The 1959 British Mini popularized the transverse-engine, front-wheel-drive layout.
Designed by Alec Issigonis for the British Motor Corporation, the Mini placed its four-cylinder engine transversely at the front and drove the front wheels. This arrangement saved space because the engine and transmission occupied a compact package across the car’s width. The result was unusually generous passenger room for a small exterior.
The Mini’s wheels were pushed toward the corners, improving stability and creating a spacious cabin. Its compact engineering influenced generations of later small cars, although the Mini was not the first vehicle ever to combine front-wheel drive with a transverse engine.
The original cars were sold under several BMC and later British Leyland brands, including Austin and Morris. “Mini” refers both to the model line and, in later years, to the brand associated with BMW.