Engineering question

FalconXV · 29-08-2011, 07:34 PM

Let's say you have a Lancer Evo of some series (or similar); Transverse (east-west) drivetrain with AWD. Would it be possible to distribute 100% torque to the rear with that drivetrain, and just, say remove the front CV shafts? My thinking here is the packaging advantages of east-west but with RWD.
(Might be handy how to know to disable the front wheels if Taurus SHO gets here, then presto RWD is back lol)
I remember when Top Gear came to Australia they had a Suzuki Swift but with an Evo drivetrain, but it was RWD. Does anybody know anything about this car also?

Bossxr8 · 29-08-2011, 08:16 PM

It all depends on wether the drive goes through the gearbox and to the front wheels before drive is distributed to the rears, or wether its split before then.

AWD Chaser · 29-08-2011, 08:19 PM

The older Suzuki Swift (early 90s) had a big brother called the Suzuki (Swift) Cultus which used the GTi engine (1.3L EFI (G13B)) and had AWD.

There were a couple of grey imports into oz...

Maybe that was the car?

FalconXV · 29-08-2011, 09:35 PM

Nah it was a current gen Swift, apparently with a Lancer drivetrain, yet RWD. It was at the show they put on at Acer Arena. Boss xr8, what if it goes through the gearbox, and then to a torque split device? are there any examples of cars where you can do this ? (100% power to rear wheels)

Bossxr8 · 30-08-2011, 08:30 PM

I don't know, i'd assume you could. Google Haldex AWD systems and get some info on them, it should give you an idea how it works.

Its probably the most used type of AWD.

FalconXV · 30-08-2011, 09:16 PM

Cheers. If someone could engineer a transverse RWD layout then that would be a major coup for the industry, but if it was that easy I'm sure it'd have been done by now.

Bossxr8 · 30-08-2011, 09:52 PM

I don't know why they would want to. Easier to just go north/south than bugger around trying to get the power to the rears from an east/west.

Tobey · 30-08-2011, 09:53 PM

There is a RWD WRX getting around with the plates VLKILLA.

Would be simple to do, just remove the front diff from inside the gearbox...

nb_351 · 31-08-2011, 10:05 AM

gtr skylines can be the same too, i think it might be electronic on those, as theyre normally rwd anyway i think... its like the 4WS you take the fuse out of the HICAS system

GT 160 · 31-08-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nb_351

gtr skylines can be the same too, i think it might be electronic on those, as theyre normally rwd anyway i think... its like the 4WS you take the fuse out of the HICAS system

Yeah i ran my 32 GTR in rwd by removing the fuse for a bit of track day fun (fully sic uleh)

but unless your launching the the thing off the line everywhere they spend most of the time in 2wd anyway.

**Raptor** · 31-08-2011, 02:37 PM

Where it has been done in Subaru's and Skylines the engines are N-S to begin with.

Achieving the same thing when the engine is transverse is not as simple as suggested and disregards the whole car being primarily designed with FWD/AWD in mind, never solely RWD. The whole structure of the car will not have been designed to have all the drive (and torque) loadings applied from the rear wheels or for the front (steering) wheels to be undriven.

It would not be a wise move from an engineering perpsective.

tweeked · 31-08-2011, 03:24 PM

Turning the rotation through 90 degrees is one of the power robbers.

FWD with east west doesn't require it. RWD with a londitudinal engine requires it once. The config you mention it does it twice, the packaging benefits are outwieghed by the mechanical inefficiency and complexity.