Automobiles with this drivetrain configuration energy solely two wheels, sometimes the rear pair, although some fashions make the most of front-wheel drive. A pickup truck with energy delivered solely to the rear axle represents a standard instance. This technique contrasts with four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the place engine energy is distributed to all 4 wheels.
This drivetrain setup presents benefits in particular contexts. Typically, these autos are extra fuel-efficient resulting from lowered mechanical complexity and decrease weight. They may also be cheaper to buy and keep. Traditionally, this easier design was the usual for light-duty vans and continues to serve a good portion of the market, significantly for purposes the place enhanced traction isn’t recurrently required.