A car with a flat (boxer) mid-engine below the rear seat?

[Big time]

I wonder why Porsche, Subaru, Corvair or even air-cooled VWs didn't build a car with a flat (also called boxer) engine located below the rear seat thus mid engined?

IMO this is as close to the holy grail as you can get.
You get mid engine for better weight distribution. Flat engine allows both a low center of gravity while preserving the useful rear seat.

I guess modern heat insulation materials might block heat transmission as they are able to withstand space shuttle reentry.

Why they never built such a car?
Maybe by the same reason the wheel was not obvious to caveman?

[NSXType-R]

They do, it's called the Boxster or the Cayman depending on your roofing needs.

[Matra et Alpine]

No, neither of those are BELOW the rear seats

Think only the VW Microbus meets the description

Why ?
Because packaging an engine that low would be nigh impossible ... AND have any usable rear seat. There does need to be a comfortable seat for anyone to sit on and some ground clearance .... so you'd need to fit an engine in to about 8 inches

[Ferrer]

They do, it's called the Boxster or the Cayman depending on your roofing needs.

No, neither of those are BELOW the rear seats

They do not even have rear seats...

On the other hand, what about a compact inline four (or maybe narrow angle V4?) canted 90º under the rear seats of a city car? Thus you could have two boots, or really short rear overhang reducing the overall lenght.

[coolieman1220]

Toyota Previa had a mid engine boxer below the front seats.

behind the rear seats is usually a fuel tank

[Matra et Alpine]

On the other hand, what about a compact inline four (or maybe narrow angle V4?) canted 90º under the rear seats of a city car? Thus you could have two boots, or really short rear overhang reducing the overall lenght.

Not quite 90 degrees, but that sounds like the 1970s Hillman Imp

Problem with laying an engine flat in a very compact space is the need for an inlet and an exhaust

[Ferrer]

Toyota Previa had a mid engine boxer below the front seats.

It was an inline four.

[clutch-monkey]

It was an inline four.

that rather depends on who you talk to..

[coolieman1220]

It was an inline four.

ahh ur right, 75 degree though, close to flat

that rather depends on who you talk to..

LOL. WHY? haha

[Kitdy]

ahh ur right, 75 degree though, close to flat

But it is not horizontally opposed, so that would mean it is just a flat engine canted 90 degrees... Unless you mean any flat engine is one that is horizontal, regardless if it is a boxer (what the term flat usually refers to).

[clutch-monkey]

ahh ur right, 75 degree though, close to flat



LOL. WHY? haha

sleeper vans are getting a bit of a following here

[demonrunning07]

Think only the VW Microbus meets the description

That was my first guess too when I saw the title of the post. It sounded like a good car riddle.

[coolieman1220]

is this the same previa?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/...8b32516c_b.jpg

[MilesR]

Here you go. It isn't a boxer, or even horizontal, but it is a four-seater with the engine below the rear seats.

Honda Z - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Based on the likely centre of gravity of that car, I cannot imagine it having terribly sporting handling.