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A rear-engine, front-wheel-drive layout is one in which the engine is behind the rear wheels, but drives the front wheels via a driveshaft, like a conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle traveling in reverse. Although an uncommon drive layout, it has been used in the past, by Buckminster Fuller in his concept Dymaxion car, which was able to turn within its wheelbase due to rear-wheel steering. There is some interest in developing the idea for use in cars of the future, as evidenced by the (patent application ) of inventor–engineer Michael Basnett at Rover Group (GB), who proposes a front transaxle design, rear flat engine architecture. According to the patent, the layout is designed to be advantageous in terms of crash performance by increasing the front crumple zone, in allowing greater styling freedom, in enhanced ride via reduced noise, vibration, and harshness, and in lowered center of gravity providing improved handling, braking and roll characteristics. Its main disadvantage is the lack of weight over the drive wheels, particularly under hard acceleration as weight shifts to the rear.〔( www.thirteen.org ) Dymaxion Transport - accessed 21 March 2010〕 In 1932, Coleman Motors based in Littleton, Colorado, chief designer Harleigh Holmes designed and built an automobile named Maroon Car〔 (''Harleigh Holmes and the Coleman Motor Company'' ) Littleton government history webpage〕 which had front-wheel drive by a rear-mounted V-8 engine. Only one was built and never placed in production.〔("Rear Engine and Front Drive in Same Auto" ''Popular Mechanics'', August 1930 )〕 == References == 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rear-engine, front-wheel-drive layout」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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