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The Curious Bag
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Front-wheel drive, abbreviated as FWD, is an automotive drive system in which the engine drives only the front pair of wheels. It is one of the three driving configurations offered in vehicles.
How It Works
The front-wheel drive system was designed and implemented to reduce the weight of the vehicle. Engines are mounted transversely (side-to-side), thus restricting the size of the engine and giving the car a 60/40 percent weight balance from front to back.
Front-Wheel Drive Vs. Other Systems
Front-wheel drive differs significantly from rear-wheel drive and all wheel or four-wheel drive. In rear wheel drive, the engine powers the rear pair of wheels, while in all wheel/four wheel drive, the engine drives all wheel of the vehicle.
Advantages
Not only does front wheel drive reduce the weight of the vehicle, it gives the vehicle better traction. This makes it ideal to drive in snowy, wet or muddy terrain.
Disadvantages
Vehicles with front wheel drive suffer from limited acceleration due to lack of weight shifting. Also, as most of the car weight is still at the front, it does not handle as well as it could.
Significance
Front wheel drive is the most common driving system. That is because it is comparatively cheap to manufacture.
Source:
Free Dictionary; Front Wheel Drive definition
CarsDirect; Front Wheel Drive vs. Rear Wheel Drive
all-about-car-selection.com: Rear Wheel Drive Vs. Front Wheel Drive. Which Is better?
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