List of Volkswagen Group platforms
The German automotive concern, Volkswagen Group has, since the 1970s, developed a series of shared automobile platforms for their motor vehicles.[1][2]
Originally, these were identified using a simple alphanumeric system. The first letter prefix indicates the car classification or physical size (A, B, C or D - for 'traditional' cars); followed by a number to enumerate different generations of the same class. However, more recent platforms have formally departed from this convention, although the older alphanumeric codes continue to be used informally.
These platforms may be used by one or more marques of the Group.
Platform codes
Original system
| platform name | used for | notable examples | comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| A00 | city cars | Volkswagen Lupo, SEAT Arosa | This platform never developed any subsequent evolutions or generations. |
| A0 series | supermini cars | Audi 50, Volkswagen Polo, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Córdoba, Škoda Fabia | As of 2010, now in its fifth generation. |
| A series[2] | small family cars / compact cars | Audi A3, Audi Q3, Audi TT, VW Golf, VW Jetta, VW Eos, VW Tiguan, VW Touran, VW Scirocco, SEAT León, SEAT Toledo, SEAT Altea, Škoda Octavia | The most prolific platform, currently in its seventh generation. |
| B series[2] | mid-size cars | Audi 80, Audi 90, Audi A4, Volkswagen Passat, SEAT Exeo, Škoda Superb | Another prolific platform, now informally in its eighth generation. |
| C series[2] | extended mid-size executive cars | Audi 100/200, Audi A6, Audi A6 allroad quattro | Seven generations to date. |
| D series | full-size luxury cars | Audi V8, Audi A8, Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen Phaeton | five variants from four generations. Confusingly, the D series includes models using both conventional steel monocoque construction, or the very different aluminium Audi Space Frame construction. |
| T series | vans | Volkswagen Transporter range | the early generations were retroactively named, the T1 is the oldest "platform", based on the original Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle. |
Note that some designations in common use are ambiguous; i.e. in some cases the same platform designation is used for different models that do not share a common platform. An example would be the B6 designation - this is used to identify the 2001-2005 Audi A4 (and the related Audi S4), which uses a longitudinal engine and transmission placement with a pressed steel front subframe; however it is also used to identify the sixth-generation Volkswagen Passat, but this uses a transverse engine and transmission placement with a very different cast aluminium alloy front subframe.
Joint-venture platforms
Platforms developed by Volkswagen Group as joint ventures with other manufacturers have designations which do not conform to the above scheme. These include:
| platform name | used for | notable examples | comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-VX62[2] | multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) | Volkswagen Sharan (7M), SEAT Alhambra (7M), Ford Galaxy | Joint-venture with Ford Motor Company. |
| LT/T1N series | light commercial vehicles | Volkswagen LT range, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | Second and third generations are a joint-venture with Daimler AG. |
Current system
More recently, Volkswagen Group have introduced a new alphanumeric nomenclature for car platforms. The platform code is composed as follows:
- A letter, P, indicating a passenger car platform
- A letter indicating the configuration of the engine:
- Q indicates a transverse engine (Quer in German)
- L indicates a longitudinal engine (Längs in German)
- A digit indicating the platform size or class
- A digit indicating the generation or evolution
An additional + suffix indicates a long-wheelbase variant.
Modular component systems
In 2007, Volkswagen Group introduced a more flexible "modular component system" architecture on which to base future platforms. Four such component systems were planned:[5] However, models developed from these modular component systems may also be identified by PL/PQ platform designations.
- MQB: Modularer Querbaukasten, or "modular transverse component system", for transverse engined, small to medium-sized cars.
- MPB: Modularer Produktionsbaukasten, standardization of production of VW Group components, launched simultaneously with MQB
- MLB: Modularer Längsbaukasten, or "modular longitudinal component system" listed above, for medium-sized and larger longitudinal engined models.
- MHB: Modularer Heckbaukasten, or "modular rear component system", for rear-engined city cars. This platform was reportedly cancelled in 2008, and the projected MHB-based models will be based on a front-engined platform, New Small Family (NSF) instead.[6]
- MSB: Modularer Standardantriebsbaukasten, or "modular standard drive train system", for front-engined rear-wheel drive cars (the titular "standard" drive train).[7][8][9]
- MSS: mid-engined platform, for Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini performance sports cars.
- MEB: Modularer Elektrobaukasten is an electric car platform developed by Volkswagen Group.[10]
References
- ↑ "Europe's slight rise & anticipated decline - Auto by the Numbers - car sales, production in Western Europe - Illustration - Statistical Data Included". Automotive Design & Production, April 2002 by Mark Fulthorpe / Gardner Publications, Inc. / Gale Group. CBS Interactive Business UK. 2002. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Im Fokus: Volkswagen - Kernkompetenz: Sparen" (PDF). Automobil-Produktion.de (in German). CSM Worldwide. March 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ↑ Novo Gol - Mudanças para continuar na liderança (Portuguese)
- ↑ http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/VW_Touareg_%287P%29
- ↑ "VW's (Volkswagen Group) four-platform future uncovered". Autocar. Haymarket Media Group. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
- ↑ "U-turn! VW's Up will be front-engined". Car Magazine. Bauer Media Limited. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
- ↑ First Details On Porsche’s Modular Standard Platform (MSB) – MotorAuthority.com
- ↑ VW group's unique platform sharing architecture – F1Technical.net
- ↑ Der Baukasten für die Zukunft Volkswagen.de
- ↑ Julian Rendell. Skoda electric vehicle under development. Autocar. Published on March 16, 2016.
- "Who we are". www.volkswagenautoeuropa.pt. Volkswagen Autoeuropa. 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
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