For an adventurous ride with your family and friends, you would want a vehicle that is as ready for action as you are. Imagine going through a bumpy road, experiencing the thrill of tight corners, and still having a perfect balance of control over your vehicle. You deserve a journey where you are powered with confidence, even with the harshest adventurous. It is all about a ride that is filled with great performance and an abundance of excitement, where the journey feels like a breeze.
When purchasing a vehicle, you look for many factors that could impact your driving experience and vehicle performance. In high-performance vehicles, you will mostly find rear-wheel drive (RWD) systems, but what is RWD in a car, and why are manufacturers so interested in this engineering? Let’s explore all about RWD.
Also read: What is AWD or 4WD?
Meaning of RWD
As the name implies, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) distributes energy to the rear wheels. With the RWD configuration, you get better balance and advanced handling. RWD is mostly used with sports cars, luxury cars, and SUVs. With this advanced configuration, you get a pleasurable driving experience. The reason that this technology has been used for decades is because it offers unique advantages in a vehicle’s performance.
Importance Of RWD
The automotive industry has been using RWD for many years. An individual who prioritises the driving dynamics offers a lot of advantages. To understand its importance, you should know that it is needed for better handling and balance, especially when driving at high speed. RWD cars transfer weight evenly between their front and rear axles. This balance is the reason that you get better traction and stability during acceleration.
Secondly, RWD has the power to cool down the engine and transmission. The whole process happens as the engine is in the front, and the power is sent to the rear wheels so there’s enough space for the air to flow around these components. Its structure provides higher overall effectiveness.
Also read: Know the reason: Why People Love white SUV
How RWD Works?
Now that you are aware of what is RWD in a car, here’s an explanation of how it works. With the vehicles that have RWD, the engine is mostly located in the front. The power travels with the help of a driveshaft, which connects to different locations of the rear axle. This difference helps the rear wheels to rotate at different speeds. Whenever you make a turn while driving, the outside wheels go farther than the inner wheels. With the RWD, you get smooth and controlled handling, especially when cornering. RWD also helps in weight transfer. When a vehicle is on speed, the shift of power goes from front wheel to rear wheel. With this shift, a vehicle achieves higher traction, ensuring better performance.
Although the mechanism is simple and mostly beneficial, there are some pros and cons attached to it:
Pros of RWD
- One of the major advantages of RWD is its prime handling characteristic. Its ability to balance the weight distribution helps improve cornering performance and stability during high-speed maneuvers.
- When the automobile accelerates, the weight is transferred to the back wheels. This provides a better grip on roads. This also reduces the wheel spin, which is why many big brands of sports cars have RWD.
- RWD vehicles have significantly better towing capacity. The design of the RWD provides stronger frames and components, which helps in handling heavier loads without compromising on stability.
- Mechanically, the system of RWD is not at all complex, which means there are fewer components involved in the system. This factor makes them more durable and reliable.
- Another reason for using RWD vehicles is because it provides performance customization. You can easily do modifications and enhance engine performance.
Cons of RWD
- One of the cons that we would like to highlight is that RWD does not provide enough traction on some surfaces, such as snow and ice. It is generally hard to control these vehicles on slippery surfaces.
- You may get an RWD vehicle at a higher price than a FWD due to its higher production cost.
- As the driveshaft runs from the front of the wheels to the back, it may invade the passenger space in some designs. You may experience less legroom or cargo space.
- Because of the usage of additional components, the RWD vehicles may add extra weight, which may affect the fuel efficiency.
- For new drivers, especially those habitual of driving FWD, it may take some time to adjust and transition to an RWD. The different handling characteristics may require some time to get used to.
Also read: What is RPM in a car?
Iconic RWD Cars:
Here’s a list of the most popular five rear-wheel-drive automobiles. If you are planning to buy one, choose from one of these for their handling qualities—a tribute.
- Chevrolet Corvette
- BMW 3 Series
- Porsche Cayman
- Alpine A110
- Mazda MX-5
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of explaining what is RWD in a car. Better handling, enhanced acceleration performance, and durability are the reasons that RWD vehicles are becoming more popular with each passing year. Knowing how RWD works, along with its pros and cons, will help you in making informed decisions.
