Etuveto

Etuveto, in automotive terms, refers to a drivetrain configuration in which the engine's power is sent to the front wheels. The front wheels are responsible for propulsion, while the rear wheels are not driven. In most modern passenger cars, the engine is mounted transversely and coupled to a transaxle that houses the transmission and differential for the front axle.

Power delivery is through constant-velocity joints to the front wheels; the typical arrangement yields a compact, flat floor allowing more interior space. CV joints and a front differential are part of the front drivetrain; some models integrate all-wheel drive with a secondary rear drivetrain actuated when needed.

History and prevalence: Front-wheel drive emerged in the early twentieth century with pioneering designs such as the Citroën Traction Avant (1934) and later became the standard in mass-market cars from the 1980s onward. It is now the most common drivetrain layout for compact and family cars worldwide due to packaging efficiency and cost advantages. Some modern FWD cars do include all-wheel drive as an optional system for enhanced traction.

Advantages and disadvantages: Advantages include more interior space, lighter weight, simpler drivetrain, and lower production costs, as well as better packaging and ride in many conditions. Disadvantages include understeer tendencies during aggressive cornering, torque steer in high-power models, reduced dynamic handling compared with rear- or mid-engine configurations at the limit, and potential noise or vibration from drivetrain hardware; maintenance considerations like CV boot wear.