Citroen to launch revolutionary suspension system in 2017

[GiveMeABreak]

Sad news on the likely scrapping of the Hydropneumatic / Hydractive suspension systems by PSA CEO Carlos Tavares, currently now only in production on the upper C5 range.

Another ‘unique’ citroen feature and feat of engineering design down the pan, lost to economics and cost saving. Apparently only 10,000 Hydropneumatic C5s were sold in 2014.
So having personally only owned Hydropneumatic citroens since I bought my first canary yellow (yes, it was a hideous colour) GS in the 1980s, this means my current C5 X7 may well be my last Hydropneumatic and indeed Citroen for that matter.

So just when I thought it looked like it’s all going a bit ‘Pete Tong’ I found this little article a couple of days ago that indicates the new CEO (another one?) Linda Jackson as saying there will be a new suspension system in 2017 rolling out on the C5 at first, then ultimately to the whole range!

They don’t say what it is or how it works, only that it will be unique to Citroen.
Here’s the link, so the next question is, do we have any moles here in the membership that can spill the beans????

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-c ... ystem-2017

[bobins]

If they'd said it was going to be unique in Citroen's history then I'd suggest they'd developed drop links that don't wear out

[GiveMeABreak]

Nice one!
Can't be as bad as my old 1976 GS though (front brakes in the middle of the engine bay) - the CV joints on those were horrendous and I ended up having them changed every 6 months. Cost a bomb back then too in the early 80s! The only pyrotechnics on these were as a result of trying to put your ciggy out somewhere.

[Peter.N.]

I suspect it will be an instantly adjustable damper system that one or two other manufacturers are using. Electro magnetic control of iron filings in the dampers - or I could of course be completely wrong.

Peter

[GiveMeABreak]

I think they use that system on some Audiis Peter. Struts filled with magneto-rheological fluid. In basic terms I think the variable current applied affects the alignment of the metallic particles in the fluid and increases or constricts the fluid through the piston channels. I believe Delphi make it.

So I'm wondering if this new Citroen system is "revolutionary", just what is it? It would have to be less expensive than the hydropneumatic system currently in use and scalable enough to be rolled out across the range; though I note the plans in the article to cut the 14 or so platforms by half. I believe Citroen also have some purely pneumatic air units fitted as optional at the rear of some C4 Picasso models, but air suspension isn't exactly unique or revolutionary.

Makes me wonder what those men in white coats are dreaming up behind closed doors (apart from taking Carlos Tavares away in a CX ambulance to the nearest suitable facility)!

[wheeler]

I suspect it will be an instantly adjustable damper system that one or two other manufacturers are using.

The AMVAR system in the C6 already does instantly adjustable dampening although it doesn't work with iron filings.

[Stickyfinger]

Maybe they have invented a place for a cup holder ?

[myglaren]

Maybe something similar to the Bose suspension system perhaps.

[Gibbo2286]

That iron filings comment reminded me of the Smith's Easidrive auto transmission fitted to some Hillman Minx cars. Damn good system if the electronics had been as advanced as they are now, ruined then by having to use old fashioned relays with contact breakers.

http://www.andymurkin.net/Hillman/Hilli ... drive.html

I remember those, wife used to work for a Rootes garage, I didn't know they worked electromagnetically though. Didn't the earlier Minxes have a vacuum operated clutch type system, or am I thinking of someone else?

Peter

[vborovic]

@ steve - yes, the Bose system is something I'd personally like to try out on the road, just curious how an audio manufacturer managed to create something which is totally unrelated to their basic line of work (and usually such an attempts far outperform the regular manufacturers)

[Stickyfinger]

Maybe they will use the front wheel road noise on the C5x7 to drive the speakers shock absorbers

[Gibbo2286]

There was a vacuum operated clutch Peter but not, I think, on Rootes cars, I'm scratching my head to remember I worked for a Rootes dealer in Birmingham from when I left school in 1950 and worked on pretty well all of the range, pre war and post war until 1961, Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam Talbot, Commer and Karrier, including the military stuff in the army from 53 to 55.

I've a feeling that the vac clutch was from Renault or Fiat.

Just remembered there was a British Lockheed transmission called Manumatic and I recall driving one but I'm bu**ered if I can remember what it was fitted to, maybe an Austin A50 ????

[Peter.N.]

I have seen it in one of my manufacturers manuals, I though it was the side valve Minx one but obviously not, I will have to have a look.

We had a few Rootes cars, a 1951 Minx, a '54 minx with a push button starter! a Husky and later a '58 Hawk and '58 and '60 snipe, they were lovely cars.

Manuamtic I remember reading about, did they not have a gear lever top that disengaged the clutch when you moved it?

Star motors in Sevenoaks was where my wife worked.

Peter

[dnsey]

@ steve - yes, the Bose system is something I'd personally like to try out on the road, just curious how an audio manufacturer managed to create something which is totally unrelated to their basic line of work (and usually such an attempts far outperform the regular manufacturers)

It's not too different from their core products - a power amplifier driving electromagnetic transducers.

[vborovic]

It's not too different from their core products - a power amplifier driving electromagnetic transducers.

True, but that's what's interesting ... since making sound and making road dampening is not that similar, really ...