BWI Group Previews Third Generation of the World's Most Advanced Controlled Suspension System

MagneRide challenges the need to compromise between ride and handling

New version extends applications range to large SUVs

PARIS – March 31, 2010: Suspension and braking specialist BWI Group is developing a third generation of its successful MagneRide controlled suspension system. Already fitted by Audi and Ferrari in Europe, Honda in Japan, Cadillac in North America and HSV in Australia, MagneRide almost completely eliminates the need for compromise between ride and handling. The third generation system takes another substantial step towards this goal by introducing a new two wire dual coil (TWDC) actuation system, a new Electronic Control Unit (ECU), new control algorithms and various other upgrades that improve the dynamic range and speed of response of the system.

In parallel with the performance upgrades, BWI has developed a new, heavy duty version that extends the range of applications to large SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles). The company believes that MagneRide will significantly improve the balance of ride quality, handling and active safety achievable with vehicles in this sector.

“We are now very close to completely eliminating the need to compromise between ride quality and dynamic ability,” says BWI’s Manager, Forward Engineering Controlled Suspensions, Olivier Raynauld. “Third generation MagneRide will effectively remove the need for chassis engineers to choose between comfort and handling and can be achieved without any increase in packaging or weight compared with the previous generation system.”

BWI acquired MagneRide with Delphi’s chassis systems business in November 2009 and has continued to make substantial investments in both fundamental R&D and continuous improvement to existing technologies. The company supplies the complete range of chassis and braking systems and recently won an international award for its MR Powertrain Mount, launched on various 2010 Porsche models.

MagneRide uses fixed orifice dampers with a magneto rheological damper fluid. When a firmer characteristic is required, electrical coils around the orifice are energised, causing magnetically soft particles in the fluid to attract each other and increase the resistance to flow. The system responds in real time based on inputs from sensors that monitor body and wheel motions and driver control inputs. The result is a fast, smooth, continuously variable damping action from a simple, cost-effective and reliable package that has no small moving parts and fewer parts in total than a traditional passive damper.

Generation 3 MagneRide replaces the single electrical coil in each damper with two smaller coils and introduces a new, bespoke ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and optimised control algorithms. By providing quicker ‘current off’ performance, the new system delivers a faster transient response. The new dual-coil architecture also contributes to providing an even higher dynamic range (a ‘softer soft’ and a ‘harder hard’), even at the low relative body velocities that are difficult to control with conventional damping technologies. As well as directly improving comfort and handling, these improvements also allow the authority of the roll bar and the springs to be reduced, improving a further area of ride-handling compromise.

To extend MagneRide’s range of applications to heavier vehicles such as premium SUVs, the system’s resistance to side loads has been increased and seals and bearings have been uprated. “The very high level of control provided by MagneRide will bring significant improvements in ride comfort and dynamic response for these vehicles,” comments Raynauld.

European production vehicles currently available with the highly regarded Generation 2 MagneRide include the Audi TT, Audi R8, Audi A3, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, the Ferrari California and the widely-acclaimed new Ferrari 458 Italia.