When choosing a pickup truck, the numerous choices on the market make it difficult for consumers to choose. Today we will show you the difference between longitudinal and transverse engines.

The placement method is different

Let me first talk about the longitudinal engine form used by most pickup trucks, which is actually easy to understand. You can also imagine the engine as a cuboid with its output axis parallel to the long side. If the long side of the engine (that is, the output shaft) is perpendicular to the axle, in the same direction as the car is going, then it is a longitudinal engine.

After understanding the longitudinal arrangement, the transverse arrangement is better understood. If its output shaft is parallel to the axle, which is equivalent to placing the engine horizontally in the nacelle, then it is a transverse engine. At present, most family cars and SUVs use transverse engines. An easy-to-understand explanation is that most popular four-wheel drive vehicles also use transverse engines. As shown in the figure below, the output shaft of the engine is parallel to the axle.

The structure of the engine compartment is different

Since the engine and the gearbox are closely connected, when discussing the horizontal and vertical arrangement of the engine, the engine should not only be considered, but also the gearbox should be taken into consideration. Therefore, these two arrangements will directly affect the design of the engine compartment. Common pickups use a longitudinal engine, and the gearbox part is relatively large and extends toward the rear axle. In order to prevent the gearbox from intruding too much into the cockpit, the engine compartment of a pickup with a vertical engine is generally longer, and the front of the car looks very large.

However, the volume of the gearbox of a transverse engine is relatively smaller than that of a longitudinal engine. The engine and gearbox are placed horizontally in the cabin, and the front and rear widths are narrower, accounting for a smaller proportion of the body, resulting in the front of the car being smaller. It's not that long, and it tends to be more like the front length of a general family SUV.

Suspension system difference

The volume of the engine + gearbox is different, and the structure of the front suspension of the pickup truck with the horizontal and vertical engines may also be different. The transverse width of the longitudinally mounted engine is narrow, and there will be a surplus on both sides of the engine compartment, which can leave more space for the wheel arches and front suspension. The utilization value of these spaces is very high, and more complex front suspension systems can be designed, such as multi-link front suspension, double-wishbone front suspension, etc. space fit. In addition, there is more space in the wheel arches, and larger wheels and tires can also be designed to allow the pickup to have better passing ability.

The transverse engine + gearbox will occupy more horizontal space in the cabin, squeezing the proportion of the suspension system and tires, so many pickups with transverse engines adopt the MacPherson front suspension that takes up less space, and also use the Smaller wheels and tires.

Advantages of vertical and horizontal

Therefore, these two engine arrangements have their own advantages.

Since the output end of the engine + gearbox has been extended to the middle of the vehicle, the pickup truck with longitudinal engine is very suitable for the design of rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive systems.

In addition, since the longitudinal length of the front can extend forward, theoretically no matter how long the engine is, it can be accommodated. This can accommodate some engines with large displacement and multiple cylinders, such as V-type 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder engines, or in-line 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder engines.

Since the output end of the transverse engine is parallel to the front axle, it is more suitable for front-drive models, which reduces power loss and is more economical. Moreover, it does not occupy the space of the passenger compartment, which leaves more room for the cockpit and cargo box.

The difference in model positioning

The reason for the design of the horizontal and vertical engines, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various designs, will be related to the positioning of the pickup. At present, most of the common pickups are designed with longitudinal engines. The main reason is that companies have not given up the heavy-duty cargo capacity based on rear-drive, because this is one of the most important reasons for the versatility of pickups.

However, more and more pickup trucks with transverse engines are appearing in the market, which also indicates a new trend. Not only in China, but also in North America, where the pickup truck market is mature, many high-quality transverse engine pickups have emerged. This kind of pickup truck with a transverse engine is more suitable for some light-load and household scenarios, and it is also more suitable for young consumers.

Conclusion

With the increasing number of load-bearing pickup trucks, pickup trucks with transverse engines will also become more common. It is not ruled out that there will be a situation where two types of pickup trucks will compete against each other in the future. However, the positioning of pickup trucks with transverse and longitudinal engines is different. How to distinguish and choose, the content of this article can be used as a reference.

Read More:

2022 China Best Diesel Pickup Truck Manufacturers (with best-selling model

2022 Latest Guide: 8 Top Tips for Buying a Pickup Truck

China Electric Pickup Truck: Buying Guide 2022

TOP 9 China Electric Pickup Brands

Top 10 China Pickup Brands 2021 ( Sales List )