Delphi's MagneRide(TM) Technology Enhances 2003 Corvette

BRIGHTON, Mich., May 8 -- Delphi Corp.'s MagneRide(TM) suspension control system, first debuted on the 2002 Cadillac Seville STS, is standard equipment on the 50th anniversary edition of the Chevrolet Corvette for the 2003 model year. MagneRide is also available as an option on all Corvette models. General Motors markets MagneRide as Magnetic Selective Ride Control on the Corvette and Magnetic Ride Control on the Cadillac Seville.

MagneRide is a high-performance, semi-active suspension control system that responds in real time to road and driving conditions based on input from sensors that monitor body and wheel motions. The system provides fast, smooth, continuously variable damping in a cost effective and reliable package that reduces body motion and increases tire road contact on all types of surfaces.

"MagneRide enhances both a vehicle's ride and handling performance at the same time, in effect eliminating compromises engineers must often make in designing suspensions," said R. Scott Bailey, director of engineering, Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems, Delphi Corp. "MagneRide brings these benefits to both luxury and performance vehicles."

"The Corvette's been renowned for excellent handling. With this technology on board it handles even better, and the ride comfort also improves," said David Hill, vehicle line executive, GM Performance Cars and chief engineer, Chevrolet Corvette. "With the car held flat and stable, with well controlled ride motions, it really is a pleasure to drive, no matter how long the journey."

Consumer benefits:

MagneRide(TM) provides improved comfort, performance and safety from one revolutionary system, through:

Greater sense of safety and security due to improved wheel control; Minimized vehicle body motion for a flatter ride and more precise, responsive handling; Reduction of small road disturbances; Improved load transfer characteristics, providing better roll control and steering precision during sudden, high-speed maneuvers; and A quieter, more refined ride due to improved road isolation. Operation:

The system uses Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluids and valve-less dampers to provide a wide range of damping force control with unparalleled responsiveness and high authority. The MR fluid consists of magnetically soft particles suspended in a synthetic fluid. When current is applied to an electromagnetic coil inside the damper's piston, the resulting magnetic field changes the rheology of the fluid i.e., its resistance to flow, and thus produces a mechanically simple but very responsive and controllable damping action without any valves. An onboard controller continually adjusts the damping forces up to once every millisecond based on input from four suspension displacement sensors, two position driver input switch on Corvette, a lateral accelerometer and a steering wheel angle sensor.

For more information about Delphi, visit Delphi's Virtual Press Room at www.delphi.com/vpr .