In automotive engineering , a mid-engine layout describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the rear-wheel axles , but behind the front axle.
54-583: The McLaren Senna is a limited-production mid-engined sports car manufactured by McLaren Automotive . The car is the third addition in the McLaren Ultimate Series , joining the F1 and the P1 ; however, it is not a direct successor to either of the cars. The Senna was unveiled online by the company on 10 December 2017, with the official unveiling taking place at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show . The car
108-430: A better compromise of handling and comfort to be tuned in. The bushing in line with the wheel can be kept relatively stiff to effectively handle cornering loads while the off-line joint can be softer to allow the wheel to recess under fore-aft impact loads. For a rear suspension, a pair of joints can be used at both ends of the arm, making them more H-shaped in plan view. Alternatively, a fixed-length driveshaft can perform
162-492: A front-engine or rear-engine car. When the engine is in front of the driver, but fully behind the front axle line, the layout is sometimes called a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, or FMR layout instead of the less-specific term front-engine; and can be considered a subset of the latter. In-vehicle layout, FMR is substantially the same as FR, but handling differs as a result of the difference in weight distribution. Some vehicles could be classified as FR or FMR depending on
216-458: A problem in some cars, but this issue seems to have been largely solved in newer designs. For example, the Saleen S7 employs large engine-compartment vents on the sides and rear of the bodywork to help dissipate heat from its very high-output engine. Mid-engined cars are more dangerous than front-engined cars if the driver loses control - although this may be initially harder to provoke due to
270-405: A progressive and controllable manner as the tires lose traction. Super, sport, and race cars frequently have a mid-engined layout, as these vehicles' handling characteristics are more important than other requirements, such as usable space. In dedicated sports cars, a weight distribution of about 50% front and rear is frequently pursued, to optimise the vehicle's driving dynamics – a target that
324-424: A spindle to which the wheel bearings are mounted. To resist fore-aft loads such as acceleration and braking , the arms require two bushings or ball joints at the body. At the knuckle end, single ball joints are typically used, in which case the steering loads have to be taken via a steering arm, and the wishbones look A- or L-shaped. An L-shaped arm is generally preferred on passenger vehicles because it allows
378-401: A vehicle safer since an accident can occur if a vehicle cannot stay in its own lane around a curve or is unable to stop quickly enough. Mid-engine design is also a way to provide additional empty crush space in the front of the automobile between the bumper and the windshield, which can then be designed to absorb more of the impact force in a frontal collision in order to minimize penetration into
432-502: Is a new generation of McLaren's carbon fibre monocoque named MonoCage III , which contributes to the car's relatively low dry weight. The car utilises a top mounted (hot-vee) inconel -titanium exhaust system with three outlet pipes in order for a more aggressive exhaust note and engine emissions. The interior consists largely of exposed carbon fibre and Alcantara, with seats that can be upholstered in Alcantara or leather, depending on
486-676: Is an independent suspension design for automobiles using two (occasionally parallel) wishbone -shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control vertical movement. Double wishbone designs allow the engineer to carefully control the motion of the wheel throughout suspension travel, controlling such parameters as camber angle , caster angle , toe pattern, roll center height, scrub radius , scuff ( mechanical abrasion ), and more. The double-wishbone suspension can also be referred to as " double A-arms ", though
540-518: Is estimated to produce at least 825 PS (607 kW; 814 hp) from its 4.0 L twin-turbocharged V8 engine and is meant to be faster and more agile than its road-going counterpart. On the exterior, the GTR utilizes wider front and rear fenders, a larger front splitter, new wheels and a bigger rear diffuser in order to make the car generate about 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) of downforce. The Senna GTR will be limited to only 75 examples. In reviewing
594-624: Is largely based on the McLaren 720S , using a modified version of its carbon fibre monocoque and engine. The Senna is powered by a modified version of the McLaren 720S' 3,994 cc (4.0 L; 243.7 cu in) twin-turbocharged V8 engine codenamed the M840TR . It utilises a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that delivers all 588 kW (799 PS; 789 hp) at 7,250 rpm and 800 N⋅m (590 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,500 rpm to
