Two new Porsche models already make use of part of ZF’s sMOTION active suspension system: the Panamera and Taycan. Each features Porsche’s “Active Ride” air suspension which uses sMOTION’s damper and valve technology.
In the case of automotive chassis, it has often been challenging to combine excellent dynamic properties with high-level comfort. That has been made easier for automakers with sMOTION as the pitching and rolling maneuvers inevitable in dynamic steering, braking and acceleration have been virtually eliminated.
The sMOTION active chassis system is based on the well-known, adaptive ZF damping system CDC (Continuous Damping Control) with two external valves, each of which independently regulates the compression and rebound direction of the damper. In this way, damping pressure is optimally adapted to the respective driving situation, an important quality for driving comfort and dynamics.
sMOTION goes a step further using a high-performance oil pump to actively move the wheel suspension via the piston rod. In this way, the electronic control system can neutralize the effect of road unevenness on individual wheels. It is also able to compensate or even counteract the wheel height when cornering—for example, when accelerating and braking.
sMOTION is particularly powerful during dynamic driving maneuvers: A sharp steering movement to the right would normally cause a conventionally damped vehicle to tilt to the left. Passenger cars equipped with sMOTION, automatically adjust the cornering inclination to the speed and generate a helicopter mode. Thus, the vehicle’s driving behavior is almost light-footed.
For example, a vehicle equipped with sMOTION can use the active damper system, to elevate a vehicle by eight centimeters within half a second. This means the control electronics, also developed by ZF, can hold a passenger car weighing three tons almost horizontally on the road up to a cornering force of 1 g.
This wheel-specific active body control, which does not use stabilizers, has significant potential in terms of comfort. If vertical movements of the vehicle body are prevented, motion sickness can be potentially eliminated.
The calming of the vehicle body can be increased even further, for example if information on road conditions, such as bumps or potholes are known, which the system can compensate for in a targeted manner. If automated and autonomous driving continues to increase in practice, this chassis characteristic becomes increasingly valuable for all vehicle occupants.
