Front mid-engine, front-wheel-drive layout

MF layout

In automotive design, a Front Mid-engine, Front-wheel-drive layout (sometimes called FMF or just MF) is one in which the front road wheels are driven by an internal-combustion engine placed just behind them, in front of the passenger compartment. In contrast to the Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout (FF), the center of mass 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). Since the differences between the FF and MF layouts are minor, most people consider the MF layout to be the same as the FF layout.

However, the mid-engined layout uses up central space, making the resulting vehicle rather long. This may be why no manufacturer currently offers the MF layout.

Examples of road cars using the MF layout include the Acura Vigor, Cord 810, BSA Scout, Citroën Traction Avant, Citroën DS, Renault 4 (and derivatives R5 and R6), Renault 16, Saab Sonett mk1, and the Citroën SM, also some commercial vehicles like the Tempo Matador. These vehicles have longitudinal mounted engines; transverse engined vehicles are possible in theory if the issue of passenger footwell location is addressed. The Toyota iQ comes close to this by having its front differential in front of the engine,^[1] however despite this, the iQ is still considered to have an FF layout.

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.

Gallery

Citroën Traction Avant revolutionized auto design with its low slung unibody design bodywork.
Saab Sonett mk1 used the MF layout by turning the engine and running it "backwards".
The Renault 5 was one of the last successful mid-engine, front-wheel-drive layouts.

References

↑ "TOYOTA IQ: SIX DEGREES OF INNOVATION – NO1". 22 October 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2011.

Car design

Car classification	Antique City car Classic Compact Compact executive Compact MPV Compact SUV Crossover SUV Custom Hot rod Lead sled Lowrider Street rod T-bucket Economy Executive Family car (large) Full-size Grand tourer Hot hatch Kei Leisure activity vehicle Luxury Microcar Mid-size Mini MPV Mini SUV Minivan / Multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) Muscle luxury Pony Sport compact Sport utility vehicle (SUV) Sports car Subcompact Supercar Supermini Truck Ute Van Voiturette

Body styles	2+2 Baquet Barchetta Berlinetta Brougham Cabrio coach Cabriolet / Convertible Coupé Coupé de Ville Coupé utility Drophead coupe (Convertible) Fastback Hardtop Hatchback Landaulet Liftback Limousine Multi-stop truck Notchback Panel van Phaeton Pickup truck Quad coupé Retractable hardtop Roadster Runabout Saloon / Sedan Sedan delivery Sedanca de Ville (Coupé de Ville) Shooting-brake Spider / Spyder (Roadster) Station wagon Targa top Torpedo Touring car Town car (Coupé de Ville) T-top Vis-à-vis

Specialized vehicles	Amphibious Driverless (autonomous) Hearse Gyrocar Roadable aircraft Taxicab Tow truck

Propulsion	Alternative fuel Autogas Biodiesel Diesel Electric (battery NEV) Ethanol (E85) Fuel cell Gasoline / petrol (direct injection) Homogeneous charge compression ignition Hybrid (plug-in) Hydrogen Internal combustion Liquid nitrogen Steam

Drive wheels	Front-wheel Rear-wheel Two-wheel Four-wheel Six-wheel Eight-wheel Twelve-wheel

Engine position	Front Mid Rear

Layout (engine / drive)	Front / front Front mid / front Rear / front Front / rear Rear mid / rear Rear / rear Front / four-wheel Mid / four-wheel Rear / four-wheel

Engine configuration (internal combustion)	Boxer Flat Four-stroke H-block Inline Reciprocating Single-cylinder Straight Two-stroke V (Vee) W engine Wankel

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