Citroen to launch revolutionary suspension system in 2017

[bobins]

How does this new-fangled suspension system fit in with Citroen's previous announcement that they were going 'downmarket' and were going to cater for the cheaper end of the market, with the DS marque occupying the 'top of the range' (at least in PSA's eyes) market.... or did I imagine the 'El-crappo here we come' announcment of a few months ago ?

[vborovic]

If they offer this suspension in every new car, from the cheapest to the most expensive ones, that definitely fit in that they were going downmarket ... by getting more customers in the lower segments who want unparalleled drive quality compared to "regular" cars ... the general idea up till now was that the hydro suspension was for the high-end cars, right? Out of all the newer C's only the C5 & C6 had them (C4 Piccasso's rear-only can't really be counted)

[Zelandeth]

I know that in the NSU Ro80 the clutch is operated by pressing down on the gear knob, I *think* from memory that was a vacuum system.

[bobins]

I have a horrible feeling it will be air bag suspension on all four corners...... and the air bags will only last 18 months........ and only Citroen will sell the air that is needed to refill them

[GiveMeABreak]

Citroen as a brand really need to do something to maintain their 'Unique Selling Point' - which is rapidly diminishing. Even the new DS range was slated by many for using the 'Déesse' name - yet had no real connection to anything about the original DS or it's legacy. You cannot rely on the name alone, you need to have something special and different that makes people want to own it. The ride in the new DS range is widely reported to be horrible and apart from the interior design of the DS5 (which at least looks unique) there is little there (apart from a huge price tag) that would tempt me to own one.

I quote from a poster on another site "European sales of the DS5 have struggled to break four digits per month and in China, they sold just eight of them in March. Eight, in a country of 1.4 billion people. Even the "split" they announced from Citroen has no credibility - no independent company could survive on such tiny volumes. The real question would be - how long can PSA itself remain independent, not "DS"

With the hydropneumatic system finally going, adaptive front lighting now even on cars like that Vauxhall chocolate Mocca thing and the ford range, I only hope that whatever they replace it with is in fact unique to Citroen and revolutionary. Time for Flaminio Bertoni, André Lefèbvre and Paul Magès to be reincarnated I think.

[Stickyfinger]

Bring back the ACTIVA !

New engines, new body (DS3 ?) and the ACTIVA suspension...Job Done

and better than all the "Tooth Shakers" we have today !

[GiveMeABreak]

Couldn't agree more Alasdair. As Zelandeth mentioned above, I nearly bought an NSU RO 80 with the Wankel rotary engine back in the early 80s. It was a cinnamon coloured semi-automatic and boy did it shift. It was up for £550 at the time and I sooooo wanted it - but it was a little tooooo unique (as in nobody else in the universe I knew had one) so common sense prevailed (or not) and I ended up with my first GS 1000cc instead.

Here's another good idea on the DS9 (banished to Beijing already, so unlikely we'll ever see it here) - but I think also available on other cars already -

[DickieG]

Bring back the ACTIVA !

New engines, new body (DS3 ?) and the ACTIVA suspension...Job Done

and better than all the "Tooth Shakers" we have today !

Activa's are old hat from a different age and way too troublesome, far better is BMW's Adaptive Drive and Variable Damper control which gives a softer ride, eliminates roll, doesn't leak, nor require maintenance which is quite a distant dream for an Activa owner. I drove a F11 530 fitted with this system few weeks ago and was blown away by the way it controlled the body movement yet gave a softer ride than you'll get in a Hydraulic Citroen and that was with 19" wheels and low profile tyres. Following this experience I can see exactly why Citroen are dumping hydropneumatic suspension as it's been overtaken by modern technology.

[isisalar]

That RO80 gearknob system was a bit odd, AFAIK it worked by your body completing an electrical circuit when you touched the gearknob, which disengaged the clutch, vice versa when you removed your hand.
A popular conversion on those was to fit a Ford V4 engine, when the Wankel blew up, I heard of a case where a Daimler V engine had been used, but wheelspin at take off couldn't be avoided.

[Stickyfinger]

Yep, just like Air-Bags did

But I agree with you, I think it is the way forward but I for one will not be able to afford the replacements every 5k miles

[Stickyfinger]

What Lotus were doing

http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadte ... Nov83.html

[elma]

I'm hoping it's the system on the C4 rally car and McLaren mp4-12c. It sounds like a next gen activa when you read into it.

[Zelandeth]

Sadly McLaren have dropped the fully linked suspension on the latest model - though have done a good job apparently keeping the ride decent despite being such a performance motor.

Have to admit that an MP4-12C or a 650S would most likely be on the Lotto wish list, and I have to drive one before I kick the bucket.

...at least I've already ticked the F40 off the list...

Have to admit that the whole magneto-hydraulic thing is really clever and can work well when done properly. Just wish the Germans would realise that! Was in a new Boxster GTS yesterday and it was almost agressively uncomfortable. Real shame as it made a truely goegeous noise, went like the proverbial and handled like I remember the original Boxster did more years ago than I care to remember.

[Richard_C]

It might be beam axle rear with semi elliptic leaf springs, quarter elliptics and friction shock absorbers at the front , and VERY VERY high profile tyres. That way you would have room to fit a nice tall long stroke 4 pot engine. Didn't do the British car industry any harm ..... oh, hang about.....

[Peter.N.]

.. or transverse springs like the Ford 10.....