Peugeot 406 - electronically adjustable suspension

[jorgy]

Didn't know the 406 sedan had got "intelligent" suspension.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... SOMZ71dQ5Y

Is it I wonder that it didn't get to the UK, or it's just not being discussed. Never seen it mentioned in a 406 for sale advert.

[youtube]<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6SOMZ71dQ ... detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/youtube]

As per the car example on the video, I'd guess only the V6s got it, pretty much like it was for the 605s if I'm right.

The system looks identical to the XM's and 605 -bar hydraulics obviously. Good idea to stick the ECU in the passenger footwell instead of in the engine bay!

[White Exec]

What an interesting find, George.
Excellent video, which really clearly explains much of what's fitted to the XM too, which must have been the test-bed for the design concept of the system.

I had no idea that Peu were offering this kind of sophistication. As you say, I wonder which models and markets?
Did the system appear in any of the Peu literature? Was something like it fitted to 605, 607 etc? And steel-sprung C5s?

[xmexclusive]

It was a production system on the 605 listed in the literature and the workshop manuals.
Have copies stored away somewhere.
Not seen any mention in the 406 documentation.

John

[White Exec]

Have just watched an old 1989 Top Gear (with a refreshing Chris Goffey) testing a 605 (V6) which is fitted with the ecu controlled dampers.
I don't remember Peu making much noise about this - perhaps they didn't want to frighten customers with Cit-like complexity!!

[jorgy]

Yes Peugeot started this business in the 605s, the V6s only though (in the UK at least).

On the other hand, I've never seen any relevant mention re. the 607 (which otherwise uses the XM/605 platform). Until now. If you google "suspension pilotee peugeot 607", you're there -plenty of results. So yes, it had electronically variable shock absorbers. This Belgian review of a V6 HDi talks of "individually variable shock absorbers":

http://www.vroom.be/fr/essai-auto/peuge ... tamorphose

If this is accurate, it's more sophisticated than what the XM/605 had. Till now I was aware of individual control happening only on the C6.

Check out what I'm reading on a British Pug forum:

"Hi wondering if anyone can help.I have an 03 607 2.2 auto which yesterday flew through its m.o.t (no advisories). This week its had 4 new goodyear tyres and both front and rear tracking done, problem is the suspension feels so flat it seems like im riding in a go-cart. Had it checked by the garage that done the tyres and tracking then again by a different garage that done the m.o.t and neither can find anything wrong.This issue is driving me nuts and i would be grateful for any advice. Regards Terry."

As any XM owner, you can quickly guess what must be happening... LOL. The French should *really* outsource their electronics design to the Japanese. Frankly totally unacceptable to still get such, after your first trial (i.e. XM/605).

[White Exec]

I did notice that the body position sensor (big close-up in your originally posted video) was actually a Denso product, complete with PSA and Denso part numbers. Perhaps a penny has dropped, as you say.

The poor sod with the rock-hard 607 is obviously stuck in Firm mode, which really shouldn't be difficult to diagnose and fix. Presumably, that is, he can find someone who knows how the system works!!

[xmexclusive]

Was this the Pug research department trying to prove they could do better than the almost neutered Cit research department.
The 605 electronic suspension seems to me to be direct competition with XM hydractive.
The 406 electronics timing (was this little more than a pre-production trial) similar to the Xantia Activa.
PSA seemed to let the in house competition continue into the C6 and the 607.
Perhaps the savings generated by use of common body shells were spent (an more) on brand differences.

By the seem of it PSA senior management would have been getting two very different views on the way forward for next generation car suspension.
As it turns out neither of those views predicted that the car world would be taken by storm with ribbon thin tyres and rock hard suspension.
607 man just needs to put German badges on it and sell it.

John

[White Exec]

Gosh, John. How could you suggest such things?!

Initial reaction when seeing the Peu video is to think of the system as variable spring rate and damping, which I'm sure is the impression that Peu wished to make. It is, however, just variable damping - and does nothing to alter the springing or spring rate of the vehicle. It must, in fact, subject the dampers to considerable internal forces when operating in Firm/Sport, but probably no more so than any vehicle fitted with sporty (stiff) dampers.

With Hydractive, we do get the best of all three controls: spring rate, damping and ride height.

[Ciaran]

Electric suspension, coming to a Citroen near you soon, because its cheaper than Hydropneumatics, which will die with the current C5.

To quote PSA 'We still aim to be the best for comfort, just there are cheaper and more efficient ways of doing it with electronic systems'.

Don't all rush to buy one at the same time now