rear-wheel drive
Posterior axle propulsion
Rear-wheel drive is a vehicle configuration where engine power goes to the back wheels rather than the front.
Common in trucks, sports cars, and older vehicles, it offers better acceleration and towing capacity but less traction in snow or rain.
Often abbreviated RWD: Most muscle cars are rear-wheel drive.
Compare front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
Vehicle power transmission system
- differentialRelative difference between things
- driveshaftRotating rod transmitting torque
- axleShaft for wheel rotation
- transmissionSending of information
gearbox · powertrain · propulsion · chassis · propeller shaft · live axle
Excessive rear rotation
- understeerFront-wheel traction loss
- weight distributionHow mass is allocated
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- countersteerTurning toward a skid
Chronic occupational depletion
- traction controlSystem limiting wheel spin
- stability controlSystem preventing vehicle skids
- gripSecure manual hold
- launchSet into motion
torque · power delivery · sand
Rate velocity changes
- horsepowerRate of mechanical work
- torqueRotational force measurement
- throttle responseEngine's reaction to pedal
- corneringForcing into position
speed · agility · precision · control · responsiveness · launch control · quarter mile · power-to-weight
Controlled sideways vehicle skid
- countersteerTurning toward a skid
- handbrake turnSpin via rear-lock
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
drift angle · donuts · e-brake · drift car · angle · steering lock
High-performance American vehicle
- grand tourerPerformance car for distance
- roadsterOpen two-seat sports car
- coupeTwo-door fixed-roof car
- CorvetteChevrolet sports car
Mustang · Camaro · Porsche 911 · BMW M3 · Ferrari · Aston Martin · Jaguar · Mercedes-AMG
drivetrain
Vehicle power transmission system
- differentialRelative difference between things
- driveshaftRotating rod transmitting torque
- axleShaft for wheel rotation
transmission · gearbox · powertrain · propulsion · chassis · propeller shaft · live axle
oversteer
Excessive rear rotation
- understeerFront-wheel traction loss
- weight distributionHow mass is allocated
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
countersteer · rotation · yaw · predictability · weight transfer
burnout
Chronic occupational depletion
- traction controlSystem limiting wheel spin
- stability controlSystem preventing vehicle skids
- gripSecure manual hold
launch · torque · power delivery · sand
acceleration
Rate velocity changes
- horsepowerRate of mechanical work
- torqueRotational force measurement
- throttle responseEngine's reaction to pedal
cornering · speed · agility · precision · control · responsiveness · launch control · quarter mile · power-to-weight · dynamic balance
powerslide
Controlled sideways vehicle skid
- countersteerTurning toward a skid
- handbrake turnSpin via rear-lock
- initiationFormal admission ceremony
drift angle · smoke · donuts · e-brake · drift car · angle · steering lock
muscle car
High-performance American vehicle
- grand tourerPerformance car for distance
- roadsterOpen two-seat sports car
- coupeTwo-door fixed-roof car
Corvette · Mustang · Camaro · Porsche 911 · BMW M3 · Ferrari · Aston Martin · Jaguar · Mercedes-AMG · V8
vintage
Quality from past eras
- hot rodModified car for racing
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- restorationReturning something to condition
collector · heritage · chrome · showroom · auction · patina · matching numbers · concours · barn find · Shelby
- Powertrainengine, transmission, drivetrain, motor, gearbox
- 2WD featuresFWD
- wheel arrangements4-4-2
- drivesSSD, memory stick, floppy disk, RAID, overdrive
- Driftingdrift, drifting, countersteer, countersteering, counter-steering
- drivetrain typesFWD, AWD, 4WD, 4x4
rear-wheel drivefront-wheel drive
Powertrain layout favoring forward axle
FWD · all-wheel drive · AWD · four-wheel drive · 4WD
drive, wheel, driven, driver, rear, driving, wheels, drives, wheelbarrow