Development of a Front-Wheel-Drive Car

Development of front-wheel-drive car in Japan began about ten years ago, and it is in a good state today. Principal difficulties to be removed in the early stage of development were the problem of gradeability and that of constant velocity sliding universal joint. After many endeavors, a front-wheel-drive car equipped with horizontally opposed four cylinder engine was realized. This configuration has, to add to the proper superiorities of front-wheel-drive car, advantages in respect of vibration, cornering ability, crashworthiness, safety for pedestrians and ease of designing four-wheel-drive car.