宝马和奔驰决定减少平台数量以降低成本,加速开发进程。宝马和MINI目前有五个平台，但据宝马负责研发的董事会成员Herbert Diess透露，未来宝马将只有两个平台：一个用于前驱车，另一个用于后驱车。不过必须说明的是，i3插电混动车/电动车和i8插电混动车将不不受此次削减平台数量影响。而奔驰研发主管Thomas Weber表示，未来奔驰平台将从09年的九个缩减至四个（包括(MFA, MRA, MHA, MSA)。第一个用于A级和B级前驱车，第二个用于C级、E级、S级和GLK级后驱车，第三个用于ML和GL大型跨界车，最后一个用于包括SL、SLK以及可能的AMG GT运动车。由于上述变化，宝马、MINI以及奔驰各个车型将有更多部件共享。Weber表示，这将大大降低成本，同时有助于提升整体质量。此外，推出新车和改款车的速度将大大提升。

 

BMW reducing vehicle architectures to two, Mercedes-Benz to four

German automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have decided to reduce the number of vehicle architectures as a method to slash costs and speed up development.

 

BMW together with MINI currently have five vehicle architectures but according to Herbert Diess – a board member for research and development – that number will decrease to just two platforms: one for front-wheel drive cars and the other for RWD models. It should be mentioned the i3 plug-in hybrid/electric and i8 plug-in hybrid will not be included in this architecture restructuring.

 

Mercedes-Benz head of worldwide R&D Thomas Weber said the company will reduce its number of architectures from nine in 2009 to only four (MFA, MRA, MHA, MSA). The first one will be for front-wheel drive cars (A- and B-class); second one for rear-wheel drive models (C-, E-, S-Class, GLK); third one for large crossovers (ML, 2015 ML-based two-door, GL); last one for sports cars (SL, SLK and probably AMG GT).

 

As a result of these changes, more models within the BMW and MINI range, respectively Mercedes-Benz lineup, will share a significantly increased number of components. Weber said cost savings "are huge" while at the same time improving overall quality. In addition, he mentioned the time necessary to market new or facelifted models will go down