Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB)
The weight of the new Golf body structure has been reduced by 50 lbs (23 kg). At the same time, material costs and production time were also reduced.
A new modular strategy called the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) is used for the Golf chassis. MQB allows variances in the vehicle chassis, depending on the platform.
Compared to the previous platform, almost 40 lbs (18 kg) was saved by increasing the quality of the materials used, particularly the ultra-high tensile strength (hot-formed) components. The vehicle floor frame structure ultra-high strength components are the tunnel, upper and lower footwell cross members, inner side members and rear cross member.
The seat cross member is an additional lateral support that makes the MQB ready for future alternative drive systems, such as electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
More information about the MQB is in Self-Study Program 890423, The 2015 Golf.
The MQB wheelbase is determined by the length of the floor panels. One production tool can produce floor panels in five different lengths (length difference of 6.5 in [165 mm]).
The vehicle width is determined by the inner side members and the strut mounts in the wheel housings.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.