Volkswagen Group D platform

The Volkswagen Group D platform is a series of automobile platforms from the German concern Volkswagen Group. It has been used for large luxury automobiles. Originally used by the Audi marque, it is also latterly used by the Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and Bentley marques.

D1/D11

The D1 (also known as the D11^[1]) platform was based on a stretched version of the Volkswagen Group C3 platform:

• Audi V8 (Typ 44) (1988-1991)
• Audi V8 (Typ 4C) (1991-1994)

D2

The D2 platform is an all aluminium monocoque, based on space frame principles, which helped to significantly reduce weight without being any less rigid. Audi AG refers to this type of construction as the "Audi Space Frame" (ASF). It is technically the first 'original' D platform.

• Audi A8 (1994-2003)
• Audi S8 (1996-2003)

D3

The D3 platform, also employing an aluminium space frame, was used for the second generation Audi A8, A8L, and S8.

• Audi A8 (2003-2010)
• Audi S8 (2006-2009)

D4

The third generation Audi A8 launched in 2009 is sometimes referred to as the "D4" generation A8. This model combines an aluminium Audi Space Frame (ASF) structure but no longer uses the D platform, but the Audi-developed MLB component matrix.^[2]

D1 (VW Phaeton/Bentley)

The D1 platform cars (not to be confused with the earlier Audi V8 platform) share some components with the D3 platform, but have conventional steel bodyshell construction.

• Volkswagen Phaeton (Typ 3D, 2002–2016)
• Bentley Continental GT (2004–present)
• Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005) (2005–present)

References

1. "Audi V8 (D11/4C) - Technische Daten". Motor Klassik (in German). Retrieved 2009-06-30.
2. Mathioudakis, Byron (2009-12-02). "Miami spice" (PDF). GoAutoNews (511): 1.

• "Im Fokus: Volkswagen" (PDF). Automobil-Produktion (in German). March 2006. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
• "Audi A7 Confirmed for U.S., and S8 Model in the Works Included". Autoblog. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
• "Bentley Gives an Inside Look at the Next-Gen Continental Included". Motorauthority.com. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
• Fulthorpe, Mark (April 2002). "Europe's slight rise & anticipated decline - Auto by the Numbers - car sales, production in Western Europe - Illustration - Statistical Data Included". CBS Interactive Business UK. Retrieved 1 October 2009.

External links

• Volkswagen Group corporate website