SUSPENSION DISBELIEF

Chinese luxury carmaker Yangwang Auto has revealed an innovative new active suspension system that's being introduced on its U7 sedan.

- By: Gareth Dean

Instead of traditional hydraulic or air suspension setups, the DiSus-Z system utilises electromagnetic actuators capable of far faster adjustments to each wheel's suspension. The actuators are overseen by a sensor array that features LiDAR, radar and cameras that scan the road surface ahead of the car and make up to 1 000 adjustments per second. It can also harvest kinetic energy from the suspension's vertical movement and channel it back into the car's battery. The upshot is greater stability and remarkable ride control, as evidenced by the company's latest exercise showing a martial arts expert practicing Kung Fu katas (movement exercises) on the roof of a moving U7 as it negotiates bumps and ruts on a closed course. This technology dovetails neatly with the move towards electrification and could form a blueprint for suspension systems in a number of upcoming EV models.

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