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.
| 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 2014, in its sixth generation. |
| A series | 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, six generations. |
| B series | mid-size cars | Audi 4000, Audi 80, Audi 90, Audi A4, Volkswagen Passat, SEAT Exeo, Škoda Superb | Another prolific platform, now informally in its ninth generation. |
| C series | extended mid-size executive cars | Audi 5000, Audi 100/200, Audi A6, Audi A6 allroad quattro | Eight generations to date. |
| D series | full-size luxury cars | Audi V8, Audi A8, Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen Phaeton | Six variants from five 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.
Platforms developed by Volkswagen Group as joint ventures with other manufacturers have designations which do not conform to the above scheme. These include:
| B-VX62 | 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. |
Volkswagen Group has previously introduced an alphanumeric nomenclature for car platforms. The platform code is composed as follows:
An additional + suffix indicates a long-wheelbase variant.
| PQ12 (NSF) | ultra-compact city cars | Volkswagen Up, SEAT Mii, Škoda Citigo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PQ24 | 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 | supermini cars | Volkswagen Polo (6R), SEAT Ibiza (6J), Audi A1 | |
| PQ26 | supermini cars | Volkswagen Polo (6C), SEAT Ibiza (6P), Skoda Fabia (6V) | |
| PQ34 | 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 | 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 | mid-size cars | Audi A4 (8D), Volkswagen Passat (3B), Volkswagen Passat GP Lingyu | |
| PL45+ | mid-size cars | Volkswagen Passat Lingyu, Škoda Superb (3U) | |
| PQ46 | mid-size cars | Volkswagen Passat (3C), Volkswagen Sharan (7M), Škoda Superb (3T) | |
| PL46 | mid-size cars | Audi A4 (8E B6) | |
| PQ47 | mid-size cars | Volkswagen CC (7N B7) | |
| PL47 | mid-size cars | Audi A4 (8E B7), SEAT Exeo | |
| PL62 | full-size luxury cars | Audi A8, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Bentley Continental GT/GTC, Volkswagen Phaeton | |
| PL64 | full-size luxury cars | Audi A8, Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen Phaeton | |
| PL71 | sport utility vehicles (SUVs) | Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg | |
| PL72[4] | sport utility vehicles (SUVs) | Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg (7P) |
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.
Modularer Querbaukasten, or "modular transverse component system", highly scalable platform for vehicles with a transverse-mounted combustion engine and front-wheel or all-wheel drive, developed by Volkswagen.
Modularer Längsbaukasten, or "modular longitudinal component system", predecessor of the PPC for vehicles with a longitudinally installed combustion engine and front or all-wheel drive in the mid and luxury class, developed by Audi.
Premium Platform Combustion, successor to the MLB for vehicles with a longitudinally installed hybridised combustion engine and front or all-wheel drive in the mid and luxury class, developed by Audi.
Modularer Standardantriebsbaukasten, or "modular standard drive train system", for vehicles with longitudinally mounted front engine and rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, developed by Porsche.[6] [7] [8]
Modularer Mittelbaukasten, for mid-engined or rear-engined sports cars. Currently used by the Porsche 992 911 and the Porsche 982 718.
Modulare Aufhängungslösung, or "Modular Sports System", used for the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Huracán.[9]
Modulare Nutzfahrzeugbaukasten, for light commercial vehicles (VW Crafter/MAN TGE).
J1 Platform underpins the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. It is derived from the MSB platform.[10]
Modularer Elektrobaukasten is an electric car platform developed by Volkswagen Group.[11] [12]
Premium Platform Electric for larger electric car models co-developed by Audi and Porsche.[13] [14]
Scalable Systems Platform is planned to be introduced in 2029.[15] [16]
The first generation of the Volkswagen Amarok (2H) is based on a specially developed chassis, while the second generation (NF) is based on and utilises the T6.2 platform in cooperation with Ford and shares many of the same parts as the second-generation Ford Ranger (P703/RA).[17]