A transverse engine is an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle. Most front wheel drive vehicles use this engine orientation, while most rear wheel drive vehicles use a front-to-back longtitudinal arrangement. This is also sometimes called an east-west engine. An engine is something that produces some effect from a given input. ... Crankshaft Continental engine marine crankshafts, 1942 Crankshaft is also the name of a comic strip about an old, curmudgeonly bus driver. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern automobiles, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Rear wheel drive was a common form of engine/transmission layout used in automobiles throughout the 20th century. ... In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back. ...