Front Engine Vs Rear Engine.Which is Safe?

The Front Engine

The most traditional method of placing and engine is in the front region of the vehicle. It is highly preferred because of its easy placement and maintenance from the drivers point of view. On getting to the engineers point of view the challenge is different; By this arrangement there are a few pros and cons.

The main pros include easy cooling of engine by air, maximum air input for turbo charging, easy support of engine by chassis and easy linkage to gearbox. By the placement of chassis and suspension in the rear the balance of the vehicle could be maintained.

The only con considering this mode of placement of engine is the transmission. The power from the engine needs to be transmitted from the front part of the vehicle to the rear wheels, which leads to major transmission losses. The power from the engine is not fully transmitted to the rear wheels and hence the actual power of the vehicle is much lower than the power of the engine.

Front Engine Placemnt

The Rear Engine

This form of engine placement is much advanced and gives better results in consideration with power. In this mode the engine is placed at the rear end of the vehicle. The power from the engine can be coupled to the wheels with less power loss due to smaller transmission length. So the power output from this form of vehicle is higher that the previous.

The main pros includes more power output, less transmission loss, increased mileage and instant power transmission. These engines give a instant pickup and can reach higher revs easily. So a power hungry driver and a demanding road can make use of these vehicles.

The main cons include special mounting design for chassis, complicated engine cooling system, reduced stability and increased stress on chassis. These cons prove dangerous to the riders specially at the rear. Its more about safety than the efficiency that the people need.

Rear Engine Placemnt

Rear Engine Vs Front Engine

Considering safety the front engine vehicles are a lot safer than the later. Because of the inability of the rear engine to dissipate the heat produced from combustion the cabin temperature increases in most cases. In the most adverse conditions this leads to fire which will cause damage to the vehicle and people.

So most preferably a front engine vehicle must be chosen for safety preferences in my opinion. A better system to ventilate the engine would prove better safety.

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