Mid-engine, front-wheel drive layout
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In automotive design, a MF, or Mid-engine, Front-wheel drive layout is one in which the front wheels are driven by an engine placed just behind them, in front of the passenger compartment. In contrast to the front-engined FF layout, the center of mass of the engine is behind the front axle. This layout is typically chosen for its better weight distribution (the heaviest component is near the center of the car, lowering its moment of inertia).
However, the mid-engined layout does use up central space, making the resulting vehicle rather long. This may be why no manufacturer currently offers the MF layout.
Examples of road cars using the MF layout include the Cord 810, Citroën Traction Avant, Citroën DS, Saab Sonett mk1, and the Citroën SM.
Traditionally, the term mid-engine has been reserved for cars that place the engine and transaxle behind the driver and in front of the rear axles, as in the Lamborghini Countach or Ferrari Testarossa, but an engine placed in front of the driver's compartment but fully behind the front axle line also qualifies as mid-engine.
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