Weight distribution can be the same but polar moment of inertia may not, and engine placement affects both.

For sportcars you want a rearward weight bias in order to have more traction, more balance upon breaking, and less understeer. Something a front engined car will likely not achieve.

As to the Polar moment of inertia, sportcars want the least posible for more agility and quicker direction changes. Mid-engine car being the best in this sense becuase its main "mass" is closer to the middle of the car. Just like bostonmini explained with the dumbell example.


That said, the effect of engine placement is not everything, its only another factor of the whole package. In performance, the engine placement does not dictate everyting. However in feel and sensation the car transmits the driver, its is a bigger factor, thats why to me its more important. Just like RWD vs AWD; they can have similar performance on paper and tract, but the experience is quite diferent.

So no matter how much a front engined car is designed to miminc a mid-engined car's characteristics, its still a front engined car, in handling and especially in feel.

Still, speaks very well of the maker to pay special attention to try to move the engine rearward as posible to try to aproximate the weight distribution to a mid or rear engine platform. Ferrari has already done this with the F612, inspite of being a front engined car, it has somewhat of a rear ward weight bias due to this. Maserati has even doen it with their 4-door salon. The downside is that the cabin is more cramped.