Mid-engine design in the context of Pagani Zonda

In automotive design, an RMR, or rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout is one in which the rear wheels are driven by an engine placed with its center of gravity in front of the rear axle, and thus right behind the passenger compartment. Nowadays, such cars are more frequently called 'RMR', to acknowledge that certain sporty or performance-focused front-engine cars are also referred to as "mid-engine", the main engine mass being located behind the front axle. Until the early 1990s, RMR-layout cars were just called MR, or mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout), because the nuance between distinctly front-engined vs. front mid-engined cars often remained rather vague.

In contrast to the fully rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, the center of mass of the engine is in front of the rear axle. This layout is typically chosen for its favorable weight distribution. Placing the car's heaviest component within the wheelbase minimizes its rotational inertia around the vertical axis, facilitating turn-in or yaw angle. Also, a near 50/50% weight distribution, with a slight rear weight bias, gives a very favorable balance, with significant weight being placed on the driven rear axle under acceleration, while distributing the weight fairly evenly under braking. This arrangement promotes optimal use of all four wheels to decelerate the car rapidly as well.

The Pagani Huayra (WHY-rah, Italian pronunciation: [ˈwaira]) is a mid-engine sports car produced by Italian sports car manufacturer Pagani, superseding the company's previous offering, the Zonda. It is named after Wayra Tata, the Quechua (indigenous South American) wind god. The Huayra was named "The Hypercar of the Year 2012" by Top Gear magazine. On 11 February 2015 it was reported that the Pagani Huayra had been sold out. The Huayra was limited to just 100 units as part of Pagani's agreement with engine supplier Mercedes-AMG.

The Pagani Huayra was officially debuted online with several pictures in a press release on 25 January 2011. The official world debut was at the headquarters of Pirelli in Milan in February 2011.

The Pagani Utopia is a mid-engine sports car produced by the Italian manufacturer Pagani. It was developed under the 'C10' codename and presented on 12 September 2022 at the Teatro Lirico in Milan. It is Pagani's third car model, superseding the Pagani Huayra, with more power and a manual gearbox option. The internal model code is C10; succeeding the C8 (Zonda) and C9 (Huayra).

A roadster (also spider, spyder) is an open two-seat car with emphasis on sporting appearance or character. Initially an American term for a two-seat car with no weather protection, its usage has spread internationally and has evolved to include two-seat convertibles.

The roadster was also a style of racing car driven in United States Auto Club (USAC) Championship Racing, including the Indianapolis 500, in the 1950s and 1960s. This type of racing car was superseded by rear-mid-engine cars.

The Ferrari 458 Italia (Type F142) is an Italian mid-engine sports car produced by Ferrari. The 458 is the successor of the F430, and was first officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was succeeded by the 488 GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta) in 2015.

The Lamborghini Aventador (Spanish pronunciation: [aβentaˈðoɾ]) is a mid-engine, two-seater sports car manufactured and marketed by Lamborghini from 2011 until 2022. Named after a prominent Spanish fighting bull that fought in Zaragoza, Aragón, in 1993, the Aventador succeeded the Murciélago and was manufactured in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy.