First European Applications for Advanced Suspension System
PARIS, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- European drivers soon will be able to
experience Delphi Corp.'s (NYSE: DPH) revolutionary MagneRide(TM) system for
the first time, on a European marque, Delphi officials said today at the 2004
Mondial auto show.
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Two premier European vehicle manufacturers have selected the technology
for future home market applications. The manufacturers will develop
controllable dampers utilizing Delphi's newest generation of MagneRide
technology to further enhance vehicle ride and handling characteristics.
Delphi's collaboration with these two manufacturers on this technology is a
first for Delphi in Europe. The customer names and programs remain
confidential and will be announced at a later date.
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.
"We are very excited to be working with two new customers to develop
technology that will help differentiate their respective brands in the high
performance market," said Guy C. Hachey, vice president, Delphi Corp. and
president, Delphi Energy & Chassis. "MagneRide enhances both a vehicle's ride
and handling performance at the same time, in effect eliminating the
traditional compromises engineers must make with conventional, passive
suspensions."
Delphi's technical centers in Paris and Krakow, Poland, will be the
European centers of expertise for MagneRide. In addition, core-engineering
work with take place in Delphi's Dayton, Ohio, USA, technical center.
"Delphi continues to expand its footprint throughout Europe," said Volker
Barth, vice president, Delphi Corporation and president, Delphi Europe, Middle
East and Africa. "Our global reach, technical prowess and engineering
expertise make Delphi the ideal MagneRide partner."
Consumer benefits:
MagneRide(TM) helps provide improved comfort, performance and safety from
one revolutionary system, through:
-- Greater sense of safety and security due to improved wheel control;
-- Minimized vehicle motion for a flatter ride and more precise,
responsive handling;
-- Reduced "dive" and "squat" during braking and acceleration;
-- Improved load transfer characteristics, providing better roll control
and handling during sudden, high-speed maneuvers; and
-- A quieter 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 (or resistance to flow) of the fluid, which 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, a
lateral accelerometer and a steering wheel angle sensor.
MagneRide has been available only in North America since its debut on the
2002 Cadillac Seville STS. The technology -- marketed as Magnetic Selective
Ride Control on the Corvette and Magnetic Ride Control on the Cadillac
Seville, XLR and SRX -- has been enthusiastically received by customers and is
frequently cited as a key benefit in automotive reviews.
Delphi's European ride dynamics product portfolio also includes the
innovative controlled suspension technology, Active Stabilizer Bar System,
which can be found on the Land Rover Discovery.
For more information, please visit http://www.delphi.com/media .
SOURCE Delphi Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.delphi.com/media
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Company News On-Call:
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CONTACT:
Sara Brogan of Delphi Corporation,
+1-248-813-2481, sara.e.brogan@delphi.com
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