Sometimes, a car design sparks a question that just won’t leave your mind. For me, it was a simple yet intriguing one: how many rear mid-engined cars have actually managed to incorporate a somewhat functional back seat? It’s a challenging feat of engineering and design, and those production cars that successfully pulled it off truly deserve recognition. So, let’s delve into the fascinating world of mid-engine cars with back seats.
To be perfectly clear, we’re focusing on rear mid-engine configurations, not front-mid engine vehicles. We’re talking about engines placed in the middle of the car, behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle.
Before we dive into specific models, let’s define what we mean by engine placement. In combustion-engine cars, there are three primary locations for the engine: front, middle, and rear. The “middle” category further divides into front-mid and rear-mid.
The most effective way to categorize these positions is by using the axle centerlines as reference points. If the engine sits atop or mostly in front of the front axle, it’s a front-engine car. If the engine is situated behind the front axle centerline, we classify it as front-mid. Crucially for our discussion, if the engine is positioned just forward of the rear axle, still residing between the front and rear axles, it’s a rear-mid engine car. Finally, if the engine is directly above or behind the rear axle, it’s considered rear-engine. Visualizing this? Here’s a diagram to clarify:
Enginelocations
As illustrated, the rear-mid engine layout presents a significant challenge when it comes to incorporating a rear seat. This is because the engine typically occupies the very space where you would naturally place a back seat. This packaging conflict is why the vast majority of rear mid-engined cars are sports cars, often two-seaters, like the Toyota MR2, Pontiac Fiero, or Porsche 914.
Despite this inherent challenge, some automakers have ingeniously cracked the code, creating genuine four-seater, two-row cars with the engine firmly in the mid-rear position. It’s a remarkable achievement of design and engineering.
The successful examples of mid-engine cars with back seats can be broadly categorized into two groups: the “Unquestionables” and the “Borderlines.” The “Unquestionables” are those where the engine is undeniably in the middle, significantly ahead of the rear axle. These are the cars that most clearly demonstrate the mid-engine, four-seater concept. Let’s explore some of these remarkable vehicles.
Zundapp
First, we must acknowledge the Zündapp Janus. This quirky and clever microcar arguably represents the purest form of a mid-engine, two-row seating arrangement. Resembling two BMW Isettas joined back-to-back, the Janus features an engine positioned almost precisely in the middle of the car – perhaps the only true “mid-mid” engine car ever produced. It undeniably offers two rows of bench seats, even if the occupants face away from each other! This is arguably the most direct, albeit unconventional, solution to the mid-engine, four-seater puzzle.
Mondial
The Ferrari Mondial stands out in this category, particularly as it might be the only mid-engine four-seater to offer a convertible top. A truly handsome machine, Ferrari performed an impressive feat of packaging to fit an engine and two rear seats just ahead of the axle. Adding to its practicality, the Mondial even boasts twin trunks.
Lotusevora
The Lotus Evora is a more contemporary example and one of the few on this list that delivers a genuinely engaging driving experience. The rear seats are indeed usable, at least for children, making it a surprisingly practical sports car. Its compact size further highlights the packaging ingenuity, especially considering the transverse engine layout, which aids in space efficiency.
Gemera
Koenigsegg’s approach with the Gemera is rather straightforward: enlarge the vehicle. The Gemera is not a small car, and its substantial dimensions are key to comfortably accommodating a pair of rear seats while maintaining a mid-engine configuration. This grand tourer prioritizes both performance and passenger space.
Merak
The Maserati Merak is another aesthetically pleasing example, and perhaps the most surprising in terms of rear-seat packaging. It simply doesn’t look like a car that would accommodate rear passengers, yet it does, offering seats that appear almost genuinely usable. The distinctive flying buttress C-pillar design also contributes to its visual appeal.
Urraco
The Lamborghini Urraco, another Italian masterpiece, reinforces the trend that even renowned mid-engine supercar manufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Lotus have tackled the challenge of incorporating rear seats. The Urraco, similar to the Koenigsegg Gemera, achieves this partially through its larger dimensions, offering a more spacious cabin.
Hondaz
Honda, surprisingly, has a history of unusual mid-rear-engined two-row cars. The Honda Z, a remarkable Kei-class car, stands out with its four-wheel drive, a charmingly small front trunk (“frunk”), and a distinctive, sassy design.
Vamos
The Honda Vamos, often overlooked, is another example of Honda’s unconventional approach. This small, van-like vehicle also features a mid-engine layout and two rows of seating, further demonstrating Honda’s willingness to explore unconventional designs.
That covers the “Unquestionable” category. Now, let’s move to the “Borderlines.” These cars are technically mid-rear engined, but their engine packaging is so compact that they often blur the lines between mid- and rear-engined. However, according to the axle rule, the bulk of their engine sits just ahead of the rear axle, classifying them as mid-engine.
These “Borderline” examples are typically small city cars, a segment that has historically favored rear-engine configurations for space efficiency.
Borderline
Cars like the original Fiat 500, Fiat 600, Renault Twingo Mk1, and even the Subaru Libero fall into this category. These vehicles share similar traits: somewhat boxy, one-box city car designs with small engines positioned low, beneath the rear floor, and crucially, just ahead of the rear axles. They are incredibly close to being rear-engined, but a closer inspection reveals that the engine’s primary mass is indeed forward of the axle line, even if the rear overhang is minimal, extending the engine compartment almost to the very rear of the car.
These “borderline” mid-engine city cars are true marvels of space-efficient packaging. This layout is remarkably clever and practical, and it’s a shame we don’t see it more often in modern vehicles.
For much of automotive history, the two-row mid-rear car remained a rare novelty. However, with the rise of electric vehicles and their skateboard chassis designs, a motor mounted just ahead of the rear axle could become increasingly common, perhaps even the most common drivetrain layout. This configuration offers an excellent solution to packaging challenges, particularly for EVs.
As we potentially move towards a future dominated by this layout, it becomes even more important to appreciate and acknowledge those pioneering automakers who, even with the constraints of bulky, noisy combustion engines, figured out how to cleverly integrate a second row of seating while sharing space between the axles with the drivetrain. They were truly ahead of their time.
Did we miss any notable mid-engine cars with back seats, in either the “Unquestionable” or “Borderline” categories? Let us know in the comments below!
