Engine Layout: Longitudinal

Imagine a V10 engine churning out more than 300 horsepowers, but power delivery goes more in the front wheels and not in all wheels despite having an all wheel drive. What happened? Probably the ESP is not working right or probably its something else. Surely, there are a number of probabilities that may happen. However, the truth is a huge difference in the weight distribution on the front and the rear tyres due to which the traction in the rear tyres is much lesser.

To get nearest to the 50:50 distribution ratio so that the weight of the car comes more to the centre, the engine is placed parallel to the axis of the car - The longitudinal layout. The maximum weight of the car is due to the engine, and if not placed right, oversteer and understeer will happen while negotiating a hard turn. In order to have the right amount of traction in all tyres, besides Traction Control Systems, the engine is placed in such a manner.

Whether a front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or an all wheel drive car, the longitudinal layout distributes the weight of the car as much as evenly to the centre and is usually done for V-engines or high capacity inline engines.

The only drawback of this layout is that it increases the length of the car. This is why W-engines were conceived being used in most supercars now.