transaxle

noun trans·ax·le \ tran(t)s-ˈak-səl , tranz- \

Definition of transaxle

: a unit that consists of a combination of a transmission and an axle's differential gear used especially in front-wheel-drive automobiles

Recent Examples of transaxle from the Web

These three Civics cover the $22,000-to-$35,000 zone right at the heart of the affordable new-car market, and each comes equipped with a crisp-shifting six-speed manual transaxle.

— Car and Driver, "How the Sportiest Honda Civics Compare on Price, Performance, and More [Infographic]," 26 Jan. 2018
Instead of the former six-speed, the V6 is coupled to a new eight-speed automatic transaxle gearbox with refined logic control that optimizes the sedan’s speed, engine speed and torque engagement.

— jeff yip, Houston Chronicle, "Toyota’s all-new 2019 Avalon hits dealerships in May," 28 Apr. 2018
View 40 Photos In Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, one motor is geared directly to the gasoline engine with a clutch connecting the two to the transaxle, while another motor (the traction motor for most conditions) is geared to the differential.

— bengt halvorson, Car and Driver, "2019 Honda Insight: The 50-MPG Civic Hybrid Returns," 27 Mar. 2018
Hybrid all-wheel-drive models, which in Toyota’s world typically feature a two-motor hybrid transaxle powering the front axle and an electric motor powering the rear axle, will get a more powerful rear-axle motor in the new E-Four AWD system.

— alexander stoklosa, Car and Driver, "Toyota’s New Dynamic Force Engine and Novel Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission Explained," 28 Feb. 2018
This and the low center of gravity were not achieved by using a transaxle, Tada confirmed, adding that hitting these targets was the most difficult part of the project.

— erik johnson, Car and Driver, "More on the Reborn Toyota Supra: A Manual Remains Possible, a V-8 Fits, and Much More," 6 Mar. 2018
Toyota will bring assembly of hybrid transaxles—made up of an electric motor, generator and power split device—to the U.S. for the first time.

— adrienne roberts, WSJ, "Toyota to Start Making Hybrid Engines in U.S.," 26 Sep. 2017
Under its skin, the GT R is built like a barbell, with the biturbo 4.0-liter V8 up front and 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle in the rear.

— dan neil, WSJ, "Mercedes-AMG GT R: A Race Car for Regular People," 6 Oct. 2017
Up front, a 46-hp electric motor is sandwiched between the 313-hp, supercharged-and-turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and the eight-speed automatic transaxle.

— steve siler, Car and Driver, "2018 Volvo XC60 T8 Plug-In Hybrid," 31 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'transaxle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.