The 8's front/mid-engine design seems to be a unique solution in the automotive world. That's one of the benefits of the small rotary engine -near perfect weight distribution. Are there any other cars that have this engine layout? Didn't the RX-7 have a similar design?

 

your question is so verbose it sounds like spam, yet at the same time its a legitimate question. haha.

the front/mid engine is unique because piston engines are too large to fit behind the front axle.

 

Al RX-7s have the front mid engine, as well as some other manufactures with piston engines have done it.

The following have Front Mid-Engine layouts (where the block of the engine sits behind the front axle line, and the engine sits in the front half of the vehicle):

Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005 up)
BMW Z4
Chevrolet Corvette (4th gen up)
Chevrolet Camaro (2nd gen up)
Dodge Viper
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Honda S2000
Maserati Quattroporte
Mazda MX-5 (NC (third generation Miata))
Mazda RX-7
Mazda RX-8
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Nissan FM platform vehicles (eg V35 Nissan Skyline, 350Z, 370Z, G35 coupe, G37 coupe, G35 sedan, FX SUV, EX SUV)
Nissan PM platform (GT-R)
Pontiac Firebird (2nd gen up)
Porsche 924
Porsche 928
Porsche 944
Porsche 968
Reliant 3 wheelers
Suzuki Cappuccino
And of course the infamous Toyota Van (sometimes called the Toyota Vanwagon).

 

Wow, Icemark, ask and ye shall receive. Thanks for the great info!
I guess the 8 isn't so exclusive regarding the engine layout. But notice it's in very good company; a lot of those cars are performance oriented, many of them supercars.
I cheecked on the Nissan site for the 350Z. They show how they've pushed the engine back to achieve a 53/47 weight distribution. The Z's engine doesn't nearly sit as mid-mounted as the 8s.

But the Cappuccino????

 

v8s and v6s i can see. they are relatively short, square engines.

but the straight 6 of the z4? that surprised me.

 

the rx7's positioning of the engine is higher and further forward than the rx8's.

 

The Cappuccino has a small 3 cyl... half of a V6 in essence.

 

actually some inline 4's as well with the S2k, 924/944/968, and Toyota Van

If you look at the Z4, it really has a long front fender between the door and the wheel well. I know that BMW based that car off of the older Z8, so I am suprised that the Z8 has it's motor so far forward.

edit< and remember the Miata, only on its third gen (the NC) is a FMR, since it shares sub body with the RX-8 (FE).

 

WOW! i learned something today....thanks for the interesting info

 

v8 has 4 cylinders in a row, like an inline4, so i figured that went without mentioning. its just the v8 has 2 rows of them. s2k is horizontally opposed i believe though.

but seriously...the z4?



that looks like 4 cylinders are behind the struts and 2 stick out (look at the intake manifold.) that doesnt look front/midship at all. especially compared to this s2000.

 

maybe it is only the 4 cyl Z4 that we don't get in america, just going off of what BMW claims

 

yeah there are some that have the near 50/50 weight distribution but none as sexy as the 8