Platform Sharing To Become Rampant Over Next Few Years

I disagree.

First, customers know the difference. A shared platform vehicle typically takes on the attributes of the cheapest offering.

Second, body/interior differences and chassis tuning are NOT sufficient to differentiate product offerings.

Third, share drivetrains, not platforms. Great drivetrains make great cars. Just ask BMW - is not an accident that silky smooth powerful inline six is in almost every vehicle they offer.

OMG stop it already! I agree that shared platforms are going to become common place and I know there will always be compromises in the engineering of these platforms but it is an economic reality these days. I know you can change a lot of stuff and make cars drive and feel completely different, but there are limitations.

Companies can no longer afford to develope specific platforms any more. Spreading the cost over as many models as possible is the present and future of this business. That's why Audi can build an A4, S4, A5, S5, RS5, A5 Cabriolet, S5 Cabriolet and Q5 all with the same basic components. All of these cars are quite good and can drive quite differently from one another. The new A6 will share underpinnings with cars such as the the A7 and A8. Even the new Bentley Mulsanne is a shared platform with the A8 and it's $400K! The TT, A3 and Q7 share highly modified platforms with VW and everyone knows the R8 is a Lambo platform.