Most new cars that you can purchase today are equipped with
front-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive simply means the car uses
only the front wheels to pull the car along. It also means the
car is steered by the front wheels. This feature was designed to
make cars run more efficiently, as it's simpler for a car to get
the engine power to the pair of wheels on the same end of the
car as the engine. Less distance and fewer parts between the
engine and the driving wheels can reduce production costs and,
ultimately, lower the price of the car. Front-wheel drive is
also particularly advantageous for improving traction on
slippery or snow-packed roads, as it puts the engine weight
directly over the driving wheels. A major disadvantage of front-
wheel drive, however, is that the car puts the stress of
steering, braking, and acceleration on only two wheels. Cars
equipped with four-wheel drive use all four wheels to pull the
car along. Though much more expensive, these cars usually
perform better in all types of weather an