The CMF-B modular platform, developed by the Alliance, was inaugurated just two years ago. Today, it is already used by three different brands on eight models, each with customers with specific needs. In the Dacia range, the All-New Sandero is the first to benefit from it. Why is the CMF-B platform adapted to the ‘essential and contemporary’ spirit of this model and what does it offer in terms of performance compared with the previous generation? Let's look at what's underneath the All-New Sandero.
What is a platform?
The platform is the rolling base of a vehicle. It includes all the non-visible parts of the underbody (chassis, floors, side members, running gear, etc.) to which the engine, interior and bodywork are then attached. Highly technical, the platform must be both as light and as rigid as possible. Its design and manufacture, using high-tensile steel, is complex.
CMF: A modular platform that adapts to the DNA of each brand and model
To keep pace with technological progress, regulatory changes (pollution standards) and a very rich commercial offering, remaining competitive requires mastery of diversity. To put it plainly, a platform must serve several vehicles and adapt to the characteristics required for each one. The CMF (Common Module Family) modular platforms designed by the Alliance fully meet this objective. They are made up of an assembly of 3 units (front, centre and rear) and 5 "Big Modules" that are the engine compartment, the cockpit, the front sub-body, the rear sub-body and the electrical and electronic architecture.
Each manufacturer has a choice of 4 central units and 3 rear units (the front unit is fixed). The diversity of combinations offered by a CMF platform makes it possible to meet the specifications of different makes and different vehicles. The specific features of each model include electronics, driver assistance systems, energy efficiency (thanks to weight and aerodynamics), running gear typing, road handling, habitability, etc. The CMF platform can also be used for a wide range of other applications.
CMF-B, the B-segment reference platform used by All-New Sandero
Within the Alliance, there are 4 families of CMF platforms. Among them, the CMF-B platform, adapted to B and C segment vehicles, was introduced two years ago. Today, it is the benchmark platform for all Alliance B-segment vehicles. It is therefore used by the All-New Dacia Sandero, the All-New Sandero Stepway and the All-New Logan in a version that offers access to contemporary features while respecting Dacia's DNA: offering the best value for money on the market to make a smart purchase.
A version adapted to the needs expressed by Dacia customers
In detail, the All-New Dacia Sandero is based on a long rear unit that emphasizes versatility of use and trunk capacity (410L / 328 dm3 VDA, i.e. +90 litres compared with the previous generation), without cutting back on interior roominess. The central unit, also long, offers a longer wheelbase (2.65 meters, i.e. + 7 centimetres) for greater comfort in all circumstances, even on rough roads.
On the engine side, the CMF-B platform is LPG-compatible, enabling the All-New Sandero to offer a dual fuel gasoline-LPG offering called ECO-G, which is cleaner (-12% CO2/100 km) and more economical to buy and use. In this version, the All- New Sandero's range exceeds 1,000 km! A winning combination for Dacia customers looking for useful features.
The CMF-B platform, a guarantee of safety and contemporary features
Thanks to the CMF-B platform's brand-new electrical and electronic architecture, the All- New Sandero benefits from latest-generation driving aids (ADAS): automatic emergency braking, blind spot detector, parking assistance, hill start assist, etc. It also offers highly contemporary features such as Stop & Start, a 6-speed manual gearbox and a CVT-type automatic transmission.
In terms of safety, protection in the event of an impact is improving thanks to improved resistance and greater rigidity. The structure has been reinforced at the level of the engine bay (in the lower track, the stringers and cradles are entirely new) and the passenger compartment. A new front suspension (for better filtration and steering capability), a new reinforced engine cradle (to reduce vibrations in the cabin) and a new 100% electric steering system (less effort) complete the equipment offered by the CMF-B platform on the All-New Sandero. All of this is marketed at Dacia prices, thanks to the pooling of parts and technologies with many vehicles, enabling significant economies of scale to reduce costs.
Although the platform is invisible to the customer, it remains the keystone of a vehicle's design. The All-New Dacia Sandero benefits from a latest-generation platform to the delight of its customers. A technical feat made possible by the modular design approach. It's enough to multiply the range of possibilities!
| Sharing platforms is one of the major strategic challenges of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Within the Alliance, the sharing of architecture zones between vehicles is applied for all brands. This helps to reduce design costs, comply with new regulations, and optimize the commercial offer. By 2025, 80% of the Renault group's vehicles will be produced on the Alliance's three CMF modular platforms. |
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