The invention relates to a drive unit for motor vehicles, comprising an
internal combustion engine, a transmission which is mounted downstream
therefrom and is provided with an integrated differential, and a
separating clutch that is disposed between the internal combustion engine
and the transmission. The differential is driven via a bevel wheel and a
bevel-gear drive comprising a drive pinion on an output shaft of the
transmission. In order to create a drive unit that is advantageous
regarding structure and efficiency, the bevel wheel (48) of the
differential (16) is placed laterally from the separating clutch (26)
from a vertical perspective and partly protrudes (A) therefrom in an
axial direction.