List of Volkswagen Group platforms

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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

Volkswagen Group alphanumeric platforms
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:

Volkswagen Group joint-venture platforms
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,[when?] 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:
  • A digit indicating the platform size or class
  • A digit indicating the generation or evolution

An additional + suffix indicates a long-wheelbase variant.

Volkswagen Group PL/PQ platforms
platform code used for notable examples
PQ12 (NSF) ultra-compact city cars Volkswagen Up, SEAT Mii, Škoda Citigo
PL22/PQ22[speculation?] BX supermini cars Volkswagen Gol, Volkswagen Parati, Volkswagen Saveiro LB20
PQ23[speculation?] supermini cars Volkswagen Polo (6N - Polo Classic), Volkswagen Caddy, SEAT Ibiza (6K), SEAT Córdoba (6K), SEAT Inca
PQ24[2] supermini cars Volkswagen Polo (9N), Volkswagen Gol MK5 - Third Gen.(2008–present, PQ24/25 hybrid)[3] SEAT Ibiza (6L), SEAT Córdoba (6L), Škoda Fabia (6Y), Škoda Fabia (5J), Škoda Roomster
PQ25[2] supermini cars Volkswagen Polo (6R), SEAT Ibiza (6J), Audi A1
PQ31[speculation?] small family cars
/ compact cars		 Volkswagen Citi, Volkswagen Caddy
PQ34[2] small family cars
/ compact cars		 Audi A3 (8L), Volkswagen Golf Mk4 (1J), Volkswagen Bora/Jetta (1J), SEAT León (1M), SEAT Toledo (1M), Škoda Octavia (1U)
PQ35[2] small family cars
/ compact cars		 Audi A3 (8P), Audi Q3 (8U), Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (1K), Volkswagen Jetta Mk5 (1K), Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (5K), Volkswagen Eos, Volkswagen Scirocco Mk3, Volkswagen Tiguan, SEAT León (1P), SEAT Toledo (1P), SEAT Altea, Škoda Octavia (1Z), Škoda Yeti
PL45[2] mid-size cars Audi A4 (8D), Volkswagen Passat (3B), Volkswagen Passat GP Lingyu
PL45+[2] mid-size cars Volkswagen Passat Lingyu, Škoda Superb (3U)
PQ46[2] mid-size cars Volkswagen Passat (3C), Volkswagen Sharan (7M), Škoda Superb (3T)
PL46[2] mid-size cars Audi A4 (8E B6)
PQ47[2] mid-size cars Volkswagen Passat CC (7N B7)
PL47[2] mid-size cars Audi A4 (8E B7), SEAT Exeo
MLB/MLP[2]
(PL48[speculation?]) 		mid-size cars and larger Audi A4 (B8), Audi A5, Audi Q5, Audi A8 (D4), Porsche Macan
PL52[4] sport utility vehicles (SUVs) Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg (7P)
PL62[2] full-size luxury cars Audi A8, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Bentley Continental GT/GTC, Volkswagen Phaeton
PL64[2] full-size luxury cars Audi A8, Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen Phaeton
PL71[2] sport utility vehicles (SUVs) Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg

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

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Im Fokus: Volkswagen - Kernkompetenz: Sparen" (PDF). Automobil-Produktion.de (in German). CSM Worldwide. March 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  3. ^ Novo Gol - Mudanças para continuar na liderança Template:Pt icon
  4. ^ http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/VW_Touareg_%287P%29
  5. ^ "VW's (Volkswagen Group) four-platform future uncovered". Autocar. Haymarket Media Group. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  6. ^ "U-turn! VW's Up will be front-engined". Car Magazine. Bauer Media Limited. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  7. ^ First Details On Porsche’s Modular Standard Platform (MSB) – MotorAuthority.com
  8. ^ VW group's unique platform sharing architecture – F1Technical.net
  9. ^ Der Baukasten für die Zukunft Volkswagen.de
  10. ^ 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.

External links

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