Are Lamborghini models mid-engined or rear engined?
Do you want to know where the engine is in a Lamborghini? Are Lamborghini models mid-engined or rear engined? We have all your answers and more right here. Find out what layout Lamborghini uses, and why they use it!
Where are engines commonly located in cars?
Engine placement used to be fairly straightforward in the automotive world. Throw the engine in front, throw the people in back, and away you go. In many ways, the automotive world still thinks like that. In fact, most lineups from so-called “mainstream” manufacturers feature the same front engine layout regardless if they are front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or even four-wheel drive.
Supercars and hypercars, like the ones that Lamborghini builds, are different. Though they can still be all-wheel drive or even rear-wheel drive, they rarely put the engine in front. There are a few exceptions from brands who are hoping to emphasize aesthetic appeal over functionality, but if you are building a car to go fast, the engine needs to be in the middle.
What does mid-engine mean?
Lamborghini Huracan and Aventador both use the mid-engine layout. In fact, this layout has been a part of Lamborghini design for a very long time. What is this layout? Technically a mid-engined car is any car where the bulk of the engine sits between the front and rear wheels.
Read More: What was the first mid-engine Lamborghini?
This does, however, lead to two more possible classifications, rear mid-engine and front mid-engine. This is all about the placement of the driver. Is the engine behind or in front of the driver? In a modern Lamborghini, as you may have guessed, the layout employed is a rear mid-engine layout with the engine behind the driver.
Advantages to mid-engine cars
It’s all about weight balance. Front engine cars put all their weight out front leading to several disadvantages including torque steer, understeering issues, poor braking, and even engine design constraints. Rear engine cars or cars with the engine behind the rear wheels, have their own issues including oversteer, less traction, and instability when braking. For these reasons, the mid-engine layout is ideal for supercars and hypercars.
The only real drawback to a mid-engine layout is a reduction in passenger space, everything else is better. You have balanced handling, braking, and acceleration, especially when that engine is just behind the driver. Not only has this been a winning formula for Lamborghini, but it has held true in the racing world for decades.
Learn about Aventador all-wheel steering
