https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a32109038/mazda-6-rwd-confirmed-2022/
The Mazda 6 and some Lexus' are switching some of their cars from a transverse engine layout w/ front wheel drive to a longitudinal engine layout w/ rear wheel drive.
I understand the rational for sports cars. But for regular sedans like the Mazda 6?
What are the pros and cons of switching tried and true platform from front wheel drive to rear wheel drive?
What's the logic in switching to rear wheel drive?
Which Lexus’ is switching from FWD to RWD?
Oh, I read the article too fast. It is only Mazda switching, to be more like Lexus in certain categories.
It seems before the 1980’s, cars were mostly RWD
the fuel crisis of the mid 80s brought smaller cars with smaller engines. Engines that could now be mounted transversely, saving tremendous drivetrain complexity and cost, while at the same time putting the drive wheels where the most traction is... under the engine.
it seems that RWD is making a slight comeback,
Nope. FWD is still the most common configuration.
Teslas are electric which are totally different animals.
mazda 3 is FWD/AWD , CX30 AWD, CX5 AWD
RWD drive is for hauling or performance vehicles where the engine doesn't fit sideways or a different weight distribution is desired.
Front-drive vehicles have been around since 1769.
I read that in the past the cars are rwd because the technology to make fwd was more expensive, with the time the fwd start to be cheaper and the standard, I believe that in this days rwd is not for the mayority of the people, is reserved for sport cars? Why? Try to drive a mustang or any rwd in a Midwest snow storm and you will understand why.
The logic is that rear-wheel drive cars handle better. In a front wheel drive car, the front wheels have to steer, brake AND power the car, and the car is usually nose-heavy, and will understeer. Moving the power delivery to the rear will reduce understeer and aid in front/rear weigh balance.
This is a moot point to 90+% of drivers in 90+% of situations, but people buy cars based on image and emotion, not logic.
Allow me to play Devil's Advocate. Why then was it fashionable many decades ago to go from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive? (And now it seems to be going back to rear wheel drive.)
Front wheel drive for efficiency, rear wheel drive for style.
Many (not all) of the higher end (usually luxury) vehicles from automakers are RWD or AWD based on a RWD platform. Part of the luxury experience is handling and driving experience (or at least the perception of it), and since Mazda reportedly has plans to move upmarket (at least some of their vehicles) and conquest some of those ‘premium buyers’ they are forced to go RWD. Whether they win those buyers out, we shall see. Most people in those luxury segments, especially if the money is similar, would still choose a vehicle based on the badge (and image) - hence why Genesis, Lincoln, Cadillac have been struggling in sales against the Germans (and even against Lexus) despite a reboot many years ago.
Interesting. I wonder if that is why Tesla decided to go rear wheel drive for the Model 3.
For those old timers that have seen the evolution of cars. It seems before the 1980’s, cars were mostly RWD. Then from the 1908’s onward it seemed FWD was more in fashion.
And it seems that RWD is making a slight comeback, with the likes of Tesla and Mazda using RWD for theirs newer base models.
What was the logic of the shift from RWD to FWD, and what brought on the recent partial reversion to RWD?