What component in front wheel drive cars combines the differential and transmission into a single part?

In front-wheel-drive vehicles, the transaxle plays a crucial role by integrating both the transmission and the differential into a single assembly. This design is particularly beneficial for front-wheel-drive systems as it optimizes space and weight distribution in the vehicle. The transaxle allows the engine's power to be transferred to the wheels while also enabling the differential to provide torque to the wheels, allowing them to rotate at different speeds during turns.

In terms of vehicle mechanics, the transaxle typically houses the transmission gears, which dictate the vehicle's speed and torque, and the differential mechanism, which ensures that the wheels turn at variable speeds, enhancing handling and stability. This is a streamlined solution that simplifies the vehicle's construction compared to having separate components, resulting in a more efficient power train design.

The other options, while they pertain to various aspects of automotive engineering, do not fulfill the same function as the transaxle. For instance, the torque converter is responsible for transmitting power from the engine to the transmission, ensuring smooth acceleration but does not combine the differential and transmission. The bell housing is a protective casing that houses the connection between the engine and the transmission, and the constant velocity joint is part of the drive shaft that allows for flexible movement but does