Difference Between Front Wheel Drive and Rear Wheel Drive
Front wheel drive (FWD) was a dominant force in the late 1980s through the early 2000s, but rear wheel drive (RWD) is beginning to make a comeback as manufacturers find ways to tame the drive system's inherent bad habits.
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History
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FWD, RWD and four-wheel drive all hearken to the first automobiles ever produced, but the first FWD cars were electrically powered.
Acceleration
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Because a car naturally transfers weight backward (squats) under acceleration, high-powered FWD cars often experience much more wheel spin than similarly powered RWD vehicles.
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FWD Handling
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A FWD car's front wheels must handle both handling and acceleration duties; as such, all FWD cars have a tendency to understeer (push) while being driven hard through a corner.
RWD Handling
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RWD cars have a natural tendency to oversteer (powerslide) when pushed hard through a corner or during circumstances with limited traction.
Electronic Controls
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Electronic traction and stability controls that automatically lift the throttle or apply brakes during a powerslide are making RWD a more popular option for manufacturers. Some FWD cars use similar controls to tame understeering, but the results are less than perfect.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit green sportscar image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com
