is 4wd not a better alternative to 2wd in the front or back. 4wd has more traction so it would make acceleration faster would it not? if so why do nascars, drag cars, etc not use it as opposed to rear/front wheel drive?
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Car enthusiast here. TLDR – 4WD helps with traction, not with raw speed. It actually makes you slower and often less nimble than FWD/RWD once you’re moving due to added weight.
Detailed explanation –
4 wheel drive means power is sent to all four wheels (obviously). On a prepared drag surface where the front/rear tires get traction anyway, 4wd actually makes the vehicle SLOWER because of the added weight of the drive system.
4wd also makes the vehicle slower once it’s moving, again, because of the added weight. I had a front wheel drive VW Jetta GLI with 228 horsepower that would beat AWD Subaru WRXs (258hp) in a roll race (both cars start at 40mph and floor it) because the WRX’s AWD system made it heavier.
There’s also the issue of engine packaging. In drag cars, the engine is behind the driver and the chassis is long and narrow. Power would have to be sent to the front wheels somehow, and it can’t be done wirelessly. There is nowhere to stick the driveshaft to make it happen, and the front wheels of top fuel dragsters are too narrow to get traction anyway.
Where 4wd shines is off road and in adverse conditions.
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