Audi Demonstrates Active Suspension System Of The Next-Generation A8 Saloon

Audi will equip its next-generation A8 with its most advanced active suspension system. The German carmaker has demonstrated the tech a new video ahead of the saloon's debut on July 11, 2017.

We are introduced to the sedan's all-new active suspension - a fully active, electromechanical suspension system, which drives each wheel individually and aligns itself as per the road conditions.

Each wheel has an electric motor that is powered by the saloon's 48-volt main electrical system. Working in sync with the A8's front camera, the car is capable of identifying bumps in the road ahead and sets the active suspension in anticipation.

The preview function developed by Audi sends the right amount of travel to the motors and actively controls the suspension, guaranteeing that any vibrations and jolts are reduced. The company says this process is done in just milliseconds, with the camera scanning the road surface condition about 18 times a second.

The active suspension also minimises body roll while cornering, as well as pitching movements when braking or accelerating. This is helpful as the "customer can drive dynamically while keeping the vehicle under control or work undisturbed in the rear," Audi explains.

Additional components apart from the actuators include gears, a rotary tube together with an internal titanium torsion bar, and a lever which exerts up to 1,100Nm on the suspension via a coupling rod.

Another feature of the A8's platform is the addition of dynamic all-wheel steering, helping improve the vehicle's agility and stability.

Audi claims the system "provides comfort-oriented customers with a chauffeur-driven sedan offering a stylishly smooth ride," and allows the "enthusiastic owner-driver can relish the characteristics of a sports car."

Safety is another aspect where the A8's active suspension adds to, working with the Audi pre sense 360 safety system. In other words, the system employs the sensors linked to the car's central driver assistance controller to detect risks of a crash.

In the case of a side impact at more than 25 km/h, the suspension actuators raise the body on the exposed side by up to 80mm within half a second. This guides the force of the impact to the secure areas of the A8 like the side sills and floor structure, decreasing the load on the occupants by as much as 50 percent.

DriveSpark Thinks!

The new-generation Audi A8 will bring in a host of safety as well as autonomous features. This will hopefully be passed on to some of the mass market cars that Audi produces.