hi there! just a quick question..... is the MINI front or rear wheel drive? we have read all the manuals and can't find it.... did we miss it? thanks for your input... have a great day!!

 

The MINI is front wheel drive but its hard to tell on the move thanks to equal length halfshafts up front (no torgue steer) and BMW suspension in the rear. Motor On!

 

Front wheel minimonkeygrrl....great name!

His ,Chile Red all over / Hers, EB UJ on top

 

Front wheel only. :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

Not only is the MINI front wheel drive, but it was the original mini that started the whole FWD and transverse mounted engine thing back in 1959. A Turk by the name of Alec Issigonis designed the mini while having lunch on a table napkin. Little did he know that his simple design would revolutionize the automotive industry. Not long ago a contest was held to vote for the number 1 car of the 20th century. Our beloved mini came in second place. Ford's Model T came in 1st and the VW Beetle came in 5th if I remember correctly. Oh listen to me rambling on. To answer your question, yes. Mini/MINI's are FWD

 

Mine is rear wheel drive when I drive backwards.

 

I think he got the point that it uis front wheel drive from the first person that told him. The others just reinforced the point I guess.

 

right on everybody!! thanks for the info and the juicy MINI fact to impress my friends with! have a great day!

 

>>Front wheel minimonkeygrrl....great name!
>>

 

"Not only is the MINI front wheel drive, but it was the original mini that started the whole FWD and transverse mounted engine thing back in 1959."

That's half right (well maybe a little more than half (just so you get your bar facts right.)

 

Hey, my MINI is left wheel drive.

But that's not what you meant, was it? :smile:

 

There is no such thing as a silly question...

 

No wheel drive in neutral, coasting downhill at blazing speeds.

 

>>"Not only is the MINI front wheel drive, but it was the original mini that started the whole FWD and transverse mounted engine thing back in 1959."
>>
>>That's half right (well maybe a little more than half (just so you get your bar facts right.)

I think the Cord was still a north south mounted monter instead of the east west mounted motor the MINI and most other FWD cars have.

I know it was the first car to use CV joints.

 

That is correct, the Cord used a longitudinal engine, and to my knowledge the Mini used the first transverse engine. The reason the Cord had so many driveline problems was mostly because of the complex (for the day) propulsion system. I saw that Cord at the Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana, it's cool stuff. Cars back in the day were BIG and massive (woah!)

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

Cheers,
Ryan