| Where do they go and what does it mean? | | | | Dodge Viper. |
| Mid-engined | | | | Rear-engined |
| Lotus EliseWhile the majority of cars have their engine | | | | Porsche 911 CabrioletThe Porsche 911 is the most |
| over the front wheels, which allows better carrying | | | | developed rear-engine rear-wheel drive car in the |
| capacity, mid-engine cars offer a more favourable | | | | world, having had over 40 years of incremental |
| weight distribution. The engine usually sits just in front | | | | iterations to hone its engineering. Rear-engined cars |
| of the rear axle, behind the passenger compartment. | | | | are where the centre of gravity of the motor is behind |
| This usually means that mid-engine cars are | | | | the rear axle. They're notoriously difficult to make |
| two-seaters as the engine intrudes into what would be | | | | stable because the engine acts like a pendulum, |
| used for the rear passenger space. The advantages | | | | meaning once that back end steps around it's more |
| include better handling, better braking (because the rear | | | | difficult to control than an excited puppy. |
| wheels have more weight over them), improved | | | | Front-engined |
| acceleration (where they're rear-wheel drive as well), | | | | Toyota CelicaFront-engined, front-wheel drive cars |
| and a smoother ride. Because the engine is not directly | | | | (FF) are the safe choice for the average motorist. |
| facing into the wind, vents, air scoops, and additional | | | | They understeer when pushed hard, and they give |
| radiators may have to be used to keep the engine | | | | more room in the cabin because the cars don't need a |
| cool. Common mid-engined cars are Ford GT, Lotus | | | | transmission tunnel through to the back wheels. Most |
| Elise, Porsche Boxster and Ferrari 355. | | | | family cars are FF. |
| MR, MFWD and MF | | | | Toyota SupraFront-engined, rear-wheel drive cars (FR) |
| Almost all mid-engined cars are rear-wheel drive (MR), | | | | are the choice for many a sports car and muscle car. |
| though some are four-wheel drive, like the Bugatti | | | | Common cars include the Toyota Altezza (Lexus |
| Veyron, and one or two were even mid-engined front | | | | IS200), most BMWs and Mercedes saloons/sedans, |
| wheel drive (e.g. Citroen DS). | | | | and the Corvette Z06. |
| FMR | | | | Four-wheel drive (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) |
| McLaren Mercedes SLRA front-mid (FM) engine sits | | | | 4WD School BusFWD gives the ultimate grip, but saps |
| just behind the front axle, and combined with | | | | engine power with all the extra moving parts. Some |
| rear-wheel drive gives a better weight distribution than | | | | cars have viscous centre differentials so that power is |
| a front-rear (FR) car, where the engine is over the | | | | channelled only to either the front or rear unless they |
| front axle. Examples include the Maserati Quattroporte, | | | | start to skid, then the diff apportions more power to |
| Mazda RX-7, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and | | | | the other wheels. |