Transaxle

Transaxle (english transmission gearbox and axle = axle = ) is a term for a drive design in vehicles, where the engine front, but the gearbox sits at the driven rear axle. In this form of the rear wheel drive gear, the differential and the axle drive accommodated in a common housing and connected to the motor by a shaft, the Transaxlewelle.

Properties

Unlike the classic design of vehicles with front engine and rear wheel drive, sit in the engine and transmission forward and drive the rear axle through a propeller shaft in the transaxle design, the transmission and usually the clutch to the rear axle and the axle drive to a unit splinted. A hingeless drive shaft that rotates at motor speed, connecting the engine and transmission. In rare cases, the coupling is attached to the front of the engine.

The all-wheel drive mid-engine Ford RS 200 had to rally use, the gear on the front axle, so a reverse Transaxlekonstruktion.

The Nissan GT -R is another exception. As usual with the transaxle design, the engine is in front and the transmission at the rear. However, a second drive shaft from the gearbox leads to the front axle. So here is a four-wheel drive with a transaxle was combined. The terrain vehicle Bucher / Mowag Duro uses this principle also. When published in 2011 Ferrari FF V12 engine sits behind the front axle, a 7 -speed dual- clutch transmission is located at the rear axle and a second crankshaft output on the front of the engine sits a 2-speed gearbox, which in the first four forward gears and reverse gear wheel drive with no center differential realized (called " 4RM ").

Pros and Cons

As with the mid-engine layout for a more balanced weight distribution compared to vehicles with front wheel drive, classic rear-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive construction trying to reach the transaxle. Unlike a mid-engine transaxle drive is also suitable for sedans and the vehicle has a higher moment of inertia about the vertical axis, which counteracts the tendency to skid. The resulting higher weight on the rear axle of the most rear-wheel drive sports cars thus enables greater force transmission to the tires, which eg even in snow driving increases safety. The separation of the engine and gearbox also leads to the fact that the transmission is not affected by the engine heat additionally thermally. The Transaxlewelle can be built easier, since they do not carry such high torques must like the propeller shaft with the classic rear-wheel drive. The usual attachment of the coupling in front of the gear also facilitates transmission synchronization because the Transaxlewelle not accelerated through the clutch and must be slowed down. Another plus is the increased safety in frontal crash because of the rigid Transaxlewelle and the suspension of the rear axle and forces are introduced and removed in the rear area of the body. One of the disadvantages of the transaxle theoretically include the wear-prone and noisy superposition of Transaxlewelle, such as the Alfa Romeo Alfetta models of the series. This disadvantage can be offset largely constructive but again with joint discs. When used in the saloons located at the rear gear affects over conventional construction a negative impact on the available boot volume. Similarly, in classical transmissions shift linkage needs to be moved back; among them can suffer the shifting precision. Nevertheless outweigh the benefits, especially for high-performance vehicles.

Examples of transaxle vehicles

Historic Vehicles

  • Alfa Romeo Alfetta (1972 ), GTV (1974 ), Giulietta (1977 ), 75, 90, ES 30
  • Bugatti Type 46 (1929 )
  • DAF 600 and all other cars of DAF
  • Ferrari 275, 365 GTB / 4 365 GTS / 4
  • Ford Escort RS1700T
  • Lancia Aurelia, Flaminia
  • Mercedes-Benz W196 (and thus also of the derived 300 SLR)
  • Pegaso Z -102
  • Pontiac Tempest (1960-1963)
  • Porsche 924, 928, 944, 968
  • Škoda 418 Popular ( 1934)
  • Volvo 340/360

Current vehicles

Transaxle vehicles with special designs

  • Nissan GT -R, front engine, gearbox on the rear axle, all-wheel drive
  • Ford RS 200, mid-engine, separate gear on the front axle, all-wheel drive
  • Ferrari FF, front mid- engine, 7 -speed gearbox on the rear axle, 2- speed gearbox on the front axle
Front-engine design Nissan GT-R Dual-clutch transmission Csonka (automobile) Front-wheel drive Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout Rag joint Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider Alfa Romeo SZ Ferrari 365 Lancia Flaminia Pegaso Z-102 Porsche 928 Porsche 944 Porsche 968 Aston Martin DB9 Aston Martin DBS V12 Aston Martin Virage Aston Martin V12 Zagato Aston Martin One-77 Ferrari 550 Ferrari 575M Maranello Ferrari California Autostadt
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