Out of one, many

[Mr.DJ]

Out of one, many

By Royal Ford

Cars may look different, but shared underbody components produce savings for automakers, more choices for consumers

On one side of a highway is a line of distinct driving experiences: the Dodge Charger, the Chrysler 300, and the juiced-up 300C with a Hemi, followed by a Dodge Magnum wagon. Far back is a fast-approaching Dodge Challenger.

Different as they are, the cars in line with the Charger have shared LX platforms beneath their skins. Same, too, with the Volvos, whose so-called P1 platforms also share underpinnings with Ford and Mazda.

As big auto companies try to shrink to regain profitability, some manufacturers have realized that small can be good when it comes to expected sales for certain models. And that means many more choices for consumers.

Instead of trying to sell a single model by the hundreds of thousands to turn a profit, automakers realize they can make money off much smaller lots of different makes and models, as long as they're all plopped down on the same flexible rectangle.

The platform is basically the frame, suspension, rolling gear, and maybe even electronic controls that can be programmed, vehicle to vehicle, for performance, safety, and remote power features, among other tasks. Development costs are saved because their results are shared.

Atop these shared platforms can ride wildly different examples of fluid design. Not having to start from scratch with each model allows carmakers to spend money and be creative with what goes on top of these standardized platforms, offering consumers myriad choices among cars that otherwise might not have been made.

The 9-7X sport utility vehicle, for example, looks uniquely Saab. Yet beneath its skin lurks the same base platform as that of the GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Chevrolet TrailBlazer, all of which are in the General Motors family.

Consumers probably would not have had the chance to buy the 9-7X if Saab, facing sales of just 7,000, had to build it from scratch, said company spokesman Jan-Willem Vester. Yet Saab needed the car because its customers were defecting to buy other makers' SUVs. Shared platform to the rescue.

''The beauty is, you do not have to reinvent the wheel," Vester said. ''But it is distinct. It meets our brand promise."

Not long ago, carmakers would introduce, say, 30 new models in a given year, said Larry Keeley, president of Doblin Inc., a Chicago consultancy; now, three and four times that number come rolling onto launch stages at auto shows, even as total sales remain static.

The story continues
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Source: The Boston Globe
By Royal Ford, Globe Staff
February 19, 2006

[l3it3r@gmail.com]

why in the world did they differentiate between the 300 and the 300C? If they were going to do that, they should have had the Magnum, the Magnum R/T and the Magnum SRT-8, the Charger, the Charger R/T and the Charger SRT-8 as well as the 300 C SRT-8.. stupid journalists

[allhemi]

Originally Posted by l3it3r@gmail.com

why in the world did they differentiate between the 300 and the 300C? If they were going to do that, they should have had the Magnum, the Magnum R/T and the Magnum SRT-8, the Charger, the Charger R/T and the Charger SRT-8 as well as the 300 C SRT-8.. stupid journalists

Well you know what they say about journalists.....Take what they say with a grain of salt

[Vanishing Point]

...yea,plus its from the state of Mass.(boston).....watch out!

[allhemi]

Originally Posted by Vanishing Point

...yea,plus its from the state of Mass.(boston).....watch out!

You got that right!

[WildBillTX]

getting back to the story, one paragraph stood out for me...

"...Some American carmakers have unfortunately used single platforms simply to ''rebadge" cars -- GM with Buick/Pontiac/Chevrolet versions of the same car, for instance -- that fooled no one. Eventually Oldsmobile died, and Buick and Pontiac are fighting to regain their footing against what became far more stylish and varied foreign brands."

[allhemi]

Originally Posted by Vanishing Point

...yea,plus its from the state of Mass.(boston).....watch out!

Sometimes it just make you wonder whats on there mind.......

[Vanishing Point]

Originally Posted by allhemi

Sometimes it just make you wonder whats on there mind.......

On their mind?!....You mean they got one?(lie-beral capitol of the world)(land of goodbye muscle mopars,...and hello wimpy mopeds)

[RRHemi]

I think we should all promise to not run our Challengers into trees.

[HEMEEE]

I have just removed 38 posts from this hi-jacked thread!!
...And this is just one of many recently.

An occasional off-topic reply can be acceptable as long as it's kept occassional and you end with a back on topic comment, but 38 in a row is excessive and abusive.

Please be respectful of all thread-starters and fellow members who may be interested in the topic at hand. Using the forum as if it were your own private 'chat room' does nothing to contribute to the discussion and inhibits legitimate replies from interested members, and thus defeats the purpose of our board.

Keep private conversations off of the public forums, thank you.