The German automotive concern, Volkswagen Group has, since the 1970s, developed a series of shared automobile platforms for their motor vehicles.

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 platformsplatform nameused fornotable examplescommentsA00city carsVolkswagen Lupo, SEAT ArosaThis platform never developed any subsequent evolutions or generations.A0 seriessupermini carsAudi 50, Volkswagen Polo, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Córdoba, Škoda FabiaAs of 2014, in its sixth generation.A seriessmall family cars/ compact carsAudi 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, six generations.B seriesmid-size carsAudi 4000, Audi 80, Audi 90, Audi A4, Volkswagen Passat, SEAT Exeo, Škoda SuperbAnother prolific platform, now informally in its ninth generation.C seriesextended mid-size executive carsAudi 5000, Audi 100/200, Audi A6, Audi A6 allroad quattroEight generations to date.D seriesfull-size luxury carsAudi V8, Audi A8, Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen PhaetonSix 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 seriesvansVolkswagen 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 platformsplatform nameused fornotable examplescommentsB-VX62multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs)Volkswagen Sharan (7M), SEAT Alhambra (7M), Ford GalaxyJoint-venture with Ford Motor Company.LT/T1N serieslight commercial vehiclesVolkswagen LT range, Mercedes-Benz SprinterSecond and third generations are a joint-venture with Daimler AG.

PL/PQ platforms Volkswagen Group has previously introduced an 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.

+Volkswagen Group PL/PQ platformsplatform codeused fornotable examplesPQ12 (NSF)ultra-compact city carsVolkswagen Up, SEAT Mii, Škoda CitigoPQ24supermini carsVolkswagen Polo (9N), Volkswagen Gol MK5 - Third Gen.(2008–present, PQ24/25 hybrid)Novo Gol - Mudanças para continuar na liderança SEAT Ibiza (6L), SEAT Córdoba (6L), Škoda Fabia (6Y), Škoda Fabia (5J), Škoda RoomsterPQ25supermini carsVolkswagen Polo (6R), SEAT Ibiza (6J), Audi A1PQ26supermini carsVolkswagen Polo (6C), SEAT Ibiza (6P), Skoda Fabia (6V)PQ34small family cars/ compact carsAudi A3 (8L), Volkswagen Golf Mk4 (1J), Volkswagen Bora/Jetta (1J), SEAT León (1M), SEAT Toledo (1M), Škoda Octavia (1U)PQ35small family cars/ compact carsAudi 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 YetiPL45mid-size carsAudi A4 (8D), Volkswagen Passat (3B), Volkswagen Passat GP LingyuPL45+mid-size carsVolkswagen Passat Lingyu, Škoda Superb (3U)PQ46mid-size carsVolkswagen Passat (3C), Volkswagen Sharan (7M), Škoda Superb (3T)PL46mid-size carsAudi A4 (8E B6)PQ47mid-size carsVolkswagen CC (7N B7)PL47mid-size carsAudi A4 (8E B7), SEAT ExeoPL62full-size luxury carsAudi A8, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Bentley Continental GT/GTC, Volkswagen PhaetonPL64full-size luxury carsAudi A8, Bentley Continental GT, Volkswagen PhaetonPL71sport utility vehicles (SUVs)Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen TouaregPL72sport utility vehicles (SUVs)Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg (7P)

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: 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", highly scalable platform for vehicles with a transverse-mounted combustion engine and front-wheel or all-wheel drive, developed by Volkswagen. MLB: 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. PPC: 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. MSB: 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. First Details On Porsche’s Modular Standard Platform (MSB) – MotorAuthority.comVW group's unique platform sharing architecture – F1Technical.netDer Baukasten für die Zukunft Volkswagen.de MMB: Modularer Mittelbaukasten, for mid-engined or rear-engined sports cars. Currently used by the Porsche 992 911 and the Porsche 982 718. MSS: Modulare Aufhängungslösung, or "Modular Sports System", used for the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Huracán. MNB: Modulare Nutzfahrzeugbaukasten, for light commercial vehicles (VW Crafter/MAN TGE).

Software platforms GENIVI Linux Bosch Software Components MIB - Modular Infotainment Platform MIB 2 MIB 3 - BlackBerry QNX E³ 1.1 (End-to-End 1.1) Volkswagen Automotive Cloud Platform 1.2 E³ 2.0 architecture Unified Platform 2.0

Electric car platforms CMP: Compact Main Platform or China Main Platform is developed in China specifically for locally manufactured, lower-cost electric vehicles. J1: J1 Platform underpins the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT. It is derived from the MSB platform. MEB: Modularer Elektrobaukasten is an electric car platform developed by Volkswagen Group.Julian Rendell. Skoda electric vehicle under development . Autocar. Published on March 16, 2016. PPE: Premium Platform Electric for larger electric car models co-developed by Audi and Porsche. SSP: Scalable Systems Platform is planned to be introduced in 2029.

Other 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).

References

External links Volkswagen Group corporate website