put the engine in the front. Why do we do this? What about cars where you pop the trunk? Porches, Volkswagen’s. What about those cars with the engines in the middle? What about super cars? Rear engine vehicles represent some of the best selling and best performing cars out there. So, I have to ask the question: Why most car engines are in the front?

The answer is more of a story than an answer. It’s a world ride to automotive history. From Germany to Detroit, to rough (beep) Canada. But first, if you want the short boring answer, here it is: Front engine front wheel drive vehicles are more forgiving the steer since the weight of the engine is over the front wheels. That gives them more traction. That means it’s easier for your less talented drivers to not spin out on icy roads. It’s also more economical to cool the engine if it’s in the front. So, it’s cheaper to manufacture.

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If you’re still here, that means you want the good answer. Let’s go back in time. In the 19th century, most horseless carriages had rear mounted engines with rear wheel drive. In 1895, French automaker Panhard, made the first front mounted engine with rear wheel drive. To accomplish this, they invented the modern transmission. This design was superior to rear mounted designs at the time, because it distributed the weight evenly between the front and rear wheels, which improved the handling and gave the front wheels more traction. I’m not sure how much handling is required when you’re traveling at the speed of smell, but it was a huge accomplishment. Front engine rear wheel drive became the standard with Ford cranking out 16,500,000 model t’s from 1908 to 1927, and all other car makers followed suit.

In 1934, Mercedes Benz looked at engine placement and asked a very German question: “Why don’t we try it in the trunk ya?” This rear end freak fest, produced the model 130h. Czech manufacturer Tatra, followed suit and started producing rear engine cars. The rear engine design race peak in 1938, when Volkswagen released the Beetle, designed by Ferdinand Porsche. Yeah, that Porsche. Tatra immediately sued VW, due to the Beetles similarity to Tatra’s rear engine V570 and 97. The VW Beetle was cheap and economical. The original Beetle got 32 miles to the gallon and sold like toilet paper in a quarantine.

After the success of the Beetle, Everybody was dabbling with back row bangers. Rear engine, rear wheel drive cars were great for acceleration, since the engine weight is right on the rear tires. The main problem though, is oversteer. Since all the weight is in the back, tight turns tend to make the rear of the car swing around. Many tried, but few succeeded in making a rear engine, rear wheel drive vehicle that handled well. They accelerate like a dragster and kind of handle like a dragster. The first real success in that department was the Porsche 911.

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