Architecture vs Platform
editBeginning in the early 2000's automakers started looking to ways to further homogenize designs and components of not only similar cars but also cars that were significantly different. By homogenizing designs and components costs could be reduced not only in design and production but also in inventory. Volkswagen was the first to introduce this new architecture style development in 2007 with its Volkswagen Group MLB platform. Unlike platform vehicles which usually share a floor pans, wheelbases, steering and suspension designs these vehicles share a common engine placement, firewall, front wheel placement, and pedal box. With modular designs the vehicle is divided into subsystems or modules that can be easily interchanged for other modules depending on what the vehicle needs. Also new vehicles can be created quickly and easily by using different modules. Theses modular "platforms" are divided into a Modular Product Family This modularity is also said to help allow quicker changes to products but only need to modify a module vs the whole vehicle