Renault-Nissan Debuts Common Modular Family
Renault-Nissan gave us their first look at their new “kit” dubbed “Common Modular Family”. The new will use four pieces, the powertrain, the dashboard and area aft of the firewall, the “cradle” that holds the engine and front suspension and lastly, the rear section that could be configured for the guts of an all-wheel drive system.
Like VW’s MQB kit, CMF should be able to underpin a wide variety of cars, with the various “Lego pieces” able to make everything from hatchbacks and sedans to larger SUVs that require a higher driving position. In world markets, CMF will underpin the Renault Laguna, Espace and Scenic, while the Nissan Qashqai, X-Trail and Rogue will adopt it on the Nissan side. The Nissan vehicles will debut later this year, while Renault’s offerings will have to wait until the end of 2014.
While the choice of using CMF for popular high-position cars like the Scenic and Qashqai is obvious for Europe, the addition of the D-segment Laguna is interesting; could we see CMF being used for Nissan sedans on our shores at a later date? I wouldn’t bet against it, though the first interation of CMF will reportedly be limited to just the three crossovers through 2020. The FF-L platform that underpins the Altima, Maxima and Murano is a bit long in the tooth, and there’s no reason why CMF couldn’t be adapted for these purposes.
More by Derek Kreindler
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When I read Nissan I just think "more CVTs". I hope the modular stuff doesn't work for them and they go out of business. The Altima is on my list for the worst rental car I ever rented. As for JD power - that list is stupid anyway. Initial quality? Huh. Most cars have like 100 things wrong with them according to that stupid list but funny the new cars I have had were just fine. Seriously. Oh wait I went to the link. It's even dumber then I thought. New cars have so few things wrong with them it focuses on 'design' flaws not actual problems. Haha. So basically we know Porsche and Audi have the biggest fanboys buying them. As much as I dislike Nissan outside of their lousy CVTs the cars are reliable enough for any more person who does like drive off curbs at 40mph or ignore the low oil light..
FF-L Platform is no longer used in current gen Maxima, Altima or Murano. It was replaced in 2007 by Nissan D platform. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_D_platform