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Volkswagen’s modular transverse engine platform, called MQB, has been a big success for the company. A basic set of common parts for cars from the VW group whose engines are mounted transversely, MQB allows the company to lower costs through standardisation.
Successful cars include the new Audi A3, Skoda Octavia, VW Golf, VW Passat and others. There are currently three sub-variants of MQB, with ‘tool kits’ that differ slightly. In the order of size, there’s the new MQB A0 on which the new Polo will be based, the VW Golf’s MQB A is currently the most commonly used, and there’s the MQB B on which the new Passat is built.
While costs have been reduced due to the MQB programme, they are still not low enough to help VW achieve high levels of penetration in emerging markets like India. This is the reason why VW is blending some of its standardised MQB modules with others that will be specially developed at a lower cost. The objective is to put together a lower-cost sub-platform that will be used in developing markets around the world, offering the benefits of both low- and high-cost technology.
Taigun-like compact SUV, based on the low-cost platform, might be the first one to India.
But how exactly does VW plan to do this? To begin with, MQB uses seven different standard modules spread over the car’s structure. The positioning of the engine, front axle and pedal box are the same in all MQB cars, and other standardised bits include similar suspension and engine mounting points. This results in a big saving.
What makes MQB work, however, is that it’s also highly flexible. Length, width, height, wheelbase, wheel size and seating position are all variable. So it can be used to make vehicles in different classes. And now, it will be used to make lower-cost cars tailored to the requirements of emerging markets such as India.
The biggest change from the standard MQB cars is likely to be the reduction in the use of expensive high-strength steel and even more expensive aluminium. Used to lighten the cars in an effort to improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions for Europe, these expensive and light materials are likely to be replaced to a great extent on our cars by more conventional ones.
To illustrate, the floor of all current MQB cars is made of 85 percent high-strength steel that is approximately four times stronger than regular steel. This makes the structure 18kg lighter on average, but also much more expensive. In addition, VW is likely to rationalise the suspension system and also use more affordable aggregates for the interiors. These could be locally made seats, locally sourced door pads, and other plastic bits as well. Local suppliers could be used to source VW’s new-age infotainment systems seen on the VW Passat, and VW also plans to ‘deepen’ the localisation of engines such as the new 1.5-litre TDI made for India. Localising, however, is not always an easy game, especially for a highly quality-conscious customer like VW, as the company itself has admitted. “We had some components where we were impressed with the quality of the suppliers, and we also have some components where quality was a long way off,” VW’s head of development Heinz-JakobNeusser said. “We had the same situation in China; there are some startup companies who surprise you with high-quality parts, and others where the locally based European companies don’t match expectations. So this takes a little bit of time.” In addition, VW, like Ford, is also looking to supplement costs by exporting both components and full cars in the future.
The design of the sub four meter sedan is close to being frozen.
When VW initially announced its new platform strategy, there were three distinct platforms. There was MQB for regular transverse engine cars, MLB for larger longitudinal-engined cars and there was a now-stillborn low-cost, rear-engine MHB for compact city cars as well. MHB was subsequently scrapped, but with Suzuki out of the picture for now and the focus on lowering costs in its growing markets, VW’s lower-cost MQB toolset couldn’t come a day too soon. And a Taigun-like compact SUV based on it could come to India first. Exciting times ahead.
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