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Just been thinking about a post yesterday on the what van thread where it was said that renault trafic/vauxhall vivaro/nissan primastar were are all made in the same plant with the same engines and only minor cosmetic differences.
Ones I know of:
Mazda 121/Ford Fiesta
Ford Maverick 4x4 just re-badged Nissan Terrano
Citreon C1 and 2 others, a peugeot and some other I can't remember on top gear
So what other cars/vans etc are effectively the same?
touareg and cayenne
vauxhall vivaro/renault trafic
citroen dispatch/pug expert
A3 Octavia Golf Leon
Vauxhall Monterey - Isuzu Trooper
Fiat Ducato = Peugeot Boxer = Citroen Relay
Skoda Octavia = Lada Niva
Ford Galaxy = VW Sharan = Seat somethingorother
(old) Ford Galaxy/VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra
jag x-type/ford mondeo
VW golf/audi A3/seat leon/skoda octavia
etc etc
very very few cars are unique!
[i]VW golf/audi A3/seat leon/skoda octavia[/i] But the Octavia is a much bigger car, is it not the fabia or whatever its called, I would have thought octavia/passatt/a4 same.
There are also the 'family motors'. These use the same floorpan but different bodywork to make cars.
Latest Fiat 500 & Ford Ka
Focus & Mazda 3
Mondeo & Jag (Not sure if this is still the case)
Just about every VW & Skoda & Seat have some relationship in their chassis of one model or other
PSA Group cars
Even a Mercedes Sprinter and VW Crafter van are the same chassis and body. Just remodelled front end and different drivetrain
Its cheaper for two or three manufacturers to split development three ways than to all design one each.
Can we keep this to things that really are the same but with a different badge? Not things that 'share some common parts' - so the Saab 9-3, for example, is not a rebadged Vectra.
The Skoda equivalent of the Passat is the Superb
Saab 9-3, for example, is not a rebadged Vectra.
No that'll be the 9-5
higgo - MemberCan we keep this to things that really are the same but with a different badge? Not things that 'share some common parts' - so the Saab 9-3, for example, is not a rebadged Vectra.
you'll have to ask danger - it's his thread!
Yeah most of these don't count - in the OP the Mazda 121 was literally a Fiesta with Mazda badges on it...
Ford Fiesta
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Mazda 121
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Old toyota Hi-Lux and VW Taro, they were exactly the same vehicule re-badged.
VW golf/audi A3/seat leon/skoda octavia But the Octavia is a much bigger car, is it not the fabia or whatever its called, I would have thought octavia/passatt/a4 same.
Nope. the octavia is built on the golf platform. The only reason it's bigger is the 'saloon style' gives a bigger boot.
p.s. volvo s40 and v50 are also the same platform as the focus/c-max/mazda 3.
Surely it's Golf/Jetta(Bora)/Touran/TT/A3/Octavia/Leon. I think there's more in the Seat range, but not sure which ones.
Renault Master / Vauxhall something. If we are allowing vans in the thread?
As far as the audi/VW thing goes, the TT and Beetle are also built on the same chassis as the Golf et al.
I think its Golf Jetta Eos Beetle Scirocco A3 TT Leon Altea Toledo Octavia that are all built on the same chassis, actually the beetle is still based on the old golf so that probably doesn't count.
back to the old skool............
2CV's in a million and one guises (twin engined 4x4 anyone?)
MG midget/AH sprite
MGB/Triumph spitfire?/loads of classic Alfa's
Mazda 6/Ford Mondeo/Ford S-max/Volvo s70?
Mazda 3/Ford Focus/Volvo c/s50?
Kuga/Volvo
Fiat Grand Punto/Citroen/Peugeot
Ford Ka/Fiat 500
The 2CV only really had a few derivatives - Dyane, Mehari, Bijou, Ami was on a different chassis and running gear. The twin engined 4x4 you mentioned was a Sahara but it was still a 2CV really. Oh and there were 2cv and Dyane vans/pick-ups. And since they were all still made by Citroen it doesn't really count.
The Fiat 500 shares 80% of its parts with the Fiat Panda. Ergo so does the Ka (lots).
The Fiat Panda is a real and true hidden gem.
