Auto Techno - Volkswagen's modular transverse matrix

The global automotive industry is facing enormous challenges on several fronts particularly in the areas of being environmental friendly.

Volkswagen is addressing these challenges by the strategic optimization of drive systems found in their Modular Transverse Matrix or MQB architecture. What is this all about? Let’s find out.


Starting from the Golf to the Passat and future VW models, the Modular Transverse Matrix or MQB to increase their car’s competitiveness in the long term.

Unique to the MQB is that it considers all drive versions. In configuring the modular transverse matrix, the growing diversity of drive versions was taken into account. In very concrete terms, the MQB enables the integration of drive systems – in an identical mounting location – that range from a wide range of engines from petrol to diesel to even CNG, hybrid or electric without limitations or compromises.

With the entire Volkswagen group having more than 220 different models produced in over 90 sites worldwide, the MQB enables the group to have comprehensive standardization of components and production processes.

MQB also successfully standardizes modular components such as the distance between the accelerator pedal and the center of the front wheel. In addition, MQB allows for the uniform positioning of all engines.

However, MQB makes for a highly flexible platform allowing for a wide variable of parameters from the wheelbase, track width, and wheel sizes.





In one fell swoop, Volkswagen was able to reduce engine and gearbox variants in the new MQB system by 88 per cent. This reduced complexity increases flexibility.

Plus, design, package and safety benefit. In general, the advantages of the MQB are multi-layered and specifically benefit the new car customer: for example, the forward shift of the front wheels by 40 mm (compared to Group compact class models today) produces especially well-balanced proportions in styling, supplemented by optimized space utilization (the so-called ‘package') and an improved crash structure.

Thanks to an intelligent material mix, the MQB also leads to a reversal of the upward weight spiral. Consider the Golf: Despite tremendous progress in convenience features and vehicle safety, the weight of the future generation Golf is about the same as that of the fourth generation (1997 to 2003).

The strengths of the MQB are inseparably linked to the Volkswagen Group's Modular Production System (MPB) with the result that vehicles and production are thereby networked together more tightly than ever. Comprehensive standardization of vehicle components, engineering dimensions and production methods can reduce costs and production time.


In turn, greater flexibility opens up new possibilities for extending the product line-up – even for niches that the Group could not service to date. In the framework of the modular transverse matrix, the various areas of vehicle and production technologies are interrelated, paving the way to the future.