ZF’s new sMOTION active chassis damper technology is revolutionizing automotive suspension systems by combining stability and dynamic performance for an improved driving experience. This innovative system adapts damping force precisely to each driving situation and actively lifts the vehicle to maintain optimal road holding and enhance comfort. It represents a significant leap forward in vehicle suspension technology, now integrated into two new models from a leading German premium manufacturer.
sMOTION addresses a common challenge in automotive chassis by almost completely eliminating vehicle body movements during dynamic driving scenarios, such as steering, braking, and acceleration. “Our fully active chassis system significantly reduces vehicle body movements in certain situations,” says Dr Peter Holdmann, Member of the Board at ZF and Head of the Chassis Solutions Division. “At the same time, it substantially increases the comfort levels of vehicles equipped with sMOTION.”
Two new Porsche models, the Panamera and Taycan, utilize the active suspension system, which integrates Porsche’s “Active Ride” air suspension technology. This collaboration highlights sMOTION’s damper and valve technology, which optimizes damping pressure for varying driving conditions, ensuring both comfort and dynamic control.
sMOTION stands out for its ability to actively control wheel movements. This high-performance system, using a sophisticated oil pump, can quickly elevate a vehicle by up to eight centimeters in half a second, neutralizing road imperfections and maintaining vehicle stability. This dynamic response is particularly beneficial during high-speed maneuvers, such as cornering, where the system adjusts vehicle tilt to match the vehicle’s speed.
With sMOTION, ZF expands its system portfolio for passenger car dynamics, combining semi-active and active damping technologies to provide complete control over a vehicle’s longitudinal, transverse, and vertical dynamics. This integration is facilitated through ZF’s cubiX software, which supports networked chassis systems. The latest generation of CDC technology, now under sMOTION, includes two valves on each damper—one for rebound and one for compression—enabling precise control of the suspension response.
