These Are The Best Examples Of Platform Sharing

Platform sharing helps automakers maximize profits, and sometimes it leads to better cars, too

By Logan Carter December 3, 2024 2:34 pm EST

Platform sharing is all but necessary to run a successful car company in the modern world, but which automakers have done it best? Last week we asked you that exciting question and you sounded off. From the logical answers to the absurd, our readers didn't disappoint.

My answer for the best example of platform sharing was the General Motors B Platform, which provided the underpinnings of some of my favorite cars from the nineties. I'm talking about the Buick Roadmaster, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and Chevrolet Caprice estate wagons of the early 1990s. Of course it also underpinned the sedans, but the wagons are so much cooler.

From platforms that facilitated some of the finest family cars ever produced, to some of the finest sports cars ever produced, platform sharing allows automakers to invest massive sums of money into the development of new technology and new cars as a whole. We have platform sharing to thank for some of the most loved cars of all time, and these are the best of the best.

ND Mazda Miata And Fiat 124 Spider

Fiat

The Miata and the Fiat Spider. Two great cars, no stinkers!

Submitted by: ReluctantFloridaMan

Chrysler K-Car Platform

The K-Car -it saved Chrysler, it popularized the minivan, it resurrected the convertible in North America, the turbo models were quick for the 80's, and they even managed to get a limo out of it (maybe not a great one, but good enough for a retired Richard Nixon).

Submitted by: Maymar

Toyota TNGA-F Platform

Toyota

TNGA-F is sure out there these days, and it seems to be a great platform.

Land Cruiser Prado

Tacoma

4Runner

Tundra

Sequoia

GX

LX

Land Cruiser 300

Submitted by: HammerheadFistpunch

Ford Fox Platform

The Ford Fox Platform started with the 1978 Fairmont with an 88HP 2.3L 4cyl (in it's most basic powertrain) and ended with the 2004 Mustang Cobra with a 390HP Supercharged 4.6L V8 and an IRS (yes, slightly modified but still essentially FOX).

Fairmont / Zephyr coupes, sedans, wagons

Durango (Fairmont ute)Granada / Cougar sedans, wagons

LTD / Marquis sedans, wagons

Thunderbird / Cougar coupes (2 different generations), Thunderbird TurboCoupe & Cougar XR7

Continental sedan

Mark VII coupe

Mustang / Capri coupe, hatchback, convertible, SVO

SN95 Mustang, Cobra, Cobra R coupe & convertible

Submitted by: Sucker for a '23 300C (formerly Magnum_SRT8)

Original Volkswagen Beetle Platform

Hands down, the Volkswagen Beetle.

It's "platform" was used to turn it into everything. Dune buggies, classic replicas, exotic car replicas, I mean it was used for everything!

Here's a Beetle that been converted to a 1952 MG-TD:

Here's one that been turned into a Porsche 356:

Or the proto minivan, that was the Brubaker Box:

I mean, I could do this all day!

Submitted by: Knyte

Volkswagen Group’s MSB Platform

Bentley

The Volkswagen Group's MSB platform is shared with the Porsche Panamera, Bentley Continental, and the Flying Spur. Pretty decent triumvirate of cars.

Submitted by: LarriveeC05

Ford/Mazda FWD Platform

In the 1980s and 1990s when Ford controlled Mazda, the Mazda 626 (third and fourth generations), MX-6 (both generations) and Ford Probe (both generations) were arguably some of the best cars from both companies. Their shared work was also pretty good later with the first Mazda6 and first Ford Fusion.

Submitted by: Joe Stricker

Volkswagen Group MQB Platform

Audi

I'd say the pinnacle from VW is the MQB. The Golf Mk7/8, Audi TT Mk3, all the way up to the VW Atlas. There's even the superminis that are based on an adapted version, the MQB A0, under things like the VW Polo, Audi A1 etc.

Submitted by: vc-10

General Motors Full-Size Van Platform

Hot take, whatever platform the Chevy/GMC full size work vans have lasted 2+ decades at this point with little reason to be modernized or replaced, Automotive perfection.

Submitted by: James II