The Ford CD3 platform is a Ford

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...

 global midsize car automobile platform

Automobile platform

An automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques...

. It was designed by Mazda

Mazda

is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...

. The original Mazda chassis code for the CD3 platform is Mazda G platform

Mazda G platform

The Mazda G platform is an automobile platform for midsize cars. It has been used by a number of vehicles from Mazda in Japan and abroad.Prior to 1981, Mazda coded the rear wheel drive Capella platform as "S1" in the VIN code...

, which Ford Motor Company has used every evolution of since 1983. The platform is designed for either front, all-wheel drive or Ford's hybrid powertrain.

The platform is based on a unitized welded steel body (monocoque

Monocoque

Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...

) with an independent short long arms (SLA) double wishbone front suspension with stabilizer bar and an independent multi-link twist blade rear suspension with stabilizer bar.

Ford Motor Company developed the CD3 platform as its first fully "digital" car, allowing the company to cut months of development time, saving money and bringing the vehicles to market more quickly. Engineers were able to virtually build an entire car prior to initiating construction, thereby improving vehicle fit and finish, tool clearances and production line ergonomics.

Vehicles currently using this platform include:

• 2003–present Mazda 6
• 2006–present Ford Fusion (CD338)
• 2006–present Lincoln Zephyr
  Lincoln MKZ
  The Lincoln MKZ, initially named the Lincoln Zephyr, is a mid-size, entry-level luxury car from the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln revived the Zephyr name in the fall of 2005 as a platform-mate for the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan; the vehicles were based on the CD3 platform,...
  
  /MKZ
  Lincoln MKZ
  The Lincoln MKZ, initially named the Lincoln Zephyr, is a mid-size, entry-level luxury car from the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln revived the Zephyr name in the fall of 2005 as a platform-mate for the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan; the vehicles were based on the CD3 platform,...
  
   (CD378)
• 2006–2011 Mercury Milan
  Mercury Milan
  The Mercury Milan is a mid-size sedan based on the Mazda designed Ford CD3 platform built by Ford Motor Company and distributed by the Lincoln-Mercury division. It is a twin of the Ford Fusion, while being slotted below the luxury-spec Lincoln MKZ sedan...
  
   (CD338)
• 2007–present Mazda CX-9
  Mazda CX-9
  The Mazda CX-9 is a full-size crossover SUV manufactured by Mazda at their Ujina 1 plant in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.The CX-9 is built on the Ford CD3 Platform shared with the Ford Edge, and it uses the same 3.7L V6 engine used in the Ford lineup. Although outwardly similar, the CX-9 and Mazda...
  
  
• 2007–present Ford Edge
  Ford Edge
  The Ford Edge is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Ford, based on the Ford CD3 platform shared with previous generation Mazda6 and marketed in rebadged form as the Lincoln MKX...
  
   crossover SUV (U338)
• 2007–present Lincoln MKX
  Lincoln MKX
  The Lincoln MKX is a mid-size luxury crossover from Ford's Lincoln division and a de facto successor to the Lincoln Aviator luxury SUV. It debuted as a 2007 model in December 2006 as a production version of the Lincoln Aviator Concept shown at the 2004 North American International Auto Show...
  
   crossover SUV

Cancelled CD3 products:

• 2009 Ford Flex
  Ford Flex
  The Ford Flex is a full-size crossover manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Its styling is based on the Ford Fairlane concept unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The production vehicle made its debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. Sales of the Flex began in...
  
   crossover minivan
  Minivan
  Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
  
   (switched to D4)

CD3 2

The Mazda-based CD3 2 platform is expected to be phased out early next decade and give way to either of Ford's own EUCD platform

Ford EUCD platform

The Ford EUCD platform is Ford's global midsize car automobile platform. It is loosely based on Ford's compact Ford C1 platform...

 currently used under the Ford Mondeo in Europe or more likely by the EUCD2 as Ford revises its global product architecture. The next generation of Fusion, Edge, MKX and MKZ debuting in 2012-2013 are expected to be built on Ford's own global platform.