"Modularization" is just a concept

The media's focus on replacing the Audi A3 can be said to be "cracking the wind". The reason is not that the A3 market has huge potential, but the launch of the A3 means that Volkswagen has officially entered modularization from the platform (the earliest use module concept was A4).

Everyone often talks about platformization, but no one has ever wondered what the "platform" is. In many people's subconscious, the platform has been equated with the chassis. The two cars with the same platform means that the chassis structure is the same.

After all, there is no so-called chassis chassis, and everyone's chassis refers to the suspension and the frame, that is, the same platform two models, the same form of suspension, the same wheelbase. The Volkswagen Sagitar has fanned a very loud slap to those who hang on, the same PQ35, but the rear suspension can be a multi-link, it can also be a trailing arm. There is also a new civic, the United States version uses a multi-link rear suspension, while the European version uses a trailing arm design; Citroen C5 McPherson in the country is suspended in front, and in Europe is actually a version of a double wishbone; modern i30 in In China, there is a trailing arm suspension, but in Europe, it is a multi-link suspension. In front of many facts, the so-called "suspension platform theory" does not break.

Many people think that from the wheelbase we can see whether the two vehicles are on the same platform. I even heard this remark in the mouth of some manufacturers. This "wheelbase theory" can only be described as ridiculous. The Touareg and Audi Q7 belong to the same platform products. The Q7 wheelbase has reached 3013mm, while the Touareg has only 2893mm, and the differences are quite different. Look at the same platform for twins, such as Civic and CRV, Corolla and RAV4, Golf 6 and Audi TT... Not only is the wheelbase, but the overall appearance of these platform models and their size measurements are quite different!

(Because the platform theory is not defined exactly, the following is only the author's personal opinion. If there are other opinions, you can leave a message and communicate with each other.)

Do not say I do not know, the original "platform" usually hung in the mouth did not even have an exact definition! However, the concept of the platform does indeed impose some constraints on the model, such as the layout of the engine. Even if the Volkswagen PQ35 platform changes, the engine is always tapped. The transversal engine can be arranged with a pre-driver or a 4-drive, but it can't be arranged as a rear drive because the rear drive needs a vertical engine to match. As a result, there is no possibility of a precursor and a rear drive in the two models of the same platform. Of course, the position of the engine in the vehicle body is also determined by the platform design, either front or center. In other words, the so-called platform is the equivalent of the ppt template, there is a basic framework, but the framework of things can still be adjusted, but the adjustment is limited, if you adjust the number of manufacturers will inevitably use another platform to name distinguish.

For example, if there is no platform for thinking, Peugeot will start from scratch in the R&D 508. When using the concept of platform, engineers can call up the entire frame design of C5, and then stretch the frame and consider the inside of the frame. Fill stuff and save a lot of design time. And to the production line can also call out the entire production process design of C5, and then make some necessary adaptations according to 508, just like the template we used for ppt.

The modular concept that Volkswagen now proposes, the author thinks its essence is still platform thinking, except that Volkswagen had previously used a template for a class vehicle, such as PQ25 for A0 class cars, PQ35 for A class cars, and PQ46 for Class B cars. . Now the public integrates the platform and only distinguishes them through the layout of the engine. Therefore, we all find that the full name of the MQB (Modular Querbaukasten) is the horizontal engine module platform, that is to say, the modularization is ultimately a platformed thinking, but it was previously pressed The level score now becomes divided by engine layout. The net result is that the platform is highly integrated, leaving only the MQB and MLB platforms.