Fiat Panda = Seat Marbella
Vehicles that are based on the same floor pan doesn't make them remotely similar!
A bit like comparing two bikes built with identical frames, one specced for more XC use, the other more freeride/DH based, would give you 2 very different bikes...
Metro = Rusty Bucket 
Vehicles that are based on the same floor pan doesn't make them remotely similar!
But driving a leon/golf/A3, if you had your eye's shut*, could you actually tell the difference. The old leon even had the same dashboard as the A3 so no needs to shut your eyes in that one.
*don't try this anywhere (disclaimer for the numpties out there)
Porsche 911 and Skoda Estelle maybe? Well they are both rear engined!
Morris Oxford and Austin Cambridge. Literally only the badge was different. The first Minis could be bought as either a Morris 7 or Austin Mini
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Not a Land Rover Defender. (Santana)
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Also not a Land Rover Defender. (Morattab)
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Nor this one. (Otokar)
As mentioned truly the same is different to same families. While most VAG stuff is similar and share components very little of it is truly the same. The superb is a stretched passast chassis. The octavia is a standard golf chassis (I believe) but with much bigger over hangs to increase the size.
The ones that are the same are more common in the van world. Peugeot, citroen and fiat share a whole range as do nissan/renault/vauxhall. Mercedes sprinter and vw crafter/lt35 are made in the same factory but have different engines/gearboxes fitted as well as minor appearance changes.
Mazda Bongo = Ford Friendee/Freda.
The VAG ones aren't really the same car as such, but based on the same platform.
I have Leon Cupra (mk1) and have driven the equivalent Golf (1.6 and GTi), and there was definitely a difference in feel/handling... except the identical 6sp gearbox which really was identical, including all the same characteristic notchiness, especially upshifting when wellying it.
Saab 9-3, for example, is not a rebadged Vectra.No that'll be the 9-5
the 9-5 has nothing in common with the Vectra. they are built on different platforms
the 9-5 on the GM2900 platform (like the Cavalier was) and the 9-3 and vectra uses the Epsilon
otherwise back on topic.
Citroen Berlingo/Peugot Partner
Citroen C1, Peugot 107, Toyota Aygo - all built in the same toyota factory.
Citroen/Pug vans.
Reckon Filthy is right with all the VAG group stuff. Floorpan sharing is the key part as it defines wheelbase, suspension type/positioning, engine/gearbox location etc and is a huge investment for the manufacturers.
Also
Passat/A4
Boxter/Cayman/front end of 911
Oldie - Talbot Horizon / Dodge Omni / Plymouth Horizon ALL = CR@P
Wasn't the Lancia Thema also built on the same floorpan as the Old Saab 9000?
I believe the new Jag XF is built on the new Mondeo floorpan, x-type uses the old one?
The previous Skoda Superb model was effectively a rebadged, Chinese VW Passat with some rhinoplasty.
And last years Torro Rosso F1 car was a rebadged Red Bull.
Rover 25 / Allegro
Rover 45 / Princess
New Mondeo is same as Mazda I think.
Ibis Mojo is also a Raleigh Descender underneath.
Vauxhall Frontera = Isuzu Mu
Isuzu Mu = Isuzu Amigo
Rover 200/400 and Honda Concerto but even then the body work was fairly different.
Fabia VRS is a Goldf TDi with a squirt more power i believe.
even has VW stamped on top of the engine?
the peugot on topgear is a 107/toyota aygo/chit citron C1 and others.
all of which are arse compared to the a Kia Picanto. (not that im biased, but while looking at cars of that size, you notice the difference between having bare metal doors, and fabric covered door inners, and a a 4cylinder 1l revs sooo much quicker and smoother than a 3 cylinder)
not fast but hellish nippy, & good fun around town 😀
the original landrover freelander was built on an allegro floorpan!
Olly the fabia vrs shares the polo floor plan but has the same 1.9tdi pd engine that vag use in many cars. You can get it i power outputs from 90bhp to 150bhp in different cars. The vrs has a 130bhp version, golf tdi has up 150 but not in a specific model.