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#1732791762099648-646: Is named after the Brazilian Formula One race driver Ayrton Senna (1960–1994), honouring and giving tribute to his success with the McLaren Formula One Team between 1988 and 1993 Formula 1 seasons. Senna won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and thirty-five Formula One Grand Prix race wins with the team; McLaren also won four consecutive Formula One World Constructor's Championship titles with Senna as part of their driver line-up. McLaren Automotive holds
702-540: Is no genetic relationship between MacPherson strut and double wishbone suspension. Double wishbones have traditionally been considered to have superior dynamic characteristics as well as load-handling capabilities and are therefore commonly found on sports cars and racing cars throughout automotive history . Examples of cars with double wishbone suspension include the Aston Martin DB7 , the Mazda MX-5 , and
756-471: Is operated electronically and has various settings in order to provide optimum performance while also acting as an airbrake ), double-element diffuser, Formula One -inspired roof scoop, front and side air intakes, rear air louvres, and large front fenders. Inside the panel beside the intakes is a small set of mini-canards. Areas of low pressure are accompanied using high-performance radiators that ensure improved engine cooling. The car uses dihedral doors , like
810-408: Is typically only achievable by placing the engine somewhere between the front and rear axles. Usually, the term "mid-engine" has been primarily applied to cars having the engine located between the driver and the rear drive axles. This layout is referred to as rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive , (or RMR) layout. The mechanical layout and packaging of an RMR car are substantially different from that of
864-618: The Packard One-Twenty from 1935,[1] and advertised it as a safety feature. During that time MacPherson strut was still in the area of aviation technology and was derived from aircraft landing mechanisms. Later on, in 1951, Ford Company decided to use the MacPherson strut on small production cars, the English Ford Consul and Ford Zephyr.[2] Thus, the double wishbone was applied early in automobile history and there
918-489: The unsprung mass , and also allows the designer to make the suspension more aerodynamic. A short long arms suspension ( SLA ) is also known as an unequal-length double wishbone suspension. The upper arm is typically an A-arm and is shorter than the lower link, which is an A-arm or an L-arm, or sometimes a pair of tension/compression arms. In the latter case, the suspension can be called a multi-link, or dual-ball joint suspension . The four-bar linkage mechanism formed by
972-604: The 1950s and 1960s, e.g. the AEC Reliance . The Ferrari Mondial is to date the only successful example of a true mid-engined convertible with seating for 4 and sports car/supercar performance. A version of the Lotus Evora with a removable roof panel is anticipated but no definite date is known. Like any layout where the engine is not front-mounted and facing the wind, the traditional "engine-behind-the-passengers" layout makes engine cooling more difficult. This has been
1026-646: The McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo, while borrowing a few key aerodynamic elements from the McLaren Senna. The car was developed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and only 16 cars were produced. Only 13 Sabres were delivered to the United States, despite original claims of US-exclusivity. One Sabre went to Lebanon, one Sabre went to Qatar, and one Sabre went to Bahrain. As of August 2022, there are only 12 Sabres in
1080-529: The Senna dubbed the Senna GTR. The production Senna GTR unveiled two years later has a different bodywork from the concept, with a different wing setup, toned-down aerodynamics, and utilizes a dual-clutch race transmission for faster gear shifts, a revised suspension system and Pirelli racing slicks in order to make it the fastest non-Formula One vehicle McLaren has ever created for faster lap times. The Senna GTR
1134-624: The United States after one moved to Singapore from California. The non-hybrid twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine is now rated at 824 hp (614 kW; 835 PS) and the car's top speed is 218 mph (351 km/h). That is 24 hp and 7 mph more than a base Senna. McLaren claims the Sabre to be the fastest two-seat McLaren when it came out as the McLaren F1 and McLaren Speedtail both have three seats. Mid engined The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive format can be considered
