<P> After the Arab oil embargo of 1973 and the 1979 fuel crises, a majority of American FR vehicles (station wagons, luxury sedans) were phased out for the FF layout--this trend would spawn the SUV / van conversion market . Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, most American companies set as a priority the eventual removal of rear - wheel drive from their mainstream and luxury lineup . Chrysler went 100% FF by 1990 and GM's American production went entirely FF by 1997 except the Firebird, Corvette and Camaro . Ford's full - size cars (the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car) have always been FR, as was the Lincoln LS . In 2008, Hyundai introduced its own rear - wheel - drive car, the Hyundai Genesis . </P> <P> In Australia, FR cars have remained popular throughout this period, with the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon having consistently strong sales . In Europe, front - wheel drive was popularized by small cars like the Mini, Renault 5 and Volkswagen Golf and adopted for virtually all mainstream cars . </P> <P> Upscale marques like Mercedes - Benz, BMW, and Jaguar remained mostly independent of this trend, and retained a lineup mostly or entirely made up of FR cars . Japanese mainstream marques such as Toyota and Nissan became mostly or entirely FF early on, while reserving for their latterly conceived luxury divisions (Lexus and Infiniti, respectively) a mostly FR lineup . While many automakers lost sight of the true sports car, Mazda introduced the highly successful Miata roadster in 1990, a true two - seater sports car using the traditional FR layout which led to other compaines such as General Motors to produce a FR sports car based on their Kappa platform . </P> <P> Currently most cars are FF, including virtually all front - engine economy cars, though FR cars are making a return as an alternative to large sport - utility vehicles . In North America, GM returned to production of the FR luxury car with the 2003 Cadillac CTS, and with the removal of the DTS, Cadillac will be entirely FR (with four - wheel drive available as an option on several models) by 2010, and the 2010 Camaro returns as a FR sports car . Chrysler returned its full - size cars to this layout with the Chrysler 300 and related models . Despite Ford's 2011 discontinuation of the rear - wheel drive Panther Platform cars, they are seeking to develop a new FR replacement . Nissan is also bringing back the Silvia to their line - up, Mazda is said to be releasing a new rotary - powered FR car in their RX line - up, and Toyota has produced the FT - 86, an affordable RWD car which is the successor to the AE86 . Hyundai introduced their affordable RWD car being the 2009 Hyundai Genesis and 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe . </P>

Bmw rear wheel drive or front wheel drive
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