There are more brands, more segments, and more cars than ever before. This is perhaps no more evident than within the Volkswagen Group, with its 10 marques and 200-plus models worldwide. Because of this, the über group has recognized the need to increase commonality in its quest to maximize profits. VW is now creating shared modular platforms to serve the needs of its different subsidiaries. The latest is called MQB.
Under the guidance of Audi engineers, the company has already rolled out the MLB platform. The German acronym roughly translates to modular longitudinal matrix, with longitudinal referring to engine orientation. It’s already in use on the Audi A6/A7, A4/A5, and Q5. Audi’s spaceframe flagship, the A8, also borrows from MLB, but its unique build puts it in a slightly different category.
From Modularer Längsbaukasten to Modularer Querbaukasten
Volkswagen engineers have been tasked with another platform, MQB—again an acronym, this one roughly translating to modular transverse matrix. And, you guessed it, the engines are transversely mounted. MQB will underpin everything from the tiny VW Up! to the next-generation Volkswagen Passat. Basically any VW Group product that mounts its engine sideways in front of the cabin will be MQB—if you’re the numbers type, that’s about 60 cars.
The modular part of the name refers to its versatility in size and type configurations. With this platform there is only one dimension that is fixed: the distance from the front axle to the firewall. Front and rear overhangs, wheelbase, width, and track all can shrink and grow. VW won’t share specific minimum and maximum dimensions, but to get a good idea of the range we can compare the MQB-based Up! to the current Passat (it isn’t built on the MQB platform, but its similarly sized replacement will be): there’s a wheelbase spread of about 15 inches, width varies by about 8 inches between the two, and the length difference is well over 50 inches. So, pretty variable.
Like the current Jetta and Beetle, MQB cars will feature struts at the front axle with either a torsion-beam rear suspension or, in pricier or hot-rod versions, a multilink rear setup. MQB can almost be thought of as the ultimate evolution of component sharing, rather than one specific platform. By commonizing all of the subsystems of a car (engines, suspension mounting points, and MIB, VW’s modular infotainment system, for example), development and production can be streamlined and profits maximized.
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Don’t worry, Audi TT fans: MQB is versatile enough to allow for certain unibody components to be made of aluminum, which will continue to be the case in the next TT. That car should move to the new platform sometime in the next couple of years.
VW plans to take the platform matrix concept to the extreme. MLB is already on the market; MQB will follow soon. After that, MSB (modular standard platform) will debut in the next-generation Porsche Panamera, Bentley Continental, and VW Phaeton. Following that will be MSS (modular sports-car system). This will underpin everything from the next next-gen Porsche Boxster and Cayman, to the 911, the Audi R8, the Lamborghini Gallardo, and potentially even a mid-engine V-8 Porsche that will bridge the gap between the 911 and forthcoming 918.
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