Audi Announces Lightweight Suspension Springs
Audi revealed new lightweight suspension springs today that it says will be used on an “upper mid-sized model” by the end of the year.
The new springs are made of a glass fiber-reinforced polymer and are 40 percent lighter than steel springs, Audi said today. Developed in conjunction with a supplier in Italy, the springs are larger than the steel versions they would replace and use fewer coils.
“The GFRP springs save weight at a crucial location in the chassis system. We are therefore making driving more precise and enhancing vibrational comfort,” said Audi technical development boss Ulrich Hackenberg.
Production requires less energy than steel springs and Audi says the GFRP components can also be tuned for specific tasks, presumably for varying levels of stiffness. They also won’t corrode and can’t be damaged by chemicals like wheel cleaners.
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