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Re: Power loss.
Typically a touch less in RWD. The power in a FWD gets split into four CV joints which tend to suck up a bit of power, whereas a rear wheel drive puts the power through two smaller Ujoints and one direction change in the ring gear. Independent rear suspensions on RWD cars tend to take a little more than live axles since they go back to 4 Ujoints on the drive axles.
Overall, they are all pretty much a wash. And I was a bit high on my estimate of 25%, I'd say 20% is more realistic. In general, engineers and designers don't take it into much consideration when it comes to things like fuel economy or efficiency, so its not a huge difference between layouts.
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