Daimler and Renault-Nissan are undertaking a joint feasibility study into a new front-wheel drive platform.
Speaking at the Frankfurt motor show, Nissan technical chief Andy Palmer revealed that the new architecture was being looked at as a successor to the current range of Mercedes models based on its MFA platform, including the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and GLA and also a whole range of future Renaults, Nissans and Infinitis.
The so-called JC1 (joint compact first generation) structure is planned to support at least two different wheelbase lengths, varying track widths and both front- and four-wheel-drive layouts, as Autocar revealed earlier this year.
"Daimler needs an MFA successor and we need more cars in that segment," said Palmer. "There’s now a study to see if we can develop a joint platform. Step two would be common manufacturing, which is also part of the study."
Daimler and Renault-Nissan are planning to team up on the current MFA architecture, with the new Infiniti Q30 being planned to be spun off the platform in 2015 and built at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.
Click here for more Frankfurt motor show news.
Join the debate
Add your comment
Will they end-up in a relationship like Wolseley and Austin?
So, through this “joint feasibility study into a new front-wheel drive platform”, will they end-up in a relationship like Wolseley did with Austin-Morris, and with Infiniti somewhere in the middle like Riley - all of which were within the original BMC ?!
But...
Isn't the MFA brand new? Wasn't it just introduced in the A klass? And also, isn't Renault just now introducing their own, brand new modular plattform in the new X-Trail ( that is supposed to be used in everything fom the Qashqai to the new Koleos/Laguna/Espace ).
Very confusing news.
tuga wrote:Isn't the MFA
The thing is that creating a whole new platform requires quite some time, so they've started work on it so that by the time the new generation of models is due it would be ready. A similar process happens with new cars - shortly after a brand new car is launched, the car maker already starts planning the next-gen model that is 5-7 years away...
Christian Galea wrote: tuga
I was about to say the same thing, platform development is typically 7 years ( the same as a ne model in many cases) but this is just at the infancy, feasibility stage, so I reckon we are looking at 10 years away, although saying that, Renault's development time is now 35 months for a new car.
What this does spell out is that Reneault/Nissan Alliance and daimler Benz are in it for the long haul. There could be some very exciting new models coming in teh next decade. Renault have always needed a 'Premium' partner and Mercedes desperately needs a 'Volume' partner. It is a pity the Renault Volvo tie up never happened, the thought of a 5 pot Safrane was quite intriguing.