| For ultimate performance, the mid-engined layout | | | | To get the power onto the road, the rear tires |
| is used for supercars - just like it is on racing cars. | | | | are wider than the front ones on a mid-engined |
| Typical mid-engined supercars are the Ferrari | | | | car - usually about 30% wider. The wider rear |
| F430, Lamborghini Murcielago and Noble M400. | | | | tires also make the cars more stable at high |
| Mostexotic supercars are also mid-engined. | | | | speeds. |
| The mid-engined layout has these advantages | | | | Used on racing cars first |
| over front-engined cars: | | | | The mid-engined layout was adopted first for |
| There is more weight over the rear wheels, but | | | | single-seater racing cars, and then for sports |
| not too much, so traction is good | | | | racing cars before being adopted for road cars. |
| Because the driver sits in front of the engine, the | | | | Ferrari and Lamborghini have been making |
| car can be lower, reducing frontal area and the | | | | mid-engined supercars for many years, and many |
| center of gravity. That means a higher top speed | | | | smaller companies make mid-engined cars as well. |
| and better cornering. | | | | The cheaper supercars usually have front engines, |
| Aerodynamics of mid-engined cars are usually the | | | | and are more like ordinary cars - except in their |
| best | | | | performance. |
| Because there is no propeller shaft taking the | | | | Lola GT a trend-setter |
| drive from the front to the back, mid-engined | | | | One of the first mid-engined sports racing coupes |
| cars are usually lighter than front-engined cars | | | | was the Lola GT, which was ahead of its time |
| Those add up to a big advantage in performance. | | | | with a monocoque body - that is the body panels |
| These cars are usually powered by V-type | | | | formed the structure. Its competitors, like the |
| engines, or boxer engines, as these are lower and | | | | Ferrari Testarossa, all had tubular frames, which |
| take up less room than in-line engines. | | | | were heavier and not so stiff. It became the |
| Gearbox usually behind the rear axle | | | | model for the Ford GT40 racing cars, and later |
| To get the weight well back, the gearbox is | | | | this layout became popular for supercars. |
| usually mounted behind the rear axle gears as a | | | | The advanced structure of the GT40 helped Ford |
| transaxle. The weight distribution is about 42% | | | | beat Ferrari at Le Mans and in other long distance |
| front to 58% rear to 39% front to 61% rear. | | | | races. Now, you can buy a Ford GT supercar, |
| Any more weight at the back upsets the handling | | | | similar in looks to the GT40, but bang up to date. |
| balance. | | | | What about rear-engined cars like the Porsche |
| Because the weight of a mid-engined car is | | | | 911? Rear-engined cars have the engine behind |
| concentrated at the middle, there is less force | | | | the rear wheels, so there is a lot of weight on |
| tending to spin the car when it corners than a | | | | the rear wheels. Also, because the engine sticks |
| front-engined car, which is more like a dumbbell. | | | | out behind, when the car starts to slide, the mass |
| But, things happen faster with a mid-engined car! | | | | of the engine keeps it going. This is not the best |
| If you upset the balance badly when cornering, | | | | layout, although it makes quite a practical 2+2. |
| the car can spin very quickly. | | | | |