Renault-Nissan Debuts Common Modular Family

by Derek Kreindler

Published: June 19th, 2013

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.

Renault-Nissan expects CMF to underpin as many as 14 nameplates, accounting for 1.6 million vehicles annually. According to the auto maker, purchasing costs should decrease by 20-30 percent, while R&D costs should see a 30-40 percent reduction.

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.

#Cmf #CommonModularFamily #Nissan #Renault #Renault-Nissan

Derek Kreindler

More by Derek Kreindler

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 16 comments

CelticPete on Jun 20, 2013

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..

Like Reply
Edjose17 on Sep 29, 2013

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

Like Reply

Recent Comments

ToolGuy 9 miles a day for 20 years. You didn't drive it, why should I? 😉
Brian Uchida Laguna Seca, corkscrew, (drying track off in rental car prior to Superbike test session), at speed - turn 9 big Willow Springs racing a motorcycle,- at greater speed (but riding shotgun) - The Carrousel at Sears Point in a 1981 PA9 Osella 2 litre FIA racer with Eddie Lawson at the wheel! (apologies for not being brief!)
Mister It wasn't helped any by the horrible fuel economy for what it was... something like 22mpg city, iirc.
Lorenzo I shop for all-season tires that have good wet and dry pavement grip and use them year-round. Nothing works on black ice, and I stopped driving in snow long ago - I'll wait until the streets and highways are plowed, when all-seasons are good enough. After all, I don't live in Canada or deep in the snow zone.
FormerFF I’m in Atlanta. The summers go on in April and come off in October. I have a Cayman that stays on summer tires year round and gets driven on winter days when the temperature gets above 45 F and it’s dry, which is usually at least once a week.