Transaxle

A transaxle, in the automotive field, is a component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential and the drive axle into one integrated assembly. Transaxles are near universal in all automobile configurations that have the engine placed at the same end of the car as the driven wheels: the front wheel drive, rear-engined and mid-engined arrangements.

Many mid and rear-engined vehicles use a transverse engine and transaxle, similar to a front wheel drive unit. Others use a longitudinal engine and transaxle like Ferrari's 1989 Mondial t which used a "t" arrangement with a longitudinal engine connected to a transverse transaxle, a design the company continues to this day.

FR transaxles

Front-engine, rear-wheel drive vehicles tend to have the transmission up front just after the engine, but sometimes a front engine drives a rear-mounted transaxle. This is generally done for reasons of weight distribution, and is therefore common on sports cars.Another advantage is that the driveshaft has only to endure the torque of the engine instead of that torque multiplied by the 1st gear ratio, although it is therefore spinning at engine speed. This design was pioneered in the 1950 Lancia Aurelia, and was conceived by the legendary Vittorio Jano. Since this placement of the gearbox is unsuitable for a live axle (due to excessive unsprung weight), the rear suspension is either independent or uses a de Dion tube (notably in the Alfa Romeos).The Nissan GT-R is unique in that it uses a rear transaxle with an AWD layout, the transaxle in this case also contains the differential sending power back to the front wheels via a separate driveshaft.

Notable FR vehicles with a transaxle design include:
* 1914-1939 Stutz Bearcat
* 1950-1958 Lancia Aurelia
* 1961-1963 Pontiac Tempest
* 1964-1968 Ferrari 275
* 1968-1973 Ferrari Daytona
* 1972-1986 Alfa Romeo 116-series (Alfa Romeo Alfetta )
* 1976-1991 Volvo 300 series
* 1976-1988 Porsche 924
* 1978-1995 Porsche 928
* 1982-1991 Porsche 944
* 1984-1987 Alfa Romeo 90
* 1985-1992 Alfa Romeo 75 (and predecessor, the 116-series Alfa Romeo Giulietta)
* 1989-1991 Alfa Romeo SZ
* 1992-1995 Porsche 968
* 1992-2003 Ferrari 456
* 1996-2005 Ferrari 550/575M
* 1997-up Chevrolet Corvette
* 1997-1999 Panoz Esperante GTR-1
* 2003-up Aston Martin DB9
* 2004-2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
* 2004-up Cadillac XLR
* 2004-up Maserati Quattroporte
* 2005-up Aston Martin V8 Vantage
* 2006-up Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

Four-wheel drive

* 1984-1986 Ford RS200 - mid-engined, with the gearbox in the front;
* 2007-up Nissan GT-R - front-engined, with the gearbox in the rear.

See also

* Hybrid Synergy Drive
* Benevelli Transaxles