Brdman*

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60to0in0seconds

Because chicks dig guys with heavy front ends...

qfrog Ti20

The design of our transmission and AWD system requires that the engine sit in front of the front axle. Since the transmission is shaped with 3 outputs left/right/rear it needs the front output flanges to be in line with the wheels up front, that leaves the engine hanging out beyond the front of the gearbox.

If we had RWD only then the engine and gearbox could be shifted rearwards to reduce front overhang and to improve weight balance, but you cant use a torsen differential in that application.

VAP

Primarily because you cant drive the front axles from the bellhousing/flywheel area

Merkin

only horizontal or rwd engine can sit back farther

MikTip

You should see a B6 S4 V8 crammed up in the engine compartment! ;O)

Brdman*

packed like sardines

thrash

for handling and for passenger room.

but the maxium amt forward they can go is dictated by the front-to-rear position of the gearbox on the longitudinal platform cars.. and the gearbox needs the engine infront of it..

so the engines get pushed way forward, and the front wheels are still too far back (compare the B5 to the E46 BMW 3 series re: front wheel position)

Note also that you can get an AWD BMW E46.. so it's not an intrinsic awd problem.. it's one of the tradeoffs in the approach audi has taken with their longitudinal engined quattros.

The early AWD BMWs (E30 325iX) had their engine, tranny, and wheels in the same spots as the RWD version, and a transfer case off the back of the tranny that sent a shaft forward to a front diff, with one half shaft going through a cut out in the oil pan.

CvTech

or like mexicans in a van