by Frank Beeton
auto alert
A probing review
of significant global
motor industry news
Are Rear Engines Coming
Back?
Back in the 1950’s and 60’s, rearengined cars were commonplace.
The trend was given tremendous
early impetus by the huge success
of Volkswagen’s original Beetle, and
supported by rear-engined models
from the likes of Renault, Simca, Fiat,
Porsche, Hillman, BMW and even
Chevrolet, with its highly controversial
Corvair. The latter controversy centred
mainly on the car’s roadholding
(remember Ralph Nader?), and there was a
body of opinion that rear-engined cars, in
general, were prone to oversteer and frontwheel brake lockup on slippery surfaces.
The main benefits of the rear-engine layout
were the lack of transmission intrusion
into the passenger space in compact cars,
and good traction in slippery conditions
with the engine and transmission masses
concentrated around the rear driving
axle. This configuration did have many
enthusiastic protagonists who argued long
and passionately about its benefits, but
eventually, opinion and fashion swung in
favour of the transverse-engined frontwheel-drive layout still common today.
Finally, even Volkswagen capitulated, and,
after first testing the water with the Passat
one year earlier, the Golf went the FWD
route in 1974.
Since then, rear-engined cars have
been quite rare. In recent times, there
have been a few examples, such as the
Smart Fortwo and Tata Nano, both of
which were at the extreme lower end of
the size spectrum. However, the recent
emergence of a new class of “City Cars”
in Europe, intended primarily for urban
usage, seems to have opened up a fresh
opportunity for rear-engined designs.
Renault introduced its first Twingo city
car in 1993 with a conventional front
engine, front drive layout, and followed
up with a second generation, using the
Although appearing as a twodoor design, the latest Twingo
does, in fact, have five doors, with
concealed rear door handles. Other
features include a comprehensive
in-car entertainment and
communication system, LED
daytime running lights, electric
power steering, electric front
windows, remote central locking,
speed limiter, trip computer, and
automatic rear wiper activation.
Safety features include Electronic
➲ Renault’s latest Twingo urban car – with its engine
Stability Control, Hill Start Assist,
at the rear
Emergency Brake Assist, four
airbags and tyre pressure monitoring.
same driveline configuration, in 2007. In
August, 2014, however, the third generation
Undoubtedly, modern electronic
Twingo made its appearance, with engine
management interventions and lightweight,
located at the rear. The advantages of this
small displacement engines will have
layout, according to Renault, are a shorter
helped to cancel out the perceived historic
overall length, and increased parking and
disadvantages of rear-engined cars, and it
traffic agility. The Twingo’s transverse
is notable that the Twingo’s rear-engined
engine has been tilted at an angle of 49°
platform will be shared by the next iteration
to reduce intrusion into the rear luggage
of Smart’s Forfour model, in terms of
compartment, and the application of
Daimler’s expanding co-operation with
Electronic Stability Control has eliminated
Renault-Nissan. The fact that these two
any concerns that the historic oversteering
major manufacturers have adopted this
tendency of rear-engined cars might have
configuration will not go unnoticed by the
persisted. The front wheels, unencumbered
buying public, or their competitors, and
by drive shafts or universal joints, have a
if the claimed advantages are proven,
cut angle of 45°, enabling a best-in-class
there could be a serious rethink of design
turning circle of 8,59 metres. The overall
philosophies higher up the size scale.
package is shorter than its predecessor
Historically, rear engines were, with the
by 10 cm, but has more room for its four
exception of the six-cylinder Corvair, to be
occupants.
found in smaller cars, but in the modern
The new Twingo’s rear seats can be set
in an upright position to increase luggage
accommodation, and the front passenger
seat can be folded flat for more carrying
capability. Power for most models is
provided by a 3-cylinder, naturallyaspirated, one litre, 12-valve SCe 70 engine
developing 70 hp, but the Dynamique
TCe 90 version is equipped with 0,9 litre
turbocharged unit developing 90 hp. Front
suspension is by MacPherson struts, while
there is a De Dion torsion beam axle at the
rear.
| words in action
30
scenario, there is no good reason why this
should be the case, and designers of larger
vehicles may also be tempted into exploring
the benefits in considerably larger packages.
We will be watching future developments
with interest.
Audi Goes for 48 Volts
Audi has revealed plans to upgrade part of
its vehicle electrical systems from twelve to
48 volts.
october 2014