Etuvetoisia

Etuvetoisia, or etuvetoinen ajoneuvo, are vehicles whose propulsion is delivered to the front wheels. The term is commonly used for passenger cars to distinguish them from rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive layouts.

In practice, etuvetoiset autot usually have the engine mounted transversely at the front and a transaxle that sends power to the front wheels, a packaging choice that frees space for passengers and cargo.

Historically, etuveto became widely adopted in the mid-20th century, with early examples such as the Citroën Traction Avant in the 1930s and the Mini in 1959 popularizing transverse front-wheel drive. Since then, etuvetoisia have dominated mass-market passenger cars, especially in the compact and mid-size segments.

Advantages include improved interior space for a given exterior size, typically better traction in poor weather due to weight over the driven axle, and simpler production with fewer drivetrain components. Disadvantages historically included less favorable handling balance and torque steer in high-powered models, though modern systems have mitigated these issues.

Today etuvetoisia are common across many brands and body styles. They are often paired with optional all-wheel drive, which can send power to the rear wheels when conditions require. In Finnish automotive terminology, etuvetoisten contrasts with takavetoinen (rear-wheel drive) and nelivetoiset (all-wheel drive).