# Longitudinal engine > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Longitudinal_engine > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Longitudinal_engine.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitudinal_engine > Source revision: 1324674312 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Internal combustion engine mounted with the crankshaft lengthwise}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2021}} [[File:3 wheels chassis (8717718266).jpg|thumb|Longitudinal engine in a [three-wheeler](/source/three-wheeler) chassis]] [[File:Henderson 1926 DeLuxesupersix 3.jpg|thumb|240px|Longitudinal [inline-six](/source/inline-six) cylinder engine in a [Henderson](/source/Henderson_Motorcycle) De Luxe Supersix of 1926]] In [automotive engineering](/source/automotive_engineering), a '''longitudinal engine''' is an [internal combustion engine](/source/internal_combustion_engine) in which the [crankshaft](/source/crankshaft) is oriented along the long axis of the [vehicle](/source/vehicle), from front to back. This is in contrast to a [transverse engine](/source/transverse_engine), where the crankshaft runs from side to side. Although there are many variations of cylinder number and layout, all car engines are either longitudinal or transverse. ==Use== This type of motor is usually used for rear-wheel drive cars, except for some [Audi](/source/Audi), [SAAB](/source/Saab_Automobile), the [Oldsmobile Toronado](/source/Oldsmobile_Toronado), and the 1967 [Cadillac Eldorado](/source/Cadillac_Eldorado) equipped with longitudinal engines in front wheel drive. In front-wheel drive cars a [transverse engine](/source/transverse_engine) is usually used. Trucks often have longitudinal engines with rear-wheel drive. For motorcycles, the use of a particular type depends on the drive: in the case of a chain or belt drive a transverse engine is usually used, and with shaft drives a longitudinal engine. Longitudinal engines in motorcycles do have one disadvantage: the "tipping point" of the crankshaft tilts along the entire motorcycle to a greater or lesser degree when accelerating. This is partly resolved by having other components, such as the generator and the gearbox, rotate in the opposite direction to the crankshaft. Most larger, "premium" vehicles use the longitudinal engine orientation in combination with [rear-wheel drive](/source/rear-wheel_drive), because powerful engines such as the [inline-6](/source/inline-6) and 90° big-bore V8 are usually too long to fit in a FF transverse engine bay. By contrast most mainstream modern vehicles use [front-wheel drive](/source/front-wheel_drive) along with a transverse engine arrangement since they are usually equipped with [inline-4](/source/inline-4) or [V6](/source/V6_engine) engines. While both layouts can be adapted for [all-wheel drive](/source/all-wheel_drive), the longitudinal engine orientation has a more balanced weight distribution leading to superior handling characteristics, but is less efficient in terms of packaging and interior space.{{cite web | url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/05/first-drive-2014-acura-mdx/ | title=First Drive: 2014 Acura MDX (Video) | date=31 May 2013 }} Cars with longitudinal engines usually have a smaller minimum turning circle than those with transverse engines. This is because there is more space to the sides of the engine, allowing deeper wheel arches so the front wheels are able to turn through a greater angle. In the late 1960s, GM divisions Oldsmobile and Cadillac had front-wheel drive models [Toronado](/source/Oldsmobile_Toronado) and [Eldorado](/source/Cadillac_Eldorado) respectively, with a longitudinal V8 engine and an integrated automatic transmission and differential unit powering the front wheels. Honda and Toyota also offered front-wheel drive cars with longitudinal engines, namely [Honda Vigor](/source/Honda_Vigor), [Acura/Honda Legend/RL](/source/Honda_Legend), and [Toyota Tercel](/source/Toyota_Tercel). ==Common types== The following is a list of typical examples of types of engines which can be placed in motor vehicles: * [In-line or straight engine](/source/Straight_engine) – where [two](/source/straight-twin_engine), [three](/source/straight-3), [four](/source/straight-4), [five](/source/straight-5), [six](/source/straight-6), and even [eight](/source/straight-8) cylinders are placed in a single plane. * [V engine](/source/V_engine) – where [two](/source/V-twin), [four](/source/V4_engine), [six](/source/V6_engine), [eight](/source/V8_engine), [ten](/source/V10_engine), [twelve](/source/V12_engine), or even [sixteen](/source/V16_engine) cylinders are placed in two separate planes, looking like a "V" when viewed from the end of the crankshaft. * [Flat or boxer engine](/source/Flat_engine) – where [two](/source/flat-twin), [four](/source/flat-4), [six](/source/flat-6) or more cylinders are arranged in two diametrically horizontally opposed planes. * [W engine](/source/W_engine) – where two (narrow angle) vee engines are siamesed together (within 180°), where at [eight](/source/W8_engine), [twelve](/source/W12_engine) or [sixteen](/source/W16_engine) cylinders are arranged in four separate planes. ==References== {{cite book |last1=Pickerill |first1=Ken |editor1-last=Main |editor1-first=Larry |title=Automotive Engine Performance |edition=5th |series=Today's Technician |date=Jun 26, 2009 |publisher=Cengage Learning |location=Clifton Park, NY USA |isbn=978-1-43544-520-8 |page=464 |chapter=Glossary |quote='''Longitudinal engine mounting''' An engine mounted lengthways in the chassis.}} {{cite book |first1=James E. |last1=Duffy |first2=Robert |last2=Scharff |editor1-last= Clark |editor1-first=Sandy |title=Auto Body Repair Technology |edition=4th |date=Mar 1, 2003 |orig-year=1988 |publisher=Cengage Learning |location=Clifton Park, NY USA |isbn=0-7668-6272-0 |pages=25–26 |chapter=Chapter 2: Vehicle Construction Technology |quote=A longitudinal engine mounts the crankshaft centerline front to rear when viewed from the top.}} Category:Engine technology Category:Automotive technologies --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Longitudinal engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitudinal_engine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitudinal_engine?action=history)). 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