FM layout

From Free net encyclopedia

The FM layout, standing for front-midships, is a layout of an automobile that has appeared recently. An FM car places the engine in the front like an FR car, but pushed back enough that the engine's center of gravity is to the rear of the front axle. This aids in weight distribution and reduces the moment of inertia, helping handling. Technically FM is a smaller sub-catgeory of FR, since the engine is still in the front third of the car, and FM cars still have rear wheel drivetrains. FM cars are often recognizeable by an extensively long hood and front wheels unusually close to the bumper of the car. Typical FM cars are high performance models such as the Aston Martin Vanquish and V8 Vantage 2005, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Honda S2000, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Maserati Quattroporte, Mazda RX-7 and RX-8, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, BMW Z4, Nissan 350Z, Infiniti G35, Porsche 928, 944, and 968.