3 Technologies That Are Making Car Suspensions Smarter Than Ever - Popular Mechanics
Suspension systems don't tend to get much publicity, but they're probably the most crucial factor in the day-to-day enjoyment of your car. We haven't quite gotten there yet, but the latest systems are better than ever at reconciling the competing goals of comfort and performance. Magnetic Dampers If you enjoy the magnetic dampers on your Ferrari FF or Audi R8, you can thank General Motors for developing the technology. By varying electric current through a ferrous fluid, Magnetic Ride Control dampers can adjust their stiffness in response to driving conditions. Its third-generation Magnetic Ride Control (as seen in select performance cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, seen above) improves on prior designs by adding a second wire. Motorcyclists can tell you that leaning into a corner feels natural—too bad cars can't do that. Using a lateral-acceleration sensor paired to a forward-looking camera, the S65 perceives corners and then uses its air suspension to tilt the body in toward the apex. The goal isn't higher performance but, rather, increased comfort as the passengers experience lower lateral loads at a given speed. Basically, if the road doesn't have a nicely banked corner, the car simulates one for its occupants. Source: www.popularmechanics.com
