Audi to build 7 seat luxury MPV on the MQB platform; Debut in 2016

German luxury car maker Audi is planning a luxury MPV to debut in 2016. This MPV will be based on a modified MQB platform, which currently underpins Audi cars like the A3 hatchback and the A3 sedan. The MQB platform is a common platform that Volkswagen group car brands like Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat use for a range of cars, mostly hatchbacks and sedans. The only Audi cars to be based on the MQB platform were to be the A3 hatchback and sedan. With the 2016 Audi MPV, another car has been added to this versatile platform.

2012 Audi A3 Hatchback used as an illustration

The MQB platform translates to modular transverse matrix, which means that parts can be shared and cars based on the MQB platform can be built at common production facilities. For the 2016 Audi 7 seat luxury MPV, this platform will be suitably stretched and widened. The Audi MPV could measure in at 4.5 meters in length, which is significantly longer than both the A3 hatchback and sedan. By the looks of it, the MPV seems like a product targeting big volumes just as most of the cars in the MQB platform are. As the MQB platform allows for both front wheel drive and all wheel drive layouts, expect the MPV to also get these options.

Turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines are expected to be offered on the 7 seater Audi MPV. Given that the 1.8 Liter TFSI petrol engine and the 2 Liter TDI turbo diesel engines are standard on the A3 hatchback and sedan, similar engines could be offered on the MPV too. Also, there is some talk about a hybrid version of the MPV being readied up given that 2016 is still a good four years away, and far enough for hybrid cars to mature and become more mainstream than ever before. Currently, Audi has no presence in the people mover segment and the 7 seat MPV will be a brand new product for the brand.

Amongst the luxury car brands, Mercedes Benz and Volvo are the only ones to offer people movers to customers. BMW and Audi have no presence in the people mover segment although some might argue that the van variant of the Mini hatchback would be BMW’s presence marker in this segment. Arguments apart, we’ve seen that the Teuton trio closely match one another in terms of new products. With Audi now all set to enter the people mover segment in 2016, we’re wondering if BMW too will want to join the party. Mercedes Benz currently has a 5 seat MPV in the form of the B-Class. So, a 7 seat stretched model wouldn’t be stretching the imagination.

Via Autocar.co.uk