Skyhook Suspension - Maserati Quattroporte Automatic 2009 Owner's Manual

M139_UM_usa1.book Page 170 Monday, September 1, 2008 2:39 PM

Skyhook suspension

The electronic system controlling the
vehicle suspension uses the
sophisticated on board sensors and is
aimed at optimizing vehicle
performance.
The system is capable of constantly
monitoring suspension damping
through the actuator fitted on each
shock absorber. This way, the shock
absorber setting is suited to the road
conditions and vehicle dynamics, thus
improving passenger comfort and
road-holding.
By pressing button A the driver can
choose, even while driving, a normal or
5
racing-type setting for the suspension,
depending on his/her own driving
style. This way, the system operates
with a shock absorber "softer" setting
in Normal mode, and a "harder"
setting if the SPORT mode is selected.
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Skyhook suspension
The system is controlled by an ECU
which is designed to manage the
solenoid valves on each shock absorber
in response to the sensor signals,
adjusting the suspension damping and
setting.
The sensors that enable the ECU to
calculate the vehicle speed, vertical
and lateral acceleration, as well as the
instantaneous brake circuit pressure,
and consequently to control the
suspension damping, are the
following:
– lateral acceleration sensor
– front LH vertical acceleration sensor
– front RH vertical acceleration sensor
– rear vertical acceleration sensor
– front LH wheel acceleration sensor
– front RH wheel acceleration sensor
– vehicle speed sensor
– brake pedal switch.
The strategy used by the system
controlling the suspension damping is
designed to reduce the vertical
oscillations of the vehicle (rolling and
pitching) to a minimum.
The activation of SPORT mode sets the
suspension for sports-style driving and
acts on the ASR and Automatic
Gearbox systems (if present) as well,
modifying their setting for racing-style
driving.
Self-diagnosis
Each time the engine is started, the
system runs a self-diagnostics cycle,
which is indicated by the illumination
of the warning light on the display.