can someone please clarify the difference between a front-mid engine like that i have heard is used in an s2000 and a front engine rear wheel drive setup.
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no idea....this should be enlightening....i've never heard about front-mid engine
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FM(Front-Midship) refers to a platform where the engine is placed behind the front axle. It says nothing about the drive wheels at all. Examples would be the V35 Skyline(Infiniti G35), GT-R, BMW M3, Porsche Carreras, and IIRC Porsche GT3.

FR means front engine, rear wheel drive.

FM and FR are two different things.. i.e., an M3 is both FM and FR.
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and incase you were wondering, MR would be a mid-engine, rear wheel drive. examples would include the ford GT, honda NSX, toyota mr2, saleen s7, lotus elise, and the mclaren f1.
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How can you possibly inculde a any of the Porsche 911 models in that selection? They are all either REAR engine, or Mid engined, i.e. the enigne is either over/behind the rear axle, or just in front of it.



A Front Midship has the engine in the front of the car, in front of the driver, how its centre of gravity is located behind the front axle.
This gives the car better weight distribution which can help with more neutral handling.
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But don't fall into the trap that this is the best layout for pure performance. It is not.
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what is then?
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I think MR would be the best layout but i'm not sure.
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Heh. My engine's under my front seats. :-)
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ahhh, so you've got a high preformance van? :-)
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it doesnt matter WHERE The engine is... handleing is about Balence (both front to rear and side to side), Suspension rate, chassis stiffness, steering set up, lateral traction, among other things.
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Never said it was :-)
Your right of course, you only have to look at the weight distribution on a Porsche 911 to see that.
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wow thanks!

Of course there are many things to consider when talking about handling but i think if I were to build a pure race car from the ground up I would start with a MR setup (like all F1 cars and Le Mans Prototypes).

Hey look at that. I drive an MR-2 Spyder. i guess i have a good start. (or maybe im just biased)
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IMO, Mr. Reed said it all.
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looks reasonable to me. :-)
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