Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Vintage Auto Journalism - Active Suspension Top Gear 1983 (NFC)

[Hans E. Hansen (FList]

The active suspension was why GM bought Lotus back then.  They
envisioned it being in all the higher end cars, Corvette first.  But
it would also make for a Caddy that would ride like a pillow and still
have good control.

The Corvette development program was so far along that some of the
parts appeared in the parts catalog briefly - before being deleted in
later editions.  It was supposed to be applied to the soon-to-be
released 1990 ZR1. At least one of the 1989 ZR1 test mules was fitted.
(Side note: GM temporarily loaned the 20 or so 1989 ZR1 test/press
cars to a driving school I attended.  So I actually got to drive one.
The active suspension car was not present.)

At a product event around that time, I asked one of the engineers why
the project was cancelled.  He indicated that they couldn't overcome
price and reliability hurdles.  The biggest issue was the high
pressure valves, followed by the actuators themselves.  To make it
work, they needed to use 3000psi components, which are off-the-shelf
for aircraft and some industrial applications.  These valves needed to
be very high speed, so they had to use the top of the line pieces.
But they couldn't figure out how to produce them at a cost that was
practical for road cars. Add to that were potential reliability
issues, what with 3000psi lines running all around the car.  They
didn't think any of the components would last the usual life span that
Corvettes usually experience.  And owners would likely be reluctant to
"refresh" the system every few years for the many $thousands$ it would
take.  On aircraft, this stuff is check over regularly, as it was in
Formula 1 cars of the time.  But what about a car subject to the usual
abuses and deferred maintenance?  Plus potential warranty headaches.

What could have been....

Hans.

On 2/16/21, Lashdeep Singh via Ferrari <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com> wrote:
> To the point made a few days ago about real auto journalism...
>
> It is hard to believe that this appeared on a public TV station.
>
> Just superb!
>
> https://youtu.be/iPQ66fW9RAM
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