[s-cars] RS3 and 2.5 Turbo

[John Cody Forbes]

What's the point there? Passats, A4's, A6's, and A8's all come FWD.

There are a few reasons to mount the engine the wrong way. 

First, you are containing the weight closer to the axle line. In theory you want all of the car's weight as near as possible to the center of the vehicle. The farther out from that point you go the higher the polar moment of inertia which hurts the car's ability to change direction (think of how hard it is to rotate a ladder that you are carrying horizontally).

Second, it's much easier, faster, and cheaper to assemble the car in FWD trim and no harder in AWD trim. In FWD trim they can load the entire driveline on a cradle and plug it in to the car in one easy step. With the engine mounted the "right" way it's more tricky since the package isn't contained to the engine bay and requires a few other steps.

Finally, design. With the engine in the "right" way the ENTIRE engine must, by definition of the brand, be completely forward of the axle line. That makes for long overhangs (the wheels not near the ultimate front of the vehicle) and a long hood. If you put the engine in sideways now the forward most mechanical part is MUCH closer to the axle line, more compact, and allows for shortening the front of the car by a good bit.

-Cody (mobile)

On Nov 28, 2010, at 2:55 PM, "tedebearp at yahoo.com" <tedebearp at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Yes, it's in a car that gets sold as an FWD model.
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Nov 28, 2010, at 11:39 AM, brian hoeft <qweblog at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Regarding that good point, I've been wondering if theres a good (ostensible)
> technical reason for Audi mounting the engine the wrong way [my perspective]
> in the engine bay...
> 
> If there is, i've not yet gained appreciation for it, however that TT
> handles incredibly well..  Maybe by the time they come down in price, my
> eyes will adjust to appreciate their looks.
> 
> -Brian
> 
> 
> 
> .
> 
> On Fri, Nov 26, 2010 at 2:19 PM, Kent McLean <kentmclean at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Eric Sanborn wrote:
> I have been eying this engine for a while.  I can't wait for them to be
> available (and hopefully somewhat plentiful) in the US.  I know the
> direct
> injection will make swaps more challenging, but I would love a C5 Avant
> with
> a six speed and that engine in it.
> 
> Its transverse fit might make that a challenge. Would the block where
> it mates to the transmission bolt right up? You'll also need to re-work
> the header.
> 
> --
> Kent McLean
> 1999 A4 Avant, V6 Tiptronic
> 1990 200 Avant mit V8 conversion
> gone: 1990 V8 w/5-speed and other mods
> gone: 1991 200 TQA #3, with mods
> gone: '91 200 TQA x2, '94 100 S Avant, '89 200 TQ "Bad Puppy"
> 
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