Original system Note that some designations in common use are ambiguous; i.e. in some cases the same platform designation is used for different models that do
not share a common platform. An example would be the
B6 designation - this is used to identify the
2001-2005 Audi A4 (and the related
Audi S4), which uses a
longitudinal engine and transmission placement with a pressed steel front
subframe; however it is also used to identify the
sixth-generation Volkswagen Passat, but this uses a
transverse engine and transmission placement with a very different
cast aluminium alloy front subframe.
Joint-venture platforms Platforms developed by Volkswagen Group as
joint ventures with other manufacturers have designations which do not conform to the above scheme. These include:
PL/PQ platforms Volkswagen Group has previously introduced an alphanumeric nomenclature for car platforms. The platform code is composed as follows: • A letter,
P, indicating a
passenger car platform • A letter indicating the configuration of the
engine: •
Q indicates a
transverse engine (
Quer in German) •
L indicates a
longitudinal engine (
Längs in German) • A digit indicating the platform
size or
class • A digit indicating the
generation or
evolution An additional
+ suffix indicates a long-
wheelbase variant. ==Modular component systems==