MagneRide Active Damping System Tipped For HSV

[JoeT]

Ferrari's Holden Connection

Glenn Butler
19 May 2006
www.drive.com.au

An active damping system used in Cadillacs and tipped to arrive soon on HSVs has just made its debut on Ferrari's 599 GTB.

Very few observers would expect Ferrari to make a habit of following the lead of brands like Chevrolet and Cadillac or even HSV, but that's exactly what the Prancing Horse has done with its latest newcomer, the 599 GTB Fiorano.

The new MagneRide system is an advanced damping system developed by component supplier Delphi and used in various Cadillacs and Chevrolets in the United States and, soon, in the next HSV range.

According to Ferrari 599 development boss Nicola Porciani the system - which Ferrari is branding Magnetorheological Suspension - signals "the end of compromise suspension setup".

Forget the scary names, the principle is easily grasped.

It involves the suspension dampers, which are tasked with calming the springing action of cars over bumps and controlling body roll during cornering.

Dampers (also called shock absorbers) are filled with fluid, typically oil, which shuttled between chambers during compression or rebound.

The size of the openings and shape of the channel along which the fluid must travel gives a damper its sporty firmness or bump-soaking suppleness. By adding iron particles to the oil and using an electric charge to magnetise or de-magnetise the particles, the viscosity of the fluid can be changed from water to treacle, or anywhere in between.

The result is a car capable of adjusting its ride characteristics from firm to supple and anywhere in between faster and more precisely than other active damping systems.

Until now, active damping systems changed the size or shape of damper valves in real time.

MagneRide uses the principles of magnetism and electricity and, says Porciani, is much faster to react, simpler to apply – once the basics are learned - and more easily tuned.

"We started exploring MagneRide in 2002, and made the decision to use it for the Fiorano in 2003. It took us a long time to get the calibration because we were discovering as we go. Next time, though, it will be a much quicker development process.

"The system's response is four times faster. It is so innovative we think it will have a future not just on other Ferraris but for other manufacturers worldwide."

MagneRide in principal is available to any manufacturer, but modifications made as part of the 599 project to hardware and software, and calibration settings remain exclusive to the Prancing Horse for at least two years.

MagneRide is far from the only innovation on the 599 GTB Fiorano, but it is the most significant.

And the HSV angle? General Motors used MagneRide technology on the Cadillac STS sedan a handful of years ago, around the same time current Holden boss Denny Mooney was part of the Cadillac Engineering Team.

Drive understands HSV has been evaluating adapting MagneRide for Australian vehicles.

HSV Clubsport

[MatsSS]

Yeh read that today, interesting.

[mbukukanyau]

When are the Ausies going to stop selling that Catera?

[Stormin]

You mean the top selling car in Australia?

[JoeT]

I'm gonna ban the next person who calls our Commodore a 'Catera'.

[MatsSS]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

When are the Ausies going to stop selling that Catera?

Why would Holden stop selling the Commodore? Australia's no.1 selling car. The new VE isn't based on the Omega/Catera.

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

When are the Ausies going to stop selling that Catera?

gee mate, haven't you noticed the thousand threads on GMI on the zeta and VE cars?

[Richard1098]

Originally Posted by MatsSS

Why would Holden stop selling the Commodore? Australia's no.1 selling car. The new VE isn't based on the Omega/Catera.

Neither was the VT-VZ in any substantive way...

[jlt0x]

This is a passive way of saying that Delphi (now struggling through a nasty bankruptcy) had developed an excellent damping/shock absorbing system.

GM hasn't been so forthcoming in adapting MagnaRide to more uplevel/upscale models. The STS, DTS, XLR, Bonneville GXP, and Lucerne are the more notable vehicles that can be optioned with the active shock absorbtion system as far as I know.

It's definitely a boost to Delphi for Ferrari to use this system for its new models. Hopefully Delphi can parry this pormising promo to help shop this system and other components to other manufacturers around the globe.

What happened to the ultra-damping system Bose was developing?

[Aych Es Vee]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

When are the Ausies going to stop selling that Catera

the only thing a Commodore has in common with a Catera/Omega are doors, and pillars.....

[Quickening]

I would of liked to keep Magnaride a GM exclusive, specially Cadillac to make it stand out from other luxury brands. And I'm sure once people learn about the technology from Ferrari, they will get the credit. But it could also show that Cadillac f'n pwns.

[TaHoE]

Gotta love the absolutely best suspension on earth. It's a shame it's not on the Z06...maybe that would make it more liveable for the brits on Top Gear.

[MatsSS]

Originally Posted by Richard1098

Neither was the VT-VZ in any substantive way...

My point was that VE isn't even slightly based on the Omega, being a complete new platform in Zeta. VT-VZ was still based on the Omega platform.

[01cavalier]

It's a great suspension setup, I'd love to see it available on more cars. The fact that Ferrari is now going to use it is awesome.

[68Vette]

Originally Posted by TaHoE

Gotta love the absolutely best suspension on earth. It's a shame it's not on the Z06...maybe that would make it more liveable for the brits on Top Gear.

Given the fact that they(Top Gear) also stated the car was a little too big for their roads I think that their upper lip would be too stiff to acknowledge an improvement for the suspension, even tho it is the worlds greatest...