front mid engine vs FR setup

can someone please clarify the difference between a front-mid engine like that i have heard is used in an s2000 and a front engine rear wheel drive setup.

no idea....this should be enlightening....i've never heard about front-mid engine

FM(Front-Midship) refers to a platform where the engine is placed behind the front axle. It says nothing about the drive wheels at all. Examples would be the V35 Skyline(Infiniti G35), GT-R, BMW M3, Porsche Carreras, and IIRC Porsche GT3.

FR means front engine, rear wheel drive.

FM and FR are two different things.. i.e., an M3 is both FM and FR.

and incase you were wondering, MR would be a mid-engine, rear wheel drive. examples would include the ford GT, honda NSX, toyota mr2, saleen s7, lotus elise, and the mclaren f1.

FM(Front-Midship) refers to a platform where the engine is placed behind the front axle. It says nothing about the drive wheels at all. Examples would be the V35 Skyline(Infiniti G35), GT-R, BMW M3, Porsche Carreras, and IIRC Porsche GT3.



How can you possibly inculde a any of the Porsche 911 models in that selection? They are all either REAR engine, or Mid engined, i.e. the enigne is either over/behind the rear axle, or just in front of it.



A Front Midship has the engine in the front of the car, in front of the driver, how its centre of gravity is located behind the front axle.
This gives the car better weight distribution which can help with more neutral handling.

A Front Midship has the engine in the front of the car, in front of the driver, how its centre of gravity is located behind the front axle.
This gives the car better weight distribution which can help with more neutral handling.
But don't fall into the trap that this is the best layout for pure performance. It is not.

But don't fall into the trap that this is the best layout for pure performance. It is not.
what is then?

I think MR would be the best layout but i'm not sure.

Heh. My engine's under my front seats. :D

Heh. My engine's under my front seats. :D
ahhh, so you've got a high preformance van? :iceslolan

it doesnt matter WHERE The engine is... handleing is about Balence (both front to rear and side to side), Suspension rate, chassis stiffness, steering set up, lateral traction, among other things.

But don't fall into the trap that this is the best layout for pure performance. It is not.


Never said it was :)
Your right of course, you only have to look at the weight distribution on a Porsche 911 to see that.

wow thanks!

Of course there are many things to consider when talking about handling but i think if I were to build a pure race car from the ground up I would start with a MR setup (like all F1 cars and Le Mans Prototypes).

Hey look at that. I drive an MR-2 Spyder. i guess i have a good start. (or maybe im just biased)

what is then?
IMO, Mr. Reed said it all.

IMO, Mr. Reed said it all.
looks reasonable to me. :thumbsup:

the reason that mr is better than fmr is because you can have a more aerodynamic car, or at leased that's what i've heard.

the reason that mr is better than fmr is because you can have a more aerodynamic car, or at leased that's what i've heard.

I thought it was because it had better dynamic balance. Having the CG slightly rearward improves braking performance for corner entry, and the additional weight on the rear wheels increase traction during acceleration.

For example:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/greglocock/5050.htm

i believe alastor is more correct on that one. not to mention its fun to tell people that THEIR motor is in the wrong end and then prove it to them with your MR car.

The best layout depends on a few different things, but when it all boils down the traverse MR has the most potential since it has the highest effecency and lowest polar inertia, but of course the extreamly low inerita makes them a little too easy to turn for most peoples taste, but that also depends on the suspension setup too. As far as weight distrabution goes MRs tend to be a little too heavy in the back making their handling dynamics kind of tricky, but their off the line traction is great. FMR is just a FR with a little better weight ballence, and slighly reduced inertia.

i would rather have a car that i can grow into (like an MR) instead of a car that might leave me wanting more (like an FR).

MR cars can be very tricky to drive. I'll admit that i still have a ton of learning to do with my spyder. People always say that the best mod for your car is SEAT TIME and that is especialy true for MR cars. On spyderchat.com we have a saying to describe the handling of our cars. SNAP OVERSTEER. some times, if you get a little flustered or you just dont know what your are doing the car will swap ends with what appears to be little or no warning, but there is warning if you are familiar with the car. this really only happens under heavy braking and is easily correctable though you may need a new line through the turn. it also happens if there is some gravel or water on the road while accellerating out of corners.

^True dat^ :ylsuper:
Once you get used to them they are the best.

it also feels great to be sitting on the polar moment of inertia. when you turn the steering wheel, the WORLD turns around YOU. "Permagrin"