UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

I just thought I'd share this insight, sorry if you already knew it...

Basically, tidying up the announcements of the Golf V, I came across references to PQ35:

For example:

The PQ35 platform covers several models, including the Audi A3, VW Golf, Bora, Tuaran and Cityvan; Seat Toledo and Skoda Oktavia; and includes sedan, hatch and station wagon body styles.

PQ35 stands for Platform Quer - a German word for across, which refers to the transverse engine layout. The 3 is the vehicle line and 5 the generation.

Federal-Mogul will supply front brake pads on PQ35 models with 15-inch wheels, expected to account for half of overall PQ35 production. Federal-Mogul expects to produce more than 4 million brake pads annually for the platform.

So, being a logical sort of bloke, I guess that there would also be a PQ25 platform. Well there isn't (at least google doesn't know about it yet), but there is a PQ24 platform.

I can't find a nice summary quote, but the PQ24 platform appears to include the 9n Polo, Gol, Parati (what's this?), Saveiro (again, what's this?), the Tupi (is this the Lupo replacement?), the Seat Ibiza and the Skoda Fabia. Oh yes, and the VW Sportster, maybe .

That's got to be one of the most diverse model ranges sharing the same components I've ever come across!!

Add in the smaller, "parts bin" stuff like seats, door handles and switchgear - and how much of the New Polo's actually new or unique? I can confidently put the headlights, the alloys, front and rear end external panels (but not side - shared with fabia) into a polo-specific category, but what else?

What I want to know is, if the first public references to PQ24 goes back to 1998 (see: www.nimak.de/e_as-ref.htm) - why haven't they sorted the rattles out in five years!?!

Deek. (Can you tell it's a Friday and my boss isn't in today? )

Well, here it is then:

PQ24 was project code for the Fabia/9N/Ibiza platform. "Tupi" or project "246" is the Lupo replacement currently beign developed in Brazil for launch in September.

Ok, now, the Gol sits on a different platform called AB9 and shares no major component with the PQ24 cars. Parati is the estate version of the Gol, and Saveiro is a small pick-up also based on that car.

PQ24 development probably started before 1998 (Fabia was launched in 2000?) but it's likely that the first public references to it appeared that year.

AB9 however has been around since 1994 when the Gol II was launched.

For those curious about Gol, Parati and Saveiro I'll post some pics later.

Cheers!

Hmm... It would seem that I've lumped too many things onto the PQ24 platform, then. I thought it was getting a bit too complicated.

Babe, I'd be interested in pics of these other models, if you have them to hand.