Does your personal preference in drivetrain actually influence your overall driving experience, or is your choice based merely on the, potentially dubious, marketing ploys engineered by highly competitive automobile manufacturers? Is your goal to reach the finish line first, or just to get to work in one piece? Unless you re Jason Statham in The Transporter, having to choose an E Type Jaguar For Sale isn t necessarily as clean cut as it appears at the outset.
For the driving world purists, it s all about torque and who can get to the end of a quarter mile dash with enough time to spare to get out of their car, light a cigarette, and strike a pose before the other racers arrive. James Dean style. But clearly the need for speed has fast and furiously become the least motivating factor when purchasing a vehicle in recent years. The modest FWD has developed a growing, loyal following that seems unlikely to switch allegiances any time soon.
The rising popularity of the FWD has been a slow and gradual one. Beginning in the nineteen fifties with the introduction of the Mini motorcar onto public roadways, the FWD began its steady ascent towards mass appeal and public acceptance as a viable alternative to a RWD setup. The AWD design was a comparatively late bloomer. Only making its first appearances in the nineteen eighties, courtesy of auto manufacturer, Audi. And under the guise of their Quattro engine.
With it being the easiest to develop, FWD motorcars also tend to come with the lowest price tags. Making them easier to sell than the average gas guzzling four wheel drive. Which begs the question of why more auto manufacturers don t simply switch over to making front wheel drive vehicles as well. It s because manufacturers fear the gamble of investing their limited development budgets into something they haven t tried and tested themselves. It s far safer to simply stick to what they know.
So, why would a big, well established RWD manufacturer like BMW take the gamble of exploring the development of other drivetrain configurations? Simple. Numbers don t lie. With FWD vehicles accounting for more than half of the automobiles sold per annum, AWDs making up more than a third of the market, and RWDs holding a dismal 10% of the market share, it s easy to see where the big money s to be found.
But even when money s no issue, overall efficiency still ranks highly amongst consumers when determining whether a particular vehicle best suits their needs. And the FWD wins on both counts. With its ease of development allowing manufacturers to pass the money saved on its development directly on to the consumer. Also, most FWDs consist of relatively lightweight constructions, making them a lot more fuel efficient than the other kinds of transmissions.
On the contrary, with its engine being expected to power four wheels at a time, AWDs have many more components included in their constructions. Making AWDs relatively overweight when compared to their FWD and RWD competitors. This additional weight is felt in terms of the additional fuel it burns. Which equates to higher costs at purchase and aftermarket. But with manufacturers making constant improvements to their day to day functionality and fuel efficiency, AWDs are fast becoming the vehicle of choice for a growing number of motorists.
Beyond personal preference, choosing the best transmission mostly boils down to your daily traveling habits and the climate of the region you currently inhabit. Simply put, RWDs have their weight distribution centred on the front of the vehicle, making their rears more prone to spinning out under wet conditions. Whereas, FWD s have proven more stable under conditions where tyre grip might be brought into question, AWD s are considered the most stable of all with their onboard traction controls capable of recruiting more tyres for ensuring their sure footing under any conditions.
For the driving world purists, it s all about torque and who can get to the end of a quarter mile dash with enough time to spare to get out of their car, light a cigarette, and strike a pose before the other racers arrive. James Dean style. But clearly the need for speed has fast and furiously become the least motivating factor when purchasing a vehicle in recent years. The modest FWD has developed a growing, loyal following that seems unlikely to switch allegiances any time soon.
The rising popularity of the FWD has been a slow and gradual one. Beginning in the nineteen fifties with the introduction of the Mini motorcar onto public roadways, the FWD began its steady ascent towards mass appeal and public acceptance as a viable alternative to a RWD setup. The AWD design was a comparatively late bloomer. Only making its first appearances in the nineteen eighties, courtesy of auto manufacturer, Audi. And under the guise of their Quattro engine.
With it being the easiest to develop, FWD motorcars also tend to come with the lowest price tags. Making them easier to sell than the average gas guzzling four wheel drive. Which begs the question of why more auto manufacturers don t simply switch over to making front wheel drive vehicles as well. It s because manufacturers fear the gamble of investing their limited development budgets into something they haven t tried and tested themselves. It s far safer to simply stick to what they know.
So, why would a big, well established RWD manufacturer like BMW take the gamble of exploring the development of other drivetrain configurations? Simple. Numbers don t lie. With FWD vehicles accounting for more than half of the automobiles sold per annum, AWDs making up more than a third of the market, and RWDs holding a dismal 10% of the market share, it s easy to see where the big money s to be found.
But even when money s no issue, overall efficiency still ranks highly amongst consumers when determining whether a particular vehicle best suits their needs. And the FWD wins on both counts. With its ease of development allowing manufacturers to pass the money saved on its development directly on to the consumer. Also, most FWDs consist of relatively lightweight constructions, making them a lot more fuel efficient than the other kinds of transmissions.
On the contrary, with its engine being expected to power four wheels at a time, AWDs have many more components included in their constructions. Making AWDs relatively overweight when compared to their FWD and RWD competitors. This additional weight is felt in terms of the additional fuel it burns. Which equates to higher costs at purchase and aftermarket. But with manufacturers making constant improvements to their day to day functionality and fuel efficiency, AWDs are fast becoming the vehicle of choice for a growing number of motorists.
Beyond personal preference, choosing the best transmission mostly boils down to your daily traveling habits and the climate of the region you currently inhabit. Simply put, RWDs have their weight distribution centred on the front of the vehicle, making their rears more prone to spinning out under wet conditions. Whereas, FWD s have proven more stable under conditions where tyre grip might be brought into question, AWD s are considered the most stable of all with their onboard traction controls capable of recruiting more tyres for ensuring their sure footing under any conditions.
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