Volkswagen planning major platform changes


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To reach its targeted production rate of ten million vehicles per year by 2018 Volkswagen will be implementing several major revisions to its current platform designs to help reduce development costs. VW is developing four new architectures that will eventually spawn vehicles for most of the VW Group brands, including new designs for Lamborghini, Audi and Bentley.

The first new platform will be a transverse-engine architecture dubbed the ‘MQB’, which will be used for small-lower-medium and upper-medium models. This architecture could eventually be used for over six million vehicles, making it the automotive industry’s biggest platform.

“MQB is planned for a broad application, from small cars up to and including upper-medium,” VW exec Ulrich Hackenberg told Automotive News Europe. “The first model to emerge can be expected in 2010.”

The second major platform introduction is the ‘MHB,’ which will be used for VW’s new minicar range including production versions of the up! concept car.

Another platform is being developed for VW Group’s future premium mid-engine sports cars. It will eventually be used for the next-generation Lamborghini models and possibly even a more affordable Bugatti.

The fourth and final new platform is already on the road in the form of the new A4/A5 models. The ‘MLB,’ as it’s known, features a longitudinally mounted engine for front-drive and all-wheel-drive applications. MLB will be used for the next A6 and A8 models as well as a new Phaeton and Bentley lineup.

By sharing these basic structures and components, development cost savings are estimated to be as much as 40%.


Source: Motor Authority » Volkswagen planning major platform changes

:t-cheers:
 
Autocar magazine has all the details about the platforms VW group will use for the next models including of course Audi's "MLB" which will be used in several of the upcoming Audi models.

"Top of the pile: ‘MLB’
The VW Group’s largest new platform will allow it to develop the next Audi A6, the new VW Phaeton, the next Bentley Continental GT and anything in between. It allows engines to be positioned longitudinally in the engine bay, and for power to be channelled to all four wheels, and is already serving under the new Audi A4 and A5."


Full report...

Autocar - VW?s four-platform future uncovered
 

Volkswagen

Volkswagen AG, also known as the Volkswagen Group, is a German multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 in Berlin, Germany, the Volkswagen Group sells passenger cars under the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Cupra, Jetta, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda, and Volkswagen brands; motorcycles under the Ducati name, light commercial vehicles under the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand, and heavy commercial vehicles via the marques of the listed subsidiary Traton (Navistar, MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Truck & Bus). Official website: Volkswagen

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