- Transverse engine
A transverse engine is an
engine in which thecrankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the length of the vehicle. This is also sometimes called an east-west engine. Most modernfront wheel drive vehicles use this engine orientation (with the exception of some Audis), while mostrear wheel drive vehicles use a front-to-back longitudinal arrangement.The first car to use such an arrangement was the two-cylinder
DKW "Front" series of cars, which first appeared in1931 .Fact|date=February 2007 After theSecond World War , SAAB used the configuration in their first model, theSaab 92 , in 1947. The arrangement was also used forBorgward 's Goliath and Hansa brand cars and in a few other German cars. However, it was withAlec Issigonis 'sMorris Mini that the design gained acclaim, in1959 .Fact|date=February 2007This design reached its ultimate extent starting with
Dante Giacosa 's elaboration of it forFiat . He connected the engine to its gearbox by a shaft and set the differential off-center so that it could be connected to the gearbox more easily. Now most small and small/medium sized cars built throughout the world use this arrangement.Fact|date=February 2007The
Lamborghini Miura used a transverse, mid-mounted 4.0litre V12 , a configuration that was unheard of in 1965, although now more common (e.g. Noble M12, Toyota MR2, Pontiac Fiero)The Land Rover LR2 Freelander, along with all Volvo models from 1998 on, 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 front to back engine compartment space being created. The result is a larger front
crumple zone . [cite web|url=http://www.autozine.org/html/Volvo/S80.html | title= Volvo S80 | accessdate=2007-10-11] [cite web|url=http://www.landrovercary.com/lr2-safety.htm | title= LR2 Safety Features | accessdate=2007-10-11]Transverse engines have also been widely used in buses, for a long time being pioneered in the American General Motors Oldlook Bus, the British
Leyland Atlantean and has been used in most transit buses and nearly alldouble decker bus es since. They have also been widely used by Scania [cite web|url=http://www.scania.com/news/press_releases/2005/q4/n05048en.asp | title= Scania at Busworld 2005: New range of Scania buses and coaches | accessdate=2007-10-11] , MAN, Volvo andRenault 's bus divisions.References
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