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#17327917620991188-485: The arms themselves can be A-shaped or L-shaped. A single wishbone or A-arm can also be used in various other suspension types, such as variations of the MacPherson strut . The upper arm is usually shorter to induce negative camber as the suspension jounces (rises), and often this arrangement is titled an "SLA" or "short, long arms" suspension. When the vehicle is in a turn, body roll results in positive camber gain on
1242-431: The beginning of jounce travel and then reverses into positive camber gain at high jounce amounts. Double wishbone suspensions are more complex, impose more difficult packaging constraints, and are thus often more expensive than other systems like a MacPherson strut . Due to the increased number of components within the suspension setup, it takes much longer to service and is heavier than an equivalent MacPherson design. At
1296-521: The case of the Ferrari FF taking power from both ends of the crankshaft with two separate gearboxes. These cars use a traditional engine layout between driver and rear drive axle. Typically, they're simply called MR; for mid-rear (engined), or mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout cars. These cars use mid-ship, four-wheel-drive , with an engine between the axles. These cars are "mid-ship engined" vehicles, but they use front-wheel drive , with
1350-406: The customer's preference. Behind the two seats is room large enough for two helmets and race suits, reflecting the car's minimalist and track focused design. The car utilises McLaren's hydraulic RaceActive Chassis Control II (RCC II) suspension along with double-wishbone control arms. In February 2018, McLaren released the full performance statistics of the track-oriented Senna model: Every car
1404-510: The doors from the standard Senna, titanium panels and LM branding. Power of the 4-liter twin-turbo V8 is now up to 825 PS (607 kW; 814 hp), which matches the Senna GTR. Only 35 units were produced, with 5 units to the US market and 7 right-hand drive units. All 5 US Senna LM were delivered to the same person, a VIP client in Florida. That individual still owns 3 of the 5 US Senna LM, with
1458-427: The effect of moving each joint, so the kinematics of the suspension can be tuned easily and wheel motion can be optimized. It is also easy to work out the loads that different parts will be subjected to which allows more optimized lightweight parts to be designed. They also provide increasing negative camber gain all the way to full jounce travel, unlike the MacPherson strut , which provides negative camber gain only at
1512-464: The engine in front of the driver. It is still treated as an FF layout, though, due to the engine's placement still being in the front of the car, contrary to the popular belief that the engine is placed in front of the rear axle with power transferred to the front wheels (an RMF layout). In most examples, the engine is longitudinally mounted rather than transversely as is common with FF cars. Double wishbone suspension A double wishbone suspension
1566-413: The engine placed between the driver and the front axle. This layout, similar to the above FMR layout, with the engine between driver and the front axle, adds front-wheel drive to become a four-wheel drive. An engineering challenge with this layout is getting the power to the front wheels past the engine - this would normally involve raising the engine to allow a propshaft to pass under the engine, or in
1620-562: The factory-installed engine (I4 vs I6). Historically most classical FR cars such as the Ford Models T and A would qualify as an FMR engine car. Additionally, the distinction between FR and FMR is a fluid one, depending on the degree of engine protrusion in front of the front axle line, as manufacturers mount engines as far back in the chassis as possible. Not all manufacturers use the Front-Mid designation. These cars are RWD cars with
1674-439: The fore and aft weight distribution by other means, such as putting the engine in the front and the gearbox and battery in the rear of the vehicle. Another benefit comes when the heavy mass of the engine is located close to the back of the seats. It makes it easier for the suspension to absorb the force of bumps so the riders feel a smoother ride. But in sports cars, the engine position is once again used to increase performance and
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1728-474: The front fender louvres and unique exhaust outlets. The McLaren orange livery is a homage to the McLaren F1 LM, which itself is made from inspiration to celebrate the winning F1 GTR that won the 1995 Le Mans. The Senna LM also features polished ports and cylinder heads, OZ center-lock wheels with a retro design, satin-gold-tipped quad exhausts, louvers on the front fenders, the removal of the clear panel in
