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

Volkswagen Group alphanumeric platforms
platform nameused fornotable examplescomments
A00 city carsVolkswagen Lupo, SEAT ArosaThis platform never developed any subsequent evolutions or generations.
A0 series supermini carsAudi 50, Volkswagen Polo, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Córdoba, Škoda FabiaAs 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 OctaviaThe most prolific platform, currently in its seventh generation.
B series[2] mid-size carsAudi 80, Audi 90, Audi A4, Volkswagen Passat, SEAT Exeo, Škoda SuperbAnother prolific platform, now informally in its eighth generation.
C series[2] extended mid-size executive carsAudi 100/200, Audi A6, Audi A6 allroad quattroSeven generations to date.
D series full-size luxury carsAudi V8, Audi A8, Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen Phaetonfive 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 vansVolkswagen Transporter rangethe 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 nameused fornotable examplescomments
B-VX62[2] multi purpose vehicles (MPVs)Volkswagen Sharan (7M), SEAT Alhambra (7M), Ford GalaxyJoint-venture with Ford Motor Company.
LT/T1N series light commercial vehiclesVolkswagen LT range, Mercedes-Benz SprinterSecond 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:

An additional + suffix indicates a long-wheelbase variant.

Volkswagen Group PL/PQ platforms
platform codeused fornotable examples
PQ12 (NSF) ultra-compact city carsVolkswagen Up, SEAT Mii, Škoda Citigo
PL22/PQ22 BX supermini carsVolkswagen Gol, Volkswagen Parati, Volkswagen Saveiro LB20
PQ23 supermini carsVolkswagen Polo (6N - Polo Classic), Volkswagen Caddy, SEAT Ibiza (6K), SEAT Córdoba (6K), SEAT Inca
PQ24[2] supermini carsVolkswagen 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 carsVolkswagen Polo (6R), SEAT Ibiza (6J), Audi A1
PQ31 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 carsAudi A4 (8D), Volkswagen Passat (3B), Volkswagen Passat GP Lingyu
PL45+[2] mid-size carsVolkswagen Passat Lingyu, Škoda Superb (3U)
PQ46[2] mid-size carsVolkswagen Passat (3C), Volkswagen Sharan (7M), Škoda Superb (3T)
PL46[2] mid-size carsAudi A4 (8E B6)
PQ47[2] mid-size carsVolkswagen Passat CC (7N B7)
PL47[2] mid-size carsAudi A4 (8E B7), SEAT Exeo
MLB/MLP[2]
(PL48)
mid-size cars and largerAudi 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 carsAudi A8, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Bentley Continental GT/GTC, Volkswagen Phaeton
PL64[2] full-size luxury carsAudi 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.

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. 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.
  3. Novo Gol - Mudanças para continuar na liderança (Portuguese)
  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
  • "Who we are". www.volkswagenautoeuropa.pt. Volkswagen Autoeuropa. 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2010. 

External links

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