Volkswagen Group has three "assembly kits," or uber-flexible platforms to handle the vast majority of its product line in an efficient, cost-effective way. NSF is its new small family of cars, featuring the Up. MLB is modular longitudinal kit for Audi A4, A6 and A8. MSB, the modern standard drivetrain kit, covers front-engine cars like the Porsche Panamera.
The VW brand is responsible for MQB, its modular transverse kit that will underpin the company's most popular models, including the next Passat in about five years, the upcoming Audi A3, the next TT and the all-new Golf VII, expected to launch late this year.
It works this way: New gasoline and diesel engine families are designed so they fit in all MQB model engine compartments precisely the same way. VW plans also to offer hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electrics, compressed natural gas and even fuel cell powered cars and crossovers. The relationship between the engine and front axle, and the front axle and firewall is standardized across the component set. Wheelbases, interior packages, rear suspension designs and trunk packaging will all vary, while the standardized engine package accounts for 60 percent of the target value of each vehicle.
Lowered costs allow VW to "democratize" innovations, and sell VWs with features you'd expect only in premium and luxury cars. This includes adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting, driver alert systems, lane-change assist, cylinder deactivation, ergonomic seats with massage functions, area view cameras and modular infotainment systems.
More importantly, MQB's cost savings allow greater use of high-strength, and hot formed ultra high-strength steel and aluminum where needed, to save 40 pounds in the basic chassis of the Mk VII Golf. VW's new Chattanooga, Tennessee assembly plant is its first designed specifically for MQB. The new U.S. Passat is not on MQB, though a sport/utility to be based on the Passat will be.
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