San Diego Westways - July/August 2004

Know Your Wheels: Platform

"A platform is a car's basic structural foundation?its body-and-frame design or unit body/chassis assemblage. Knowing a car's platform helps identify common components of models with different brand names. For example, the following cars share the same platform: the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type; the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Neon; and the Nissan 350Z (below) and Infiniti FX35 (left), FX45, and G35 coupe and sedan.

Definitions are adapted from Road & Track Illustrated Automotive Dictionary by John Dinkel (Bentley Publishers, 2000, $19.95, www.BentleyPublishers.com, 800-423-4593)."