| For ultimate performance, the mid-engined
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| | the road, the rear tires are wider than
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| layout is used for supercars - just like
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| | the front ones on a mid-engined car -
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| it is on racing cars. Typical mid-engined
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| | usually about 30% wider. The wider rear
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| supercars are the Ferrari F430,
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| | tires also make the cars more stable at
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| Lamborghini Murcielago and Noble M400.
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| | high speeds.Used on racing cars firstThe
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| Mostexotic supercars are also
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| | mid-engined layout was adopted first for
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| mid-engined.The mid-engined layout has
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| | single-seater racing cars, and then for
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| these advantages over front-engined
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| | sports racing cars before being adopted
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| cars:There is more weight over the rear
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| | for road cars.Ferrari and Lamborghini
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| wheels, but not too much, so traction is
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| | have been making mid-engined supercars
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| good
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| | for many years, and many smaller
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| Because the driver sits in front of the
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| | companies make mid-engined cars as well.
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| engine, the car can be lower, reducing
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| | The cheaper supercars usually have front
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| frontal area and the center of gravity.
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| | engines, and are more like ordinary cars
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| That means a higher top speed and better
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| | - except in their performance.Lola GT a
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| cornering.
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| | trend-setterOne of the first mid-engined
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| Aerodynamics of mid-engined cars are
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| | sports racing coupes was the Lola GT,
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| usually the best
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| | which was ahead of its time with a
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| Because there is no propeller shaft
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| | monocoque body - that is the body panels
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| taking the drive from the front to the
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| | formed the structure. Its competitors,
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| back, mid-engined cars are usually
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| | like the Ferrari Testarossa, all had
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| lighter than front-engined carsThose add
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| | tubular frames, which were heavier and
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| up to a big advantage in performance.
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| | not so stiff. It became the model for the
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| These cars are usually powered by V-type
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| | Ford GT40 racing cars, and later this
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| engines, or boxer engines, as these are
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| | layout became popular for supercars.The
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| lower and take up less room than in-line
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| | advanced structure of the GT40 helped
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| engines.Gearbox usually behind the rear
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| | Ford beat Ferrari at Le Mans and in other
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| axleTo get the weight well back, the
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| | long distance races. Now, you can buy a
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| gearbox is usually mounted behind the
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| | Ford GT supercar, similar in looks to the
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| rear axle gears as a transaxle. The
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| | GT40, but bang up to date.What about
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| weight distribution is about 42% front to
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| | rear-engined cars like the Porsche 911?
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| 58% rear to 39% front to 61% rear. Any
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| | Rear-engined cars have the engine behind
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| more weight at the back upsets the
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| | the rear wheels, so there is a lot of
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| handling balance.Because the weight of a
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| | weight on the rear wheels. Also, because
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| mid-engined car is concentrated at the
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| | the engine sticks out behind, when the
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| middle, there is less force tending to
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| | car starts to slide, the mass of the
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| spin the car when it corners than a
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| | engine keeps it going. This is not the
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| front-engined car, which is more like a
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| | best layout, although it makes quite a
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| dumbbell. But, things happen faster with
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| | practical 2+2.Rex Truman has been writing
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| a mid-engined car! If you upset the
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| | about fast cars and supercars for many
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| balance badly when cornering, the car can
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| | years, and runs an informative site
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| spin very quickly.To get the power onto
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| | about supercars.
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