Transverse engine
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A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the direction of travel. Many modern front-wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration. Most rear-wheel drive vehicles use a longitudinal engine configuration, where the engine's crankshaft axis is parallel with the direction of travel, except for some rear-mid engine vehicles, which use a transverse engine and transaxle mounted in the rear instead of the front. Despite typically being used in light vehicles, it is not restricted to such designs and has also been used on armoured fighting vehicles to save interior space.
History
The
During WWII, transverse engines were developed for armored vehicles, with the Soviet T-44 and T-54/T-55 tanks being equipped with transverse engines to save space within the hull. The T-54/55 eventually became the most produced tank in history.
Postwar use
After the
This design reached its peak starting with
The
The Land Rover LR2 Freelander, along with all Volvo models from 1998 on (including V8 models), employ a transversely-mounted engine in order to increase passenger space inside the vehicle. This has also allowed for improved safety in a frontal impact, due to more longitudinal engine compartment space being created. The result is a larger front crumple zone.[4][5]
Transverse engines have also been widely used in buses. In the United States, they were offered in the early 1930s by
's bus divisions.Position placement of transverse engines
Engines may be placed in two main positions within the motor car:
- Front-engine transversely-mounted / Front-wheel drive
- Rear mid-engine transversely-mounted / Rear-wheel drive
Common types of transversely placed engines
Space allowed for engines within the front wheel wells is commonly limited to the following:
- Single cylinder
- Inline-two
- Inline-three
- Inline-four
- Inline-five
- Inline-six (for rear-engined buses)
- V4
- V6
Less common types of transversely-placed engines
- Inline-six: Austin Kimberley, Tasman; Austin 2200, Morris 2200, Wolseley Six); Austin/Morris 2200 HL, Wolseley Saloon, Princess; Daewoo Magnus (aka Chevrolet Epica/Evanda, Suzuki Verona); Daewoo Tosca (aka Chevrolet/Holden Tosca); Land Rover Freelander 2 (aka LR2); Volvo S80; Volvo S60 (2nd generation, also V60); Volvo V70 (3rd generation); Volvo XC60; Volvo XC90
- V8: Buick LaCrosse LaCrosse Super (2008–2009), Cadillac Allanté, Ford Taurus SHO (3rd generation), Hyundai Equus/Centennial (1st generation), Lancia Thema 8.32, Lincoln Continental (1995-2002 only), Mitsubishi Dignity, Mitsubishi Proudia, Oldsmobile Aurora, Volvo S80, Volvo XC90
- V12 (mid-engine only): Lamborghini Miura
- V16 (mid-engine only): Cizeta-Moroder V16T
Alternative convention with twin-cylinder motorcycles
The description of the orientation of V-twin and flat-twin motorcycle engines sometimes differs from the convention as stated above. Motorcycles with a
This convention uses the longest horizontal dimension (length or width) of the engine as its reference axis instead of the crankshaft.Notes
- ^ Douglas-Scott-Montagu & Burgess-Wise 1995, p. 61.
- ^ Smith 1972, p. 9.
- ^ Robson 2010, p. 17.
- ^ "Volvo S80". Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ "LR2 Safety Features". Archived from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ "Scania at Busworld 2005: New range of Scania buses and coaches". Archived from the original on 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ a b Clarke 2010, p. 44.
- ^ Grubb 1975, p. 85.
- ^ Grubb 1975, pp. 82, 83.
References
- Clarke, Massimo (2010). Modern Motorcycle Technology: How Every Part of Your Motorcycle Works. Minneapolis, MN USA: MotorBooks International. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7603-3819-3. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
Moto Guzzi's transverse V-twins are unique among motorcycles, while Ducati, in keeping with the classical school, uses a longitudinal V, meaning the axis of rotation of the crankshaft is transverse to the frame.
- ISBN 1 85260 494 8.
- Grubb, Jake (March 1975). Linkletter, John A. (ed.). "Easy riders—the grand touring motorcycles for '75". ISSN 0032-4558. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
- Robson, Graham (2010). Saab 96 & V4. Poundbury, Dorchester, UK: Veloce. ISBN 978-1-845842-56-7. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- Smith, Brian E. (1972). The Daimler Tradition. Isleworth, UK: Transport Bookman. ISBN 085184 014 0.