Transverse vs. Longitudinal

[henk4]

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

pretty sure that was down to pressures to get the design done, and not having the time to develop a gearbox designed for longitudinal configuration.

I doubt that, they had the 400GT already running....the engine of which could have been put in back in a reverse position...

[Ferrer]

I think it was because they wanted a compact car.

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

I think it was because they wanted a compact car.

Exactly. The Miura combined the traditional proportions with a mid-mounted engine.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Yes but transversal engines are usually over the axle the engine drives. Longitudinally mounted engine can be behind (or in front if it's a mid engined car) the axle the engine drives.

It's not a given fact, but it's generally so.

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

another advantage could be that it is possible to create a shorter wheelbase, given the shorter required front to rear distance of the longitundinal mounting, and that is often desirable for rally cars.

Exactly this, also considering how they were using small cars (Pug 206) and then enlargin the bumpers to reach to minimum length.

[RacingManiac]

BTW, is the claim of Corolla being the firsr "WRC" car with transversely mounted engine being that its the first "WRC"-class car, as opposed to a car made for World Rallying Championship? Considering Evo had same engine layout....but they are technically "Group A", and Impreza always had longitudinal boxers sitting infront of the front axle(Which I believe was the other WRC class car at the time, Focus was next).

FYI McLaren F1 shares the same layout with longitudinal V12 with a transverse gearbox....

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by RacingManiac

BTW, is the claim of Corolla being the firsr "WRC" car with transversely mounted engine being that its the first "WRC"-class car, as opposed to a car made for World Rallying Championship? Considering Evo had same engine layout....but they are technically "Group A", and Impreza always had longitudinal boxers sitting infront of the front axle(Which I believe was the other WRC class car at the time, Focus was next).

FYI McLaren F1 shares the same layout with longitudinal V12 with a transverse gearbox....

I believe so, about the first WRC-class car that has a tranverse engine. Because if it's the first ever rally car to have a tranverse mounted engine, there many other rally cars that predate the Corolla that had tranverse mounted engines, including cars as different as the Mini or the Stratos.

[skodaphil]

An advantage of the longitudinal rather than transverse, peugout's team found that with exactly the same car however with difference in longitudinal and transverse set up was that when they did jumps they found that the car would lift at the the fron or nose dive only way to overcome this was to take of all throttle once in air. The longitudinal set up they found the car twisted in air but this wasnt much of a problem. Hope this helps :-)