In 1908, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor, rolled off the production line of the first ford model T in Michigan, usa, and this concept has become an important progress in the history of human industry. If Ford more than 110 years ago lit up a new era of human-made cars with the Model T, then the concept of platform-based car manufacturing in the middle of the last century was another major technological advance in the history of human automobile manufacturing.
If the platform of a car determines the grade and value of the people's mouth, then the difference between upward compatibility and downward compatibility is often easily skipped. Car buyers need a comprehensive synthesis of space, size, power and comfort, and only the strong foundation of the platform architecture can be continuously recognized by the owner in the later stage.
1. The upward compatibility platform of Mercedes-Benz and BMW brings value to car buyers
In my opinion, platform-based car building can be divided into two branches: one is upward compatibility, and the other is backward compatibility. For example, the Mercedes-Benz MRA platform and BMW Clar platform extend from the mainstream high-end sedan C-class and 3 series upward to E-class, 5 series, S-class, 7 series; while Volkswagen's MQB platform is backward compatible with a number of compact cars and compact SUVs from mainstream high-end sedan SUVs such as Passat and Tuon. It seems that they are all doing platform-based car building, but one up and one down. In fact, the original design of the platform reflects the value that users can get.
First look at Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the E-class and C-class currently on sale from the LONGitudinal rear-drive structure of the MRA platform, in the eyes of ordinary people, not only the shape of C, E is not divided and the space inside the car is surprisingly large, for the average person is difficult to understand the chassis structure, C-class and E-class whether in the suspension structure (front double wishbone rear five linkage) or integrated subframe, and even the steering system and braking system have a very high degree of similarity. Although BMW's clar platform has been criticized by a group of control fans for "driving sense reduction", the same longitudinal rear-drive structure + front double ball joint suspension after the five-link suspension (after the cancellation of the stabilizer bar) greatly enhances the comfort of the 3 series and 5 series under the clar platform, not to mention that X3 and 7 series big brothers were also born on the calr platform. Both the 5 Series and the 3 Series are well known for their comfort.
Therefore, we have also seen that the localization of adaptive development coupled with the upwardly compatible yinghe platform value allows car buyers to experience the luxury, comfort and excellent handling of high-end cars and cross-level products. When the Mercedes-Benz MRA BMW CLAr platform was put into production in China, the sales of the two major luxury brands climbed all the way.
Another platform strategy is the downward compatibility strategy represented by the mainstream joint venture brand, for the popular brand to improve the platform compatibility to maximize the use of engine transmissions, front and rear suspension and bus structure can greatly reduce costs, which is the same as the practice of luxury brands, after all, car companies are also a business that needs to be profitable. But at the same time, we can see that the mainstream mid-to-high-end models of Volkswagen's MQB platform, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan have mostly "stopped" in terms of platform strategy at 2.9 meters of wheelbase, and the length of the body is mostly between 4.8 and 4.9 meters, and the ceiling effect of its platform is very obvious, which is not competent for the commonalization of high-level products or does not have the expansiveness of co-manufacturing high-grade products at all.
2. The fifth generation of Mondeo Ford's "global module architecture" under the leapfrog product
There is also a special case among the mainstream joint venture brands, which is the newly listed Fifth Generation Mondeo for Ford. From the platform strategy point of view, I think it is more inclined to the upward compatibility strategy of Mercedes-Benz BMW. The new generation of Mondeo uses a high-end sports modular architecture "Ford Global Modular Architecture" to adapt to the development of products from A-class (compact) to C-class (executive) products, the vehicle length 4935mm wheelbase 2945mm in size is capable of leapfrogging from the B-class to the C-class camp. To be able to perform this is to put forward higher requirements for Ford engineers: to ensure the same driving quality and ride comfort as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, but also with the expansion of SUVs.
In fact, Ford seems to have always maintained "high standards and strict requirements" for the mainstream B-class sedan of Mondeo, and in the previous generation of Mondeo products, we can see that there are many similarities with the Taurus of the Ford C-class sedan, and the fifth generation of Mondeo, which uses a high-end sports modular architecture, shows Ford's manufacturing level for a leapfrog B-class.
As can be seen from the above list, the front suspension of mid-to-high-end luxury cars generally uses a double wishbone structure, and the front suspension of the McPherson structure in the mainstream joint venture high-end car camp is normal, but Ford uses a large number of aluminum components that improve handling, such as forged aluminum hem arms, and further reduces the under-spring quality through the perforated design, and the lateral stability lever is also strengthened to the greatest extent, and the fifth generation Mondeo is also more generous compared to the mainstream joint venture B-class car of the same level.
In the chassis part of the vehicle full use of low wind resistance closed chassis protection, the engine transmission under the guard plate using high elastic composite materials, three-way catalytic exhaust end using nearly 3mm thickness of steel plate protection and similar to shark gill vent design, to ensure the normal working temperature of the three-way catalytic converter, it can be said that similar design although in the same level of joint venture B-class car can also be found but the fifth generation of Mondeo used a more costless way to use in the chassis part of the chassis that the general consumer can not see.
The rear axle part of the integrated rear frame 4 linkage design is also the standard configuration of the mainstream B-class joint venture car, but the steel plate strength used in the longitudinal knife arm of the single-layer stamped steel plate material is higher than that of the double-layer stamped steel plate hem arm, and the anti-collision bushing of the rear axle suspension swing arm is also an increase in cost for the manufacturer, but the consumer can not see the additional security parts that can be given to you or not. In the fuel tank part located in the rear of the body, the left and right sides are also designed with additional lateral anti-collision steel pipes to further ensure the collision safety of the fuel tank by side collisions.
Similar designs can be seen in many newly developed mid- to high-end models, while products from older platforms were not designed with this in mind. This can also be explained from an angle that the fifth generation of Mondeo is a new product of Ford's future development, which more meets the demands of Ford's current car buyers for handling texture and comfort.
If the mainstream joint venture brand can not think of many luxury brands in terms of vehicle platform and materials due to cost factors, then the fifth generation of Mondeo, which is priced at 159,800 yuan and is fully series of 2.0T+8AT, can be said to set a new standard for the mainstream joint venture B-class car, which is "to develop with a cross-level thinking", as for how consumers choose between Camry, Accord, Tianlai, Passat, Maiten and Mondeo. I would like to say that under the premise of such a joint venture brand, the price and value of the product are placed there, why not save the wool of the manufacturer and keep the value and quality to yourself?