3.1.5 The concept of "platform"
For information
Every now and then we hear the following phrases from various specialized media: "The car is built on such and such platform..." or "Such and such a platform is the basis of..." The concept of “platform” is quite extensive. In two words we can say that this is the floor pan, the cross-member, which separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment, all load-bearing elements and body overlays for the installation and fastening of suspension elements and a powertrain (engine + gearbox). In a broader sense, a platform is a set of basic elements, components, structural and technological solutions of a car.
The set of components that are included in the platform is not standardized, so it may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer (but the basic set almost always remains unchanged - see above). The so-called modular platforms have appeared in the modern world. Thus, each platform consists of several modules that can be combined with other modules without spending hundreds of millions for inventing something new.
Figure 3.2 Example of a unified body platform, which is designed for several models.
Where did this "platform" come from? The fact is that a load-bearing body is the most complex and expensive element of a car's design to develop.
This is due to the fact that the incompatible has to be combined in the car body, namely: it must be light so that the engine power is sufficient for its transportation, and strong enough to save the lives of passengers and the driver in case of an accident. In addition, it must be of certain shape, content and purpose. Therefore, in order to somehow reduce the value of the car, while designing and manufacturing it manufacturing companies came up with the lower part of the car body (this very platform) that shall be used as a “cloned” part, that is, several models can be created on one platform.
Figure 3.3 Example of a unified body platform with chassis elements and engine.
Thus, nowadays one platform can be used as a floor pan for two or more cars of different classes - from golf class to crossover. We came up to the point that some companies enter into contracts and partnerships in order to use ready-made platforms for the production of car models under various names. On the one hand, it seems to be a trickery. But on the other hand, it is a completely justified attempt to unify cars as much as possible and, as a result, to reduce the cost of their production and subsequent maintenance. However, in case if one says that two cars are built on the same platform, this does not mean that the cars are structurally identical - the suspension design and geometric parameters may differ radically.
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