1782-521: The front tires in braking the vehicle, with less chance of rear-wheel lockup and less chance of a skid or spin out. If the mid-engine vehicle is also rear-drive the added weight on the rear tires can also improve acceleration on slippery surfaces, providing much of the benefit of all-wheel-drive without the added weight and expense of all-wheel-drive components. The mid-engine layout makes ABS brakes and traction control systems work better, by providing them more traction to control. The mid-engine layout may make
1836-501: The function of a wishbone as long as the shape of the other wishbone provides control of the upright. This arrangement has been successfully used in the Jaguar IRS . In elevation view , the suspension is a 4-bar link, and it is easy to work out the camber gain (see camber angle ) and other parameters for a given set of bushing or ball-joint locations. The various bushings or ball joints do not have to be on horizontal axes, parallel to
1890-790: The future regulations for the World Endurance Championship , the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) identified the Senna GTR as one of several models that fit their vision of a replacement for the Le Mans Prototype class. It was also a competitor at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The McLaren Senna LM is a limited run of the McLaren Senna with 825PS engine, developed by the McLaren Special Operations department. The bodywork has unique content including
1944-439: The lightly loaded inside wheel, while the heavily loaded outer wheel gains negative camber. Between the outboard end of the arms is a knuckle. The knuckle contains a kingpin for horizontal radial movement in older designs, and rubber or trunnion bushings for vertical hinged movement. In newer designs, a ball joint at each end allows for all movement. Attached to the knuckle at its center is a bearing hub, or in many older designs,
1998-483: The original layout of automobiles. A 1901 Autocar was the first gasoline-powered automobile to use a drive shaft and placed the engine under the seat. This pioneering vehicle is now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution . Mounting the engine in the middle instead of the front of the vehicle puts more weight over the rear tires, so they have more traction and provide more assistance to
2052-483: The other two having been resold to other collectors. One of these models was destroyed in a road accident in 2020 by former Formula One driver Adrian Sutil , but was later fully repaired. McLaren, specifically its Special Operations department, officially unveiled the McLaren Senna GTR LM, the road-legal iteration of the trackday-only Senna GTR, online on September 17, 2020. It is not to be confused with
2106-443: The passenger compartment of the vehicle. In most automobiles, and in sports cars especially, ideal car handling requires balanced traction between the front and rear wheels when cornering, in order to maximize the possible speed around curves without sliding out. This balance is harder to achieve when the heavy weight of the engine is located far to the front or far to the rear of the vehicle. Some automobile designs strive to balance
2160-536: The potentially smoother ride is usually more than offset by stiffer shock absorbers . This layout also allows the motor, gearbox, and differential to be bolted together as a single unit. Together with independent suspension on the driven wheels, this removes the need for the chassis to transfer engine torque reaction. The largest drawback of mid-engine cars is restricted rear or front (in the case of front-mid layouts) passenger space; consequently, most mid-engine vehicles are two-seat vehicles. The engine in effect pushes
2214-520: The previous offerings in the Ultimate Series, and also has optional windows applied on the lower area of its doors. The Senna uses a new generation of Brembo 's carbon ceramic brakes, containing a compound that has three and a half times better thermal conductivity than before, making the brakes smaller and lighter. It also features a new set of lightweight center-lock alloy wheels designed for Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R tyres. Its central design
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2268-412: The rear passenger seats forward towards the front axle (if the engine is behind the driver). Exceptions typically involve larger vehicles of unusual length or height in which the passengers can share space between the axles with the engine, which can be between them or below them, as in some vans, large trucks, and buses. The mid-engine layout (with a horizontal engine) was common in single-decker buses in
2322-465: The rear wheels. Unlike the previous offering in the Ultimate Series, the McLaren P1 , the Senna does not use an electric motor in favour of its low claimed dry weight of 1,198 kg (2,641 lb), which allows for a maximum power-to-weight ratio of 498 kW (677 PS; 668 hp) per ton. The car has many aerodynamic elements, there being a large adjustable double-element rear wing (that
