Volkswagen Group B platform

The Volkswagen Group B platform is a mid-size automobile platform from the Volkswagen Group. It has been used for coupés, saloon cars/sedans, and estate cars/station wagon, under the Volkswagen, Audi and Škoda marques over the years.

Volkswagen Group's revised platform naming system replaces the simpler B6 with a P*46:
* P indicates a "passenger car" platform
* * indicates the engine placement
** Q indicates a "transverse" engine placement
** L indicates a "longitudinal" engine placement
* 4 indicates the platform "size" or "class"
* 6 indicates the "generation" or "evolution"

B1

1974-1988. An Audi derived platform, the first Volkswagen Passat was nearly identical to the Audi 80 (Audi Fox in US), sharing much of its mechanical systems, including its longitudinal engine placement.

B1 platform cars:
* VW Passat B1 / VW Dasher ("Typ" 32, 1974-1981; 1975-1988 in Brazil)
* Audi 80 ("Typ" 80, 1973–1976)
* Audi 80 ("Typ" 82, 1977–1978)

BX

1980-1993. The BX platform, developed Volkwagen's Brazilian subsidiary (Volkswagen do Brasil), again borrowed heavily from the Audi 80 (Fox/4000) of the day. The BX platform was used for the Brazilian Volkswagen Gol, Voyage (Gacel or Senda - In Argentina, and Fox in the U.S.), Parati (Amazon in U.S.), Saveiro (pickup) and Furgão (van) models. The Gol/Fox was quite unique in that it started life with a four-cylinder air cooled engine (borrowed from the VW Beetle), and eventually ended up with a more modern watercooled engine, being sold in the US for the first time as a 1987 model. The VW BX family was restyled in 1987 and 1991.

B2

Still an Audi derived platform, this time based on the Audi 80/4000, again, including its longitudinal engine placement and, on some European models, the quattro four-wheel drive system, rebranded Syncro for Volkswagen cars. The Santana (facelifted) is still produced to this day in some countries, as is the Gol.

B2 platform cars:
* Volkswagen Passat B2 ("Typ" 32B, 1981-1988; 1982-1988 in the US where it was sold as the Quantum)
* Audi 80 and 90 ("Typ" 81, 1979–1987)
* Audi Coupé ("Typ" 81, 1981–1984)
* Audi 4000CS quattro ("Typ" 81, 1985–1987)
* Audi Coupé ("Typ" 85, 1985–1988)
* Audi Quattro ("Typ" 85, 1981–1991)
* Audi Sport Quattro (1984–1987)
* Volkswagen Gol Generation 2 to Generation 4 (1994-present)
* Volkswagen Santana (1984-2006)

B3

The B3 Volkswagen Passat was the first B platform car to be called Passat in the United States. The B3 was also the first Passat with an independently designed platform, it did not share parts with Audis. Instead, the design borrowed heavily from the A2 platform.

B3 platform cars:
* Volkswagen Passat B3 ("Typ" 35i, 1988-1993; 1990-1994 in US)
* Volkswagen Corrado (1988-1995, hybrid platform with A2)

The "B3" designation is also used to refer to the "Typ" 89" version of the Audi 80/90 produced from 1987 to 1992 and the "Typ" 8B" Audi Coupé and S2. However these are "not" based on the same platform as the "B3" Passat.

B4

The B4 Passat was a face lifted B3 (receiving its own generation number is controversial), remaining nearly mechanically identical, but with entirely new sheetmetal, and an updated interior design.

B4 platform cars:
* Volkswagen Passat B4 ("Typ" 35i, 1993-1996; U.S. 1995-1997)

The "B4" designation is also used to refer to the "Typ" 8C" version of the Audi 80 and RS2 produced from 1991 to 1994. However these are "not" based on the same platform as the "B4" Passat.

B5 (PL45)

1996-2005. The B5 Volkswagen Passat borrows its platform from the original Audi A4, resulting in a longitudinal engine placement, which differs from the A platform which have been traditionally transversely mounted. B5 platform cars can be equipped with a multilink front suspension and a Torsen centre differential for quattro or 4motion branded four-wheel drive systems.

B5 platform cars:
* Audi A4 ("Typ" 8D, 1996-2002)
* Audi S4 ("Typ" 8D, 1997-2002)
* Volkswagen Passat B5 ("Typ" 3B, 1996-2001)
* Volkswagen Passat B5.5 ("Typ" 3BG, 2001-2005)
* Volkswagen Passat Lingyu B5 (1999-present; long wheelbase version for Chinese market)
* Škoda Superb ("Typ" 3U, based on Chinese LWB Passat, platform PL45+)

The B5 received a facelift in 2001. The resulting Passats are referred to as B5.5.

B6

Volkswagen's Passat moved onto the PQ46 platform for its 6th generation, a slightly enlarged version of the Golf Mk5 and Jetta Mk5's PQ35 platform. There are no vehicles with the Volkswagen badge that are actually B6 cars. The designation "B6" is used to describe the "Typ" 8E" Audi A4/S4 produced from late 2000 to 2005. Further confusing the matter, the current generations of Passat are colloquially referred to as "B6", given that they are Volkswagen's 6th generation midsized sedan.

B6 (PL46) platform cars:
* Audi A4 ("Typ" 8E (saloon: 8E2, Avant: 8E5) / 8H7 (Cabriolet), 2001-2005)
* Audi S4 ("Typ" 8E, 2003-2005)

"B6" (PQ46) platform cars:
* Volkswagen Passat ("Typ" 3C, 2006-)
* Volkswagen Passat CC (2009-)
* Skoda Superb II (2008-)

B7 (PL46)

* Audi A4 The Audi A4 has a "B7" generation, from 2005 on. However, this seventh generation of the car was a minor revision of the B6 platform, but with major revisions to engine ranges, with restyled bodywork, and suspension revisions. Both have the "Typ" 8E number (saloon: 8EC, Avant: 8ED) / 8HE (Cabriolet), and are based on the PL46 platform.

* Seat Exeo

B8 (MLB/MLP)

The B8 platform, otherwise known as the MLB ("Modularer Längsbaukasten" de icon) or Audi MLP (Modular Longitudinal Platform), is noteworthy for placing the front differential ahead of the clutch, allowing the front axle to be moved forward 4-inches. This increase in wheelbase causes a more rearward weight distribution for better vehicle dynamics.

B8 platform cars:
* Audi A5 ("Typ" 8T, 2007-)
* Audi A4 ("Typ" 8K, 2008-)
* Audi Q5 ("Typ" 8R, 2009-)

ee also

* list of Volkswagen Group platforms

External links

* [http://www.volkswagenag.com/ Volkswagen Group corporate website]
* [http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=105651 Inside Line: Volkswagen Dasher, Quantum & Passat]
* [http://www.lunaticfringe.org/vwfox/fox.html What is a VW Fox?]
* [http://paultan.org/archives/2008/06/20/porsche-planning-golf-based-hot-hatch-by-2012/ Porsche planning Golf-based hatchback in 2012]