Vauxhall gives new Astra suspension a twist July 11, 2009
Posted by richard in : Technology , trackbackVAUXHALL’S launch campaign for the new Astra continues apace.
The car’s to be properly launched at Frankfurt in two months’ time. But, as is the way of modern media, there’ll be little left to actually unveil. Latest insight? The chassis.
Now, Vauxhall’s probably getting in early here, because of one key fact. The Astra uses torsion beam rear suspension. Rather than the ‘essential’ multi-link setup, debuted by the brilliant Ford Focus back in 1998.
If, today, you don’t have multi-link, goes the thinking, you’re nowhere.
So what’s Vauxhall doing? Saving money, obviously. Twist-beams are cheaper. It naturally doesn’t say that, though. Instead, it lists torsion benefits thus:
• Improved packaging
• Greater wheel camber stiffness
• Less lower suspension friction
• Less camber loss due to body roll
• Watts link ensures lateral stability is maintained
All that provides ‘class-leading handling and ride comfort’. Blimey. And I thought the Focus and Golf were good. Of course, time shall tell. But what’s that, err, Watts link all about?
It’s a short, pivoting centre link, apparently, with a ball joint at each end. The lateral links from the wheels are bolted to this, and the entire lot is carried on a crossmember underneath the car, just behind the rear wheel centreline.
Win 1: good stability on straights. Win 2: minimises lateral deflection through bends, ‘in the same way a modern multi-link system would’. Win 3: axle bush loads are reduced, so softer bushes can be used. Which means less vibration and harshness inside. Bingo (and those who have blindly fitted polyurethane suspension bushes to their cars will know exactly where I’m coming from here…).
Cannily, Vauxhall can also tailor the thickness of the torsion beam for different engine sizes, so cheaply providing differing levels of roll steer (‘passive rear-steer’) traits. This characteristic is something I’ve already noticed clearly in the related Chevrolet Cruze.
But another comfort win is provided by a hi-tech add-on for dearer, posher models: FlexRide. Vauxhall’s electronic damper set-up. This is a real rarity in the family hatch sector – such technology is normally only seen on Mercedes and Porsches. Yet, here it is. Brilliantly using multiple input feeds to adjust damper stiffness and reactions to suit.
An engineer eulogised to me about this system years ago. It’s super-trick, and means ride can be boosted without handling suffering. Take one trick up its sleeve: during heavy braking, the front two dampers are instantly stiffened, to stop nose dive. This both improves comfort and safety, by ensuring the tyres have the best-possible contact to the road.
Don’t know how much it will cost. £500? But there is a theory that pricey multi-link rears are wasted on 90 percent of family hatch buyers. A good twist-beam will suffice. And for those who want more? Vauxhall has FlexRide’s plethora of skills. It’s an interesting philosophy… will people get it?
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