In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine, also sometimes known as a north-south engine, is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back. Most rear wheel drive vehicles use this engine orientation, while most front wheel drive vehicles use a side-to-side transverse arrangement. Engineering is the application of science to the needs of humanity. ... It has been suggested that Car engine be merged into this article or section. ... Crankshaft Continental engine marine crankshafts, 1942 Crankshaft is also the name of a comic strip about an old, curmudgeonly bus driver. ... Vehicles are non-living means of transportation. ... Rear wheel drive was a common form of engine/transmission layout used in automobiles throughout the 20th century. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... The term, transverse means side-to-side as opposed to longitudinal which means front-to-back. In automotive engineering, the term, transverse refers to an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle. ...

A common example of a longitudinal engine is the Boxer engine. This is a design where the cylinders are horizontally opposed, or facing each other. Common cars that share this design are: Alfa Romeo Alfasud (Flat-4), Alfa Romeo 145/146 (Flat-4), the Subaru Impreza (Flat-4) and the Porsche Boxster (Flat-6). A flat engine is an internal combustion engine in which the cylinders are arranged in two banks on either side of a single crankshaft so that the motion of all the pistons is in a single plane. ... The Alfa Romeo Alfasud was a compact car made by Alfa Romeo of Italy from 1971 to 1989. ... A flat-4 is a four cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a flat configuration. ... This article also applies to the Alfa Romeo 146. ... A flat-4 is a four cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a flat configuration. ... For the high-performance versions of the Impreza, see Subaru Impreza WRX and Subaru Impreza WRX STi The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that was first introduced by Subaru in 1993. ... A flat-4 is a four cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a flat configuration. ... The Porsche Boxster is a convertible sports car released in late 1996. ... The flat-6 engine of the Honda Valkyrie motorcycle A flat-6 is a 6 cylinder configuration of a flat engine or boxer engine. ...