Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
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In automotive design, a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout (FMR) is one that places the engine in the front, with the rear wheels of vehicle being driven. In contrast to the front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR) layout, the engine is pushed back far enough that its center of mass is to the rear of the front axle. This aids in weight distribution and reduces the moment of inertia, improving the vehicle's handling. The mechanical layout of a FMR is substantially the same as a FR car. Some models of the same vehicle can be classified as either FR or FMR depending on the length of the installed engine (e.g. 4-cylinder vs. 6-cylinder) and its centre of mass in relation to the front axle.
Characteristics:
- FMR cars are often characterized by a long hood and front wheels that are pushed forward to the corners of the vehicle, close to the front bumper. Grand tourers often have FMR layouts, as a rear engine would not leave much space for the rear seats.
- FMR layout came standard in most Front-engine / Rear-wheel drive cars pre-World War II
Samples:
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- 1] Fourth to sixth generation Chevrolet Corvette were FMR layouts as seen in the engine bay of the Corvette ZR-1.
- 2] BMW Z4 has plenty of space between front vertical door sill and front wheel, a characteristic of the engine located behind the front axle.
- 3] The Nissan GT-R uses a derivative of the FMR platform named Nissan PM platform with transmission/transaxle in back and all-wheel drive.