Badge Engineering Fun

**LSCyaL8R** · 11-03-2009, 06:16 AM

So we all remember the heyday of badge engineering when a Buick Regal, Chevy Monte Carlo or Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme were virtually indistinguishable from one another. While the trend of simply slapping a different badge on a car has mostly ended the idea of sharing vehicle platforms among multiple brands and classes certainly lives on. It allows automakers to keep prices low reduce the impact of development costs and provide high levels of customization while keeping costs low.

So let's play a little game. Go out and find some fun examples of cars you wouldn't expect came from other cars.... example:

the 2008+ Jaguar XF, currently one of the top models in the Jaguar line has an interesting family history. It is based off of the DEW98 Ford platform which was designed initially for the new for 2000 Lincoln LS. Another fun fact is that the 2005 Mustang was supposed to get this same platform but enough modifications were made during development to warrant a unique designator for the mustang platform of D2C but deep down inside of D2C is a Lincoln LS DEW platform.

so let's share. Any good examples of Platform engineering?

Toyota Matrix = Pontiac Vibe.... in fact they were built in the same factory on the same line!

**ls1camino** · 11-03-2009, 06:21 AM

My Trans Am has "that Corvette motor".

**andrew rs** · 11-03-2009, 07:00 AM

the Buick Enclave, the Chevy Traverse, the GMC Acadia and the Saturn Outlook=same thing

ford fusion and ford edge are on the same platform but different types of vehicle

ford escort=mazda 626 back in the day.

shit every car manufacturer does it, besides those damn germans it seems like.

**LSCyaL8R** · 11-03-2009, 07:51 AM

AH!!! but the germans DO engage in platform sharing!

The Volkswagen Group PQ35 and lengthened version PQ46 platforms underpin a TON of cars like

Audi A3
Volkswagen Touran
Volkswagen Caddy
SEAT Altea
Volkswagen Golf/GTI/R32/Rabbit
Skoda Octavia
VW Golf Plus
SEAT Toledo
VW Jetta
SEAT Leon
Audi TT
VW Eos
VW Tiguan
VW Scirocco
Audi Q3
and the new VW Golf Mk6
VW Passat
VW Passat CC
Skoda Superb II

that's a LOT of cars for one common platform! VW Audi SEAT and Skoda all using the same underpinnings for a wide range of vehicles. Badge engineering is not what it used to be. These cars have a LOT of part commonality it's not just a name tacked to em.

**wheeliE-maxx** · 11-03-2009, 09:02 AM

Olds bravada, chevy s10 blazer and the higher end "trailblazer" trim at the time, gmc Jimmy, I'm sure isuzu would have had a version if not for the rodeo. Samegoes for the s10 trucks, except isuzu had their version of those while olds didn't. There are even more versions of the trailblazer/envoy

**Smittro** · 11-03-2009, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by wheeliE-maxx

Olds bravada, chevy s10 blazer and the higher end "trailblazer" trim at the time, gmc Jimmy, I'm sure isuzu would have had a version if not for the rodeo. Samegoes for the s10 trucks, except isuzu had their version of those while olds didn't. There are even more versions of the trailblazer/envoy

Trailblazer same as s10 blazer?

**1MileCrash** · 11-03-2009, 10:26 AM

the all new cadillac srx uses the same basic chassis as the latest (and last) generation saturn vue, the chevy equinox, pontiac torrent, suzuki xl7, daewoo winstorm, and the saab 9-4x (among others).

the cadillac cts, sts, and dts all share the same basic platform.

other than that i think just about everyone knows that all gm brand vehicles are the same as some other gm vehicle.

**1MileCrash** · 11-03-2009, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Trailblazer same as s10 blazer?

the last gen s10 blazer and gmc jimmy had uplevel trim packages called "trailblazer" for the blazer and "envoy" for the jimmy. while the trailblazer nameplate never replaced blazer in the previous generation, envoy did replace jimmy for one or two model years before the platform was moved over to the trailblazer/envoy platform in the last generation of the nameplates.

**Smittro** · 11-03-2009, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by 1MileCrash

the last gen s10 blazer and gmc jimmy had uplevel trim packages called "trailblazer" for the blazer and "envoy" for the jimmy. while the trailblazer nameplate never replaced blazer in the previous generation, envoy did replace jimmy for one or two model years before the platform was moved over to the trailblazer/envoy platform in the last generation of the nameplates.

Ah I got ya, I did'nt know that about them. Learn something new everyday.

**loasdrums** · 11-03-2009, 10:43 AM

Ford Pinto

Mercury Bobcat

Same thing

**loasdrums** · 11-03-2009, 11:03 AM

Subaru Impreza

Nope that's the Saab 9-2x

**LSCyaL8R** · 11-03-2009, 11:13 AM

That's what I'm talkin about! How about the Chrysler 300C more than 20% part commonality with the mercedes benz E-class. Which means the Dodge Magnum and Challenger and Charger also share parts with that Benz E-class

**Maro SS** · 11-03-2009, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by LSCyaL8R

That's what I'm talkin about! How about the Chrysler 300C more than 20% part commonality with the mercedes benz E-class. Which means the Dodge Magnum and Challenger and Charger also share parts with that Benz E-class

damn i learned that a couple weeks ago and i was just about to post it!

**Zapper2003** · 11-03-2009, 01:07 PM

Hummer H2/H3 and the Tahoe/Colorado and all other forms of the trucks.

**1MileCrash** · 11-03-2009, 01:25 PM

the kia rio used ford engines from 2000 until 2005 when they were replaced with hyundai engines.

**LSCyaL8R** · 11-03-2009, 01:33 PM

interesting! kia used Ford engines? proof? IIRC Kia is a subsidiary of Hyundai for many years now. Hyundai used to have working partnerships with GM.... oh what a tangled web we weave!

**wheeliE-maxx** · 11-03-2009, 01:33 PM

gm pickups pretty much weren't anything but a grille and badge change until '07. A few differences like headlight number and turn signal placement though.