<nerd mode>
[b]Full vehicle clones[/b]
Fiat Grande Punto = Vauxhall Corsa = Alfa MiTo
mk2 Fiat Croma = Vauxhall Signum
Alfa 159 = Vauxhall Omega replacement (cancelled)
Alfa 164 = Lancia Thema = Saab 9000 = Peugeot 605 = Fiat Croma
Mercedes Sprinter = VW LT3x series
Rover 2x & 4x = MG ZR & ZS = Honca MK2 (?) Civic
Rover 600 = Honda Accord
Fiat Sedici = Suzuki SX4
Fiat 500 = Ford Ka2
Vauxhall Omega = Holden Commodore/monaro
[b]Floorpan Clones[/b]
Fiat Tipo = Bravo/a = Marea = Coupe = Tempra = Alfa Spider/GTV = Alfa 155 = Lancia Dedra = Alfa 145/6 = Mk1 Punto = Lancia Ypsilon = Barchetta
Lancia Delta (mk1 inc Integrale) = Fiat Strada
Mk1 Panda = Seat Marbella
Mk2 Panda = Lancia Y10
Mk3 Panda = Fiat 500 = Kord Ka
Alfa 156 = Alfa 147
Alfa 159 = Brera/Spider
MK1 Vauxhall Vectra = Saab 9-3
MK2 vectra = Saab 9-5
Mazda3 = Ford Focus
Ford Mondeo (mk1) = Jaguar X-type = mazda 6 (mk1)
Ford Mondeo (mk3) = mazda 6 (mk2)
Lincoln Continental = Jaguar S-Type
Jaguar XJS = Jaguar XK8 = Jaguar e-type in floppy hat and shades (stretching a point, but the drive train is nigh-on identical)
</nerd mode>
Yeah the VAG cars are quite different in reality. Same engines, floor plan, drivetrain etc but the interiors are very different, and the set-up is different too. Seat give you stiffer springs and a more sporty ride than VW, and Skoda are cheaper but with cheaper interiors. Also the engine options are different - there was a 160bhp 1.9TDi Ibiza that I don't think you could get in the other marques. The overall driving experience was pretty different between the Golf and the A3 that I drove. The shape of seats and cockpit etc was more cocooning in the A3. And rear vis was less too!
Just want to correct RooleyMoor:
The Jaguar XF is not based on a new Mondeo, it is based on the original S-Type (but with significant modifications to body, chassis, interior, powertrain etc etc).
Also, the Jaguar X-Type shares a floorpan and some chassis components with the Mondeo, but is essentially a very different car ( 4 wheel drive vs 2 wheel drive for one (yes, I do know that lower powered X-Types are front wheel drive and share more components with Mondeo's).
There is a general misconception that if cars are based on each other, they will share the same or very similar driving characteristics. This is generally the area that is tuned out using engine, transmission, chassis calibrations to make different cars feel very different. Most people would be amazed at the difference in the feel of the car that can be achieved by different damper / spring / tyre tunes and engine tunes.
The new Seat Exeo is probably the most blatant bit of 'platform' sharing seen for a long time...
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...now, where have I seen that before...
Mondeo mk1, mk2, and mk3 have the same suspension and chassis except engine change on mk3.
MAkes parts cheaper.
BMW e39 chassis was so stiff that it was used for older 3 series and newer 5 series. They also used the 90's 3 series rear suspension on loads of models like the Z3 for a while.
Cheaper.
large418, I did say that I believed that the xf shared the same floorplan, not that it definitely did use a mk4 mondeo floorpan.
As for the x-type, I agree that modifications have to be made for transmission etc. 4wd without a transmission tunnel doesn't do much for ground clearance!
RooleyMoor,
it's OK, just as someone who is very closely related to the British car industry, I feel it is very important not to devalue it. Even if innocent comments contribute to the loss of 1 sale, there is an impact to British jobs (especially in the current climate).
thought hot_fiat would be along at some stage...somedays I'm ashamed he was my best man!
shit! and god father to my boy, what have i done!
Some that I haven't seen mentioned yet which are proper clones.
Daewoo Nexia = Vauxhall Astra
Mini = Riley Elf = Wolseley Hornet
Ford Transit=Eurofighter Typhoon
Transit Connect=BAE Hawk