PNiddy at 17:05, 18 July 2006

2006-07-18T17:05:34Z

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In [[automobile]] design, an '''MF''' or '''Mid-engine, [[Front-wheel drive]]''' layout is one in which the front wheels are driven by an [[internal-combustion engine|engine]] placed just behind them, in front of the passenger compartment. In contrast to the front-engined [[FF layout]] the center of gravity of the [[engine]] is behind the front [[axle]]. This layout is typically chosen for its better weight distribution (the heaviest component is near the center of the car, lowering its moment of inertia). The mid-engined layout does, however, use up central space, making the resulting vehicle rather long.

Examples of road cars using the MF layout include the [[Citroën Traction Avant]], [[Citroën DS]], and the [[Citroën SM]].

Traditionally, the term ''mid-engine'' has been reserved for cars that place the engine and [[transaxle]] behind the driver and in front of the rear axles, as in the [[Lamborghini Countach]] or [[Ferrari Testarossa]], but an engine placed in front of the driver's compartment but fully behind the front axle line also qualifies as ''mid-engine.''

==See also==
* [[Front-wheel drive]]
* [[All-wheel drive]]
* [[Rear-wheel drive]]
* [[RR layout]]
* [[FR layout]]
* [[MR layout]]
* [[FM layout]]
* [[FF layout]]
* [[Mid-engine design]]

[[Category:Automobile layouts]]
[[Category:Automobiles]]

MF layout - Revision history

PNiddy at 17:05, 18 July 2006