Rear-wheel drive cars are making a comeback, thanks to EVs

RahulNagaraj · 24th April 2023, 00:02

Over the years, automakers have shifted to offering cars with a front-wheel drive layout. The FWD vehicles are much cheaper to build and free up space in the car's cabin, but they do take away some of the performance and handling advantages of RWD cars.

Rear-wheel drive cars are making a comeback, thanks to EVs-hyundaiioniq5review.jpg

However, for electric vehicles with a single motor, carmakers are opting to make them power the rear wheels. This is because, without the heavy internal combustion engine, EVs have the advantage of moving the weight around. Joakim Rydholm, head of chassis development at Polestar, stated that by reducing the weight on the front axle, the car can be made a bit more agile and fun to drive. Moving to an RWD system also helps improve traction, directness and speed of response which all combine to offer better driving pleasure. He further stated that "we can improve comfort without sacrificing on performance and the handling."

Reports also stated that with EVs having floor-mounted battery packs, it's easier for carmakers to achieve a near-perfect ratio, by balancing the weight along the length of the car.

Car brands like Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen and Volvo (along with sister brand Polestar) have all committed to offering RWD drivetrains on their single-motor EV variants. However, there are still a few brands, including Nissan, which offer FWD drivetrains on their EVs. The new Nissan Ariya EV is offered in an FWD configuration on a single-motor variant.

Source: Automotive News

Link to Team-BHP news

GTO · 24th April 2023, 07:48

Beautiful! I love fast EVs. You know what else is good? Quick acceleration. The Mahindra XUV400 can do 0 - 100 in 8.3 seconds. There is no 20-lakh rupee diesel or petrol AT car that can do the same. As China and other countries ramp up battery / motor production, and new EV technologies emerge, EVs will democratize performance. There is no <15-lakh rupee car in India that can do 0 - 100 in 6 or 7 seconds today. Mark my words, you will see this with EVs.

DicKy · 24th April 2023, 09:53

Definitely on of the pluses of BEVs with skateboard platforms. And you end up seeing companies that had once shunned RWD citing several reasons now doling out RWD models.

At the same time, seeing BEVs with FWD usually IMO means it was based on an ICE platform. Toyota's e-TNGA platform, for all its PR push of FWD/RWD/AWD modularity looks like it is just based on the normal TNGA(C,K) platform. Hence, why they have FWD/AWD models when even RWD hating VWs have come back to giving RWD base variants.

Looking forward to see a XUV300/400 sized vehicle on the MEB platform.

GB muthu · 25th April 2023, 09:23

RWD Evs also free up precious cargo space under the front bonnet.

CARNAMA · 26th April 2023, 03:46

My 2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron is RWD. 0-60miles in 7.9 secs. Not the fastest but acceleration is linear and enough for overtaking even in an incline.

24th April 2023, 00:02	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,678 Thanked: 25,315 Times View My Garage	Rear-wheel drive cars are making a comeback, thanks to EVs Over the years, automakers have shifted to offering cars with a front-wheel drive layout. The FWD vehicles are much cheaper to build and free up space in the car's cabin, but they do take away some of the performance and handling advantages of RWD cars. However, for electric vehicles with a single motor, carmakers are opting to make them power the rear wheels. This is because, without the heavy internal combustion engine, EVs have the advantage of moving the weight around. Joakim Rydholm, head of chassis development at Polestar, stated that by reducing the weight on the front axle, the car can be made a bit more agile and fun to drive. Moving to an RWD system also helps improve traction, directness and speed of response which all combine to offer better driving pleasure. He further stated that "we can improve comfort without sacrificing on performance and the handling." Reports also stated that with EVs having floor-mounted battery packs, it's easier for carmakers to achieve a near-perfect ratio, by balancing the weight along the length of the car. Car brands like Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen and Volvo (along with sister brand Polestar) have all committed to offering RWD drivetrains on their single-motor EV variants. However, there are still a few brands, including Nissan, which offer FWD drivetrains on their EVs. The new Nissan Ariya EV is offered in an FWD configuration on a single-motor variant. Source: Automotive News Link to Team-BHP news Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 24th April 2023 at 00:03.
	(18) Thanks

24th April 2023, 07:48	#2
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 72,846 Thanked: 319,137 Times View My Garage	Re: Rear-wheel drive cars are making a comeback, thanks to EVs Beautiful! I love fast EVs. You know what else is good? Quick acceleration. The Mahindra XUV400 can do 0 - 100 in 8.3 seconds. There is no 20-lakh rupee diesel or petrol AT car that can do the same. As China and other countries ramp up battery / motor production, and new EV technologies emerge, EVs will democratize performance. There is no <15-lakh rupee car in India that can do 0 - 100 in 6 or 7 seconds today. Mark my words, you will see this with EVs.
	(15) Thanks

24th April 2023, 09:53	#3
DicKy Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TVPM Posts: 4,348 Thanked: 14,950 Times	Re: Rear-wheel drive cars are making a comeback, thanks to EVs Definitely on of the pluses of BEVs with skateboard platforms. And you end up seeing companies that had once shunned RWD citing several reasons now doling out RWD models. At the same time, seeing BEVs with FWD usually IMO means it was based on an ICE platform. Toyota's e-TNGA platform, for all its PR push of FWD/RWD/AWD modularity looks like it is just based on the normal TNGA(C,K) platform. Hence, why they have FWD/AWD models when even RWD hating VWs have come back to giving RWD base variants. Looking forward to see a XUV300/400 sized vehicle on the MEB platform.
	(4) Thanks

25th April 2023, 09:23	#4
GB muthu Newbie Join Date: May 2021 Location: Tirupur Posts: 12 Thanked: 3 Times	Re: Rear-wheel drive cars are making a comeback, thanks to EVs RWD Evs also free up precious cargo space under the front bonnet.
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26th April 2023, 03:46	#5
CARNAMA BHPian Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Lathrop,Kolkata Posts: 25 Thanked: 183 Times	Re: Rear-wheel drive cars are making a comeback, thanks to EVs My 2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron is RWD. 0-60miles in 7.9 secs. Not the fastest but acceleration is linear and enough for overtaking even in an incline.
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