Volkswagen Group B platform
The B platform is the Volkswagen Group's mid-size automobile platform, and has been used for coupés, sedans, and station wagons under the Volkswagen, Audi and Škoda brands over the years.
Volkswagen's revised platform naming system replaces the simpler B6 with a PL46:
- P indicates a passenger car platform
- L indicates a longitudinal engine
- 4 indicates the platform size or class
- 6 indicates the generation
B1
1974-1988. An Audi derived platform, the first Passat was nearly identical to an Audi 80 (Audi Fox in US), sharing much of its mechanical systems, including its longitudinal engine placement.
B1 platform cars:
- VW Passat B1 (VW Dasher in the US) (1974-1981) (1975-1988 in Brazil)
- Audi 80 (B1 Type 80) (1973–1976)
- Audi 80 (B1 Type 82/33) (1977–1978)
BX
1980-1993. The BX platform, developed VW's Brazilian subsidiary, again borrowed heavily from the Audi 80 (Fox/4000) of the day. The BX platform produced a unique car, in that the Gol/Fox started life with a four-cylinder air cooled engine (borrowed from the VW Beetle), and eventually ended up with a more modern watercooled engine, being sold in the US for the first time as a 1987 model. The VW Fox was restyled in 1991.
BX platform cars:
B2
Still an Audi derived platform, this time it borrowed liberally from the Audi 80/4000, again, including its logitudunal engine placement and, on some European models, the Quattro four-wheel drive system, rebranded Syncro for VW. The Santana (facelifted) is still produced to this day in some countries as is the Gol.
B2 platform cars:
- Volkswagen Passat B2 (1981-1988) (1982-1988, in the US where it was sold as the Quantum)
- Audi 80 and 90 (Type 81)(1979–1987)
- Audi Coupé (Type 81)(1981–1984)
- Audi Coupé (Type 85) (1985–1988)
- Audi Quattro (Type 85)(1981–1991)
- Audi Sport Quattro (Type) (1984–1987)
- Volkswagen Gol Generation 2 to Generation 4 (1994-present)
B3
The B3 Passat was the first B platform car to be called Passat in the United States. The B3 was also the first Passat with an independently designed platform, it did not share parts with Audis. Instead, the design borrowed heavily from the A platform.
B3 platform cars:
- Volkswagen Passat B3 (1988-1993) (sold in U.S. 1990-1994)
The "B3" designation is also used to refer to the Typ 89 version of the Audi 80/90 produced from 1987 to 1992 and the Typ 8B Audi Coupé. However these are not based on the same platform as the "B3" Passat.
B4
The B4 Passat was a face lifted B3 (receiving its own generation number is controversial), remaining nearly mechanically identical, but with entirely new sheetmetal, and an updated interior design.
B4 platform cars:
- VW Passat B4 (1993-1996), (U.S. 1995-1997)
The "B4" designation is also used to refer to the Typ 8C version of the Audi 80, S2 and RS2 produced from 1991 to 1994. However these are not based on the same platform as the "B4" Passat.
B5
1996-2005. The B5 received a facelift in 2001. The resulting Passats are referred to as B5.5. The B5 Passat borrows its platform from the original A4, resulting in a logintudinal engine placement, which differs from the A platform which have been traditionally transversely mounted. B5 platform cars can be equipped with a multilink front suspension and a Torsen center differential.
B5 platform cars:
- Audi A4 (1996-2002)
- Audi S4 (1997-2002)
- Volkswagen Passat B5 (1996-2001)
- Volkswagen Passat B5.5 (2001-2005)
- Volkswagen Passat Lingyu B5 (1999-present) long wheelbase version for Chinese market
- Škoda Superb - based on Chinese LWB Passat
B6 (PL46)
Volkswagen's Passat moved onto the PQ46 platform for its 6th generation, a slightly enlarged version of the Golf/Jetta's PQ35 platform. There are no vehicles with the Volkswagen badge that are actually B6 cars. "B6" is used to describe the Typ 8E Audi A4/S4 produced from 2000 to 2005.
B6 platform cars:
The Audi A4 also is considered to have a "B7" generation, from 2005 on. However, this seventh generation of the car was really a minor revision of the B6 platform. Both have the internal nomenclature platform code PL46.
B8 (MLB/MLP)
The B8 platform, otherwise known as the MLB (Modulare Längsbaukasten) or MLP (Modular Longitudinal Platform), is noteworthy for placing the front differential ahead of the clutch, allowing the front axle to be moved forward 4-inches. This increase in wheelbase causes a more rearward weight distribution for better handling performance.
B8 platform cars: