Which automaker's obsolete technology will be abandoned first?

[Stephen M]

Okay, so the phrasing of the question is a bit antagonistic. These are truly some great automobiles here, far from obsolete. But my feeling is they're great despite the technology in question, not because of it. As time marches on, these anachronisms persist through a combination of marketing, tradition, and the need for character, tangible and otherwise. Will any of these companies abandon their heritage and join the modern era? The contenders:

1) Porsche abandons rear-engines in a 911 replacement.

Porsche's suspension engineers have done wonders with the 911. They've kept it amongst the world's greatest sports cars for decades and have made massive improvements over the years, despite never really changing the fundamental design. But the fact remains that hanging a large percentage of a vehicles mechanics aft of the rear axle isn't the best for dynamic response, praise for "ass-engined nazi slot cars" notwithstanding. Porsche themselves have admitted as much, noting that the Cayman won't be offered with a limited slip differential, lest it best the base 911 'round the 'ring. Gotta keep those upstart Boxsters in their place. When they needed a competitor to the Enzo, of course, they put the Carrera GT's engine where it belongs. But that was limited production. So will Porsche ever move the engine in their iconic sports car between the axles? If they do so, will it still be a 911? Or is such a change monumental enough to warrant a new designation?

2) Multivalve engine for the Corvette

Ahh, pushrods. Sure, they allow for a lightweight, compact engine that delivers power equal to anything its size, if you take size to mean external dimensions and not displacement. And a big displacement mill can lope along on the highway at less than 2000 RPM and return surprising gas mileage. But pushrods REALLY ANNOY automotive writers and keyboard jockeys the world over, and that's what  matters. The ZR-1 had a 32v all-aluminum motor, but again, that was a special edition. Rumors are that Corvette engineers flirted with forked rockers for a 3-valve LS7 before deciding to rely on simpler hot rodding tricks to pony up 505 horsepower for the Z06. So there's no apparent institutional aversion to a multivalve 'Vette. And though it might be argued that the one thing the current car doesn't need is more power, when has that ever stopped them? So will we see a multivalve  engine in the base Corvette in the near future?

3) Sayonara symmetric all wheel drive, aloha prop shafts

Subaru and Audi aren't abandoning all wheel drive any time soon. But the symmetric approach where the engine is placed entirely in front of the front axle causes packaging and weight distribution headaches. The more conventional approach of running a prop shaft forward from the transmission has its own set of packaging issues, including routing the mess around steering and exhaust, and often routing an intermediate shaft through the oil pan. Nevertheless, a lot of car makers have chosen the latter route. Will Subie follow suit?


I would love to here what everyone thinks on this. Nothing is inevitable, and none of these may transpire. But vote on what you think most likely. I'm withholding my vote for now, though I may have already given it away with the biased commentary above.

-Stephen M

[Allan L]

and how about:
4. Front-wheel-drive?
The widespread use of this system is driven by cheapness despite the physics and its inability to cope with Real Power without fancy aids such as traction control.
To demonstrate the point, in saloon car racing here in the UK, rear-drive and four-wheel-drive cars were forced to carry ballast to give the front-drivers a chance, and they are no longer allowed to take part.
If front drive were as wonderful as its protagonists claim, it would have been used successfully in open competition.

[Otto Puzzell]

Front wheel drive's primary advantage is packaging efficiency, so I don't see it going away for small, inexpensive cars anytime soon.

[Stephen M]

We have a winner! Maybe....

Word on the street is that Audi's new MLP (Modular Longitudinal Platform) which serves as the basis for the A4/A5 and S models thereof moves the powertrain significantly aft of the front axle, improving weight distribution and allowing for shorter front overhangs. I'd love to see a detailed technical cutaway, since the details aren't exactly clear. The numerous articles I found described "moving the front differential ahead of the torque converter", but made it sound like the whole shebang was still in the same housing, which is an intriguing proposition.

Here's a mildly illuminating cutaway:



Further bulletins as events warrant.

[Joao Gois]

I know Porsche had planned to release the current 997 with the mid-rear engine layout but delayed it to the future 998 because it wasn't still quite ready. But it's a fact the RS 4 has the engin way behind the front axle so I'm a bit undecided about it, although I voted mid-engined 911...