2376-477: The rights to the Senna family name along with the Instituto Ayrton Senna . The organisation and McLaren have made the Senna name exclusive to the car, thereby prohibiting any other company from using the name. McLaren's main focus while designing the Senna was to achieve faster lap times. In order to do so, McLaren developed a lightweight design that incorporated aerodynamic elements. The Senna
2430-418: The rod must be joined to the bottom of the upright and angled upward). As the wheel rises, the push rod compresses the internal spring via a pivot or pivoting system. The opposite arrangement, a "pull rod", will pull on the rod during bump travel, and the rod must be attached to the top of the upright, angled downward. Locating the spring and damper inboard increases the total mass of the suspension, but reduces
2484-412: The same bodywork as the Senna GTR. Power has been increased to 833 hp (621 kW; 845 PS), higher than any other Senna variant to date. Power is 20 PS more than a base Senna GTR. The redline is also increased from 8250 rpm up to 9000 rpm. In December 2020, McLaren unveiled the Sabre, a McLaren model claimed to be exclusively made for the US market, with design inspirations heavily stemming from
2538-541: The standard McLaren Senna LM. Only five units have been made, and each has a unique paint scheme reflecting the five McLaren F1 GTRs at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans . All have been sold: two to a customer in the US, two to a customer in Spain, and one to a customer in the United Kingdom. The cars were made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of McLaren's win at LeMans. They feature OZ Racing carbon fiber wheels and have
2592-412: The superior balance - and the car begins to spin. The moment of inertia about the center of gravity is low due to the concentration of mass between the axles (similar to standing in the middle of a playground roundabout, rather than at the edge) and the spin will occur suddenly, the car will rotate faster and it will be harder to recover from. Conversely, a front-engined car is more likely to break away in
2646-592: The third through eighth generation of the Honda Accord . Short long arms suspension, a type of double wishbone suspension, is very common on front suspensions for medium-to-large cars such as the Peugeot 407 , Citroën C5 , and the first two generations of the Mazda6/Atenza . The double wishbone suspension provides the engineer with more design choices than some other types do. It is fairly easy to work out
2700-401: The tire and the upper ball joint sits above the tire. Short spindle SLAs tend to require stiffer bushings at the body, as the braking and cornering forces are higher. Also, they tend to have poorer kingpin geometry, due to the difficulty of packaging the upper ball joint and the brakes inside the wheel. Long spindle SLAs tend to have better kingpin geometry, but the proximity of the spindle to
2754-533: The tire restricts fitting oversized tires or snow chains. The location of the upper balljoint may have styling implications in the design of the sheet metal above it. SLAs require some care when setting up their bump steer characteristic, as it is easy to end up with excessive, or curved, bump steer curves. The double wishbone suspension was introduced in the 1930s. French car maker Citroën began using it in their 1934 Rosalie and Traction Avant models. Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan , used it on
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#17327917620992808-416: The unequal arm lengths causes a change in the camber of the vehicle as it rolls, which helps to keep the contact patch square on the ground, increasing the ultimate cornering capacity of the vehicle. It also reduces the wear on the outer edge of the tire. SLAs can be classified as short spindle, in which the upper ball joint on the spindle is inside the wheel, or long spindle, in which the spindle tucks around
2862-409: The vehicle center line. If they are set at an angle, then anti-dive and anti-squat geometry can be dialed in. In many racing cars, the springs and dampers are relocated inside the bodywork. The suspension uses a bellcrank to transfer the forces at the knuckle end of the suspension to the internal spring and damper. This is then known as a "push rod" if bump travel "pushes" on the rod (and subsequently
2916-538: Was hand-built at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking , Surrey , England with a production run of just 500 units, all of which are already sold. The McLaren Senna is listed at a price of £750,000 with the final car auctioned at a price of £1,916,793. Deliveries began in the third quarter of 2018. At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show , McLaren unveiled the concept version of the track-only iteration of
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