The Volkswagen Group’s three range-topping SUVs – the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg – are all a few years away from a redesign, but the automaker has named Audi as the engineering lead on the project.
“This decision was made in agreement with all of the brands involved and will create synergies throughout the group to the benefit of both the brand and the customers,” an Audi spokesman told Automotive News.
Porsche is currently in charge of all three models, each of which share platforms but deviate in many other ways.
Audi will also take over development of the upcoming Porsche Cajun, which shares much of its platform with the Audi Q5.
To capitalize on each brand’s expertise, Porsche will be put in charge of developing large luxury sedans and sports cars that will wear Audi, Bentley, Porsche or VW badges. VW, meanwhile, is in charge of smaller platforms – like the new “modular transverse matrix” that will underpin around 40 high-volume models sold as Audis, Seats, Skodas, Seats and Volkswagens.
The move is the latest strategic realignment at VW, which recently merged Porsche to within its global brand portfolio after acquiring just under 50 percent of the sports car brand.
References
1.’Audi to engineer…’ view
