Ford's Version Of Volkswagen's MQB Modular Platform Shaping Up

The new Focus compact, which rolled out here and in the central Chinese city of Chongqing last week, debuts Ford's global version of Volkswagen's much acclaimed MQB modular architecture, a central element of Ford's aim to achieve $4 billion in engineering efficiencies over the next five years.

The unibody front-wheel-drive architecture (it has no snappy name, yet) is the first of Ford's five new global platforms — and arguably the most important after the body-on-frame truck architecture. Ford is developing them to enable savings and cut development time for new models by up to 20 percent, the company announced in March.

TomM - 4/16/2018 10:39:02 AM

+12 Boost

I do not understand this article - it appears to say that FORD is using a VERSION OF Volkswagons platform for its cars - but that is NOT TRUE - they are simply using a platform they developed that is similar. Lots of companies have developed platforms over the years for more than ONE class of cars - why involve VW at all?

malba2367 - 4/16/2018 4:20:12 PM

-7 Boost

Because it is very similar to the VW MQB platform in that almost all the proportions are variable such that it can underpin a wide variety of vehicles. The proportions that are fixed are fixed such that a wide variety of models can share the same non customer facing modules such as ac vents, seat frames etc. VW was the first carmaker to do this and now Ford is following suit. This is much more than just building a few cars off of the same platform, it is allowing multiple models of different sizes/classes to be built of of a common architecture and share many parts without it being obvious to the customer.

MrEE - 4/16/2018 6:55:48 PM

0 Boost

Now when Ford uses a problem transmission they will tank reliability for even more models.

MDarringer - 4/16/2018 8:34:38 PM

+9 Boost

VW was NOT the first. Moreover, MQB is not revolutionary. All platforms are scalable to one extent or another. It could be EASILY argued that the first modern FWD scalable architecture was the one under the Chrysler K cars.

malba2367 - 4/16/2018 8:49:14 PM

-4 Boost

VW was absolutely the first to come up with a platform that could be shared in distinct vehicles ranging in size from the Polo to the Atlas, and allowing for sharing components. The K cars were all midsize vehicles/minivans...there were a ton of variants because of badge engineering but it did not span basically the entire range of vehicles from subcompact to large SUV.
Ford is making some very good moves, and will be the best positioned domestic automaker in the next decade. It may be a good long term stock pick at current valuations.