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Motor car components
The usual source of power for a motor car is an internal combustion en-
gine. A petrol (gasoline) engine has traditionally been the most popular for
light passenger vehicles. The engine in heavy vehicles is usually a large capacity
diesel, the main requirements for which are an ability
to produce high levels of
pulling power, reliability, and low fuel consumption.
The power of the engine is transmitted through the transmission and
drive
lines to the drive wheels. For the rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout, the rear
wheels act as the driving wheels. Spacing out the main components in this lay-
out makes each unit accessible but a drawback is the intrusion of the transmis-
sion components into the passenger compartment. The compactness of the
front-wheel drive (FWD) layout has made
it very popular on modern cars,
especially on small cars. The arrangement of four-wheel drive (4WD) is safer
because it distributes the drive to all four wheels and during acceleration it re-
duces the risks of wheel spin.
The suspension system involving springs, shock absorbers and linkages
serves a dual purpose: contributing to the vehicle’s
handling for good active
safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicles occupants comfortable and
reasonably well isolated from road bumps, vibrations, etc.
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Front-wheel drive
Rear-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Most modern cars are built with an integral chassis frame and body. This
frameless or integral arrangement provides a stiff light construction to the mo-
tor car, which is particularly suitable for mass-produced vehicles. A suitable
designed body shell can withstand various frame stresses. A lightweight uni-
tary construction contains relatively light vehicle
systems and components and
provides sufficient space for a driver and passengers.
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