2019 Geneva Motor Show

Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) is the first big car show for the year for the European automotive market. Showcases pointed to a renewed product focus on performance and sports cars, as well as high-end SUVs. This trend has been visible across other global shows this year, such as 2019 NAIAS.

GIMS 2019 hosted automakers offering improved electronic suspensions along with high performance brakes to cater to sport models. EV offerings with regenerative braking were peppered across the show as European automakers gear up to meet stringent emission norms this year, after they failed to do so in the previous year.

Particularly within the suspension component segment, automakers introduced a combination of adaptive dampers with an independent, multi-link suspension set-up for optimum sporty ride and handling balance. With a gamut of chassis component improvements, automakers also showed their focus on lighter vehicles, with carbon fiber and aluminum dominating chassis body compositions. Another means to incorporating the lightweighting requirement was platform sharing. Modular platforms accommodated varying body types across different segments and propulsion systems.

It was apparent from the show that the inclusion of electronics is becoming increasingly important, not just from a performance basis, but also to distinguish a vehicle from the rest. Meanwhile, semi- or fully-active damping technology (adaptive tech) is quickly becoming a means to better control the chassis through dynamic suspension settings on performance vehicles. These damping systems are also key to accommodating modular platforms, as their dynamic nature allows them to be applied to everything from sedans, to performance hatchbacks, and SUVs. While the show highlighted how chassis components can be tuned through electronics to improve performance, adaptive suspensions have shown capabilities across comfort as well. This has helped automakers strike a positive balance between comfort and performance, which was previously seen only in a niche category of vehicles. Several automakers included rear steering for an even more track-focused ride.

Read more articles like this one. Subscribe to SupplierInsight

The above article is from SupplierInsight by IHS Markit. SupplierInsight provides a wealth of original thought leadership, data, and analysis on a broad spectrum of automotive industry topics and sectors. Content includes news and analysis, topical reports, supplier profiles, and an automaker-supplier relations database across 13 domains. Visit SupplierInsight to view all our offerings.