Agile handling and comfort

The new Audi Q5 SUV offers driving characteristics typical of the brand, with largely neutral handling, and achieves a noticeable increase in comfort thanks to its optimized suspension and steering set-up.

It rolls off the production line with dynamically tuned steel suspension as standard. Alternatively, a sports suspension (standard on the Audi SQ5² is available. The steel spring suspension, in combination with the passive damping system FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) and a more agile front axle, gives the Q5 an even firmer ride on the road. FSD reduces damping forces, particularly at high frequencies – for example on cobblestones – and maintains high damping forces at low frequencies, such as those that occur when changing lanes or cornering. Adaptive damper control is available in the optional air suspension. The basic configuration of this air suspension can be adapted to individual requirements via Audi drive select. Compared to the predecessor model, it offers a much more noticeable spread between comfort and sport mode. The new Q5 is offered with enhanced progressive steering as standard.

A synthesis of sportiness and comfort: the chassis and steering

The new A6 Avant perfects the synthesis of sportiness and comfort thanks in part to optional features such as all-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension, the latter of which regulates body height and shock absorption. Moreover, the quattro sport differential ensures even greater agility.

The standard progressive steering of the new A6 Avant now responds even more directly. Compared to its predecessor, the entire path from the steering wheel to the wheels is designed to be stiffer. This includes the torsion bar, the rigidly bolted steering rack, and the stiffer control arm bushings. Camber on the front axle has also been slightly increased. All in all, these measures result in a noticeably improved steering response and more feedback from the road, which, in combination with the high-performance drive, leads to precise and light-footed handling.

All-wheel steering is available as an option in conjunction with quattro all-wheel drive. It works with a dynamic function whose reaction speed has been improved even further. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn up to five degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels. The car is thus more agile in city traffic and in tight curves, and the turning circle is reduced by up to one meter. At medium and higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction, enabling stable and even more precise handling.

Precise driving dynamics, high comfort
The typical Audi DNA is also evident in the suspension. Here, there is a precisely defined set-up philosophy, and the suspension control systems are accurately coordinated with each other. The directly tuned front axle significantly influences the driving dynamics of the A6 e-tron*, making the vehicle feel particularly agile.

Active suspension and Audi drive select with individually configurable RS modes

A newly developed air suspension with 2-chamber/2-valve technology comes as standard. It affords distinct advantages in terms of driving dynamics without compromising on comfort. For the first time, an innovative, wheel-selective active suspension system is available as an option.

More dynamic chassis and steering design
The handling characteristics typical of the Audi brand have also been further developed in the
new A5. As a result of extensive detail work on the suspension and steering, the Audi A5* offers
precise, effortless, and largely neutral handling, which can be differentiated significantly more
between comfort and sportiness if the optional suspension with adaptive dampers is selected.

Ideal balance of comfort and sportiness

The new Audi Q8 e-tron is equipped with standard air suspension and controlled damping. This allows the vehicle to configure to different road conditions, and the ride height can be adapted by a total of 76 mm depending on the driving situation. The air suspension has also been tuned for optimized lateral dynamics.

For an ideal driving experience, a vehicle requires not only first-class engines, but also outstanding suspension components. On the SQ8 this includes the electronically controlled air suspension with a continuously adaptive damping system, the electromechanical active roll stabilization (eAWS) and all-wheel steering. In the optional advanced suspension package, customers also benefit from the sport differential.

Power from the 4.0 TFSI engine flows through a standard eight-speed tiptronic with faster shifting times to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The mechanical center differential distributes engine power to the rear axle at ratio of 40 : 60, and if slippage occurs, more torque is automatically applied to the axle with better traction – up to 70 percent can flow to the front axle and up to 85 percent to the rear axle.

The highlight of the enhanced A8 is the predictive active suspension. It can load or unload each wheel with additional power individually via an electric motor and thereby actively regulate the position of the chassis in any driving situation.

The suspension is one of the elements that play a crucial role in shaping the harmonious overall character of the Audi e-tron GT quattro and the RS e-tron GT. It is a congenial partner to the dynamic drive, while always remaining confident and relaxed no matter how much strain is put on it. This, too, perfectly embodies the gran turismo philosophy.

Valves control the oil flow in the dampers so that they adapt to the condition of the road, the driving situation, and the driver’s requests in an individual and ongoing in a few thousandths of a second.

Audi consistently drives the idea of integrating chassis and powertrain technology. In the future, an integrated vehicle dynamics processor will handle longitudinal and lateral dynamics control as well as energy and powertrain management: recuperating energy during a braking event, determining the damper compression rate within milliseconds and keeping the vehicle precisely on track – all practically at the same time.

Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) holds the RS 7 Sportback even more tightly to the road and improves handling. Pitching and rolling movements are significantly reduced during spirited driving. A new generation of dampers with integrated valves provides for a distinct spread between the various Audi drive select modes.

The suspension of the new A3 Sportback – with a four-link rear axle for engines from 110 kW (150 PS) – is sporty and balanced, combining pleasant ride comfort with good dynamics.

An especially attractive solution is the suspension with damper control, which is available for all engine versions with a quattro drive. Its design is based on the CDC principle (CDC: continuous damping control): Electromagnetically actuated valves in the damper piston alter the through-flow cross-sectional area for the hydraulic fluid as necessary.

The all-new chassis is among the strengths of the Audi A5 Coupé*, including with respect to systematic lightweight construction and precise response. From dynamic handling to comfortable cruising – the two-door coupé has luxury-class qualities.

The Audi drive select dynamic handling system lends fascinating breadth to the driving experience. Audi offers it in most of its models – as an option in some, a standard feature in others, and with the possibility of modular expansion in all of them.

Audi magnetic ride is a suspension technology employed in the A3, TT and R8 families. This system continually adapts the function of the shock absorbers to the road profile and the driver’s style.

A new solution in the competitive environment is the electromechanical active body roll stabilization. Here a compact electric motor with a three-stage planetary gearbox separates the two halves of the stabilizer. On an uneven road surface, they are actively decoupled from one another, resulting in improved ride comfort. During sporty driving, the tubes are interconnected and twisted against each other. That significantly reduces body roll, i.e. the lean of the car. Together with the transmission, the electric motors produce anything up to 1,200 Nm (885.1 lb‑ft) of torque. The effect is taut, sporty handling: The car leans less in bends and the tendency to understeer is further reduced.

The adaptive air suspension – air suspension with controlled damping – provides the full-size models like the A6 allroad quattro (Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.9 – 6.1; Combined CO₂-emissions in g/km: 206 - 159)** with smooth ride comfort and sporty handling.