RWD makes a comeback for U.S. automakers
By Edward Lapham
Automotive News / September 16, 2003Carmakers are coming back to rear-wheel drive.
General Motors did it with the Pontiac GTO and is weighing whether to do a whole global family of rear-drive cars with V-8 engines. The Chrysler group already has the Crossfire and will offer a full range of rear-drive Chryslers and Dodges next year.
Once upon a time, most cars were rear-drive. The move to front-drive cars began 30 years ago after the first energy crisis. Back then, automakers liked front-wheel drive because it worked well with four-cylinder engines in small cars.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz and other makers of performance cars never switched. That's because pushing with the rear wheels is better than pulling with the front wheels when it comes to driving high-torque, high-horsepower cars.
And today's car buyers value performance over fuel economy.
http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=6394
By Edward Lapham
Automotive News / September 16, 2003Carmakers are coming back to rear-wheel drive.
General Motors did it with the Pontiac GTO and is weighing whether to do a whole global family of rear-drive cars with V-8 engines. The Chrysler group already has the Crossfire and will offer a full range of rear-drive Chryslers and Dodges next year.
Once upon a time, most cars were rear-drive. The move to front-drive cars began 30 years ago after the first energy crisis. Back then, automakers liked front-wheel drive because it worked well with four-cylinder engines in small cars.
BMW, Mercedes-Benz and other makers of performance cars never switched. That's because pushing with the rear wheels is better than pulling with the front wheels when it comes to driving high-torque, high-horsepower cars.
And today's car buyers value performance over fuel economy.
http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=6394