Anyone who has driven a vehicle equipped with electronically controlled suspension will agree; the ability to dial in suspension settings at the press of a button is very nice! People driving vehicles so equipped, can transition between touring comfort, to sporty handling, to full track settings all without leaving the driver’s seat.
What if my car didn’t come with electronically controlled shock absorbers, you ask? Ridetech has a solution for you. Their Instinct electronic shocks are a complete electronic shock system, that works on almost any application, and gives the user the ability to have an electronic suspension that is custom tuned to their car.
Official Release:
The new RideTech Instinct System:
- Knows when you hit a bump…
- Knows when you are turning…
- Knows when you are braking…
- Knows when you are accelerating…
- Knows when you are cruising…
- Knows when you are racing…
How?
The Instinct sensor package includes a brake pressure sensor, a throttle position sensor, a speed sensor, and an internal 3-way G-force sensor that reads pitch, roll, and heave. These inputs are delivered to the Instinct ECU to help it instinctively make changes to the shock dampening forces in a 6 millisecond window.
Think of tuning your shocks in a 3 dimensional world…similar to tuning EFI. Instead of relying on only the static valving inside the shock, you can now influence the dampening forces as a function of 7 unique sensor areas. This is technology that is currently is used by high level racing teams and OEM manufacturers around the world.
Why?
Traditional shock absorbers [passive dampers is the technical term] have gotten quite good at REACTING to road and track irregularities. The Instinct System now allows ANTICIPATION of these irregularities AND the ability to change the shock damping forces to minimize them. The end result is not only optimized handling qualities across a wide range of track conditions, but an immensely improved ride quality as well!
Is this MagneRide?
No…but we have a tuning ECU for that as well! [INFO HERE]
The Instinct system uses a traditional shock oil and valve shim stack. The magic is the valve that is controlled by the ECU that bleeds oil around that stack [or forces it through] according to the various sensor inputs and programming calibrations.
When?
First shipments begin in January 2017
How much?
Starting at $8,500 for a complete system that includes:
- [4] shocks programmed for YOUR vehicle
- Electronic Control Module [ECU]
- Full sensor set
- All necessary wiring
- Software for you to fine tune and customize if necessary
To talk to a Instinct electronic shock system tech:
Britt Marolf – britt@ridetech.com
Bret Voelkel – bret@ridetech.com
At just 5-years old, it was an ’85 IROC-Z Camaro that ignited the fuel that sparked the life-long passion of GM hardware for Michael. Being a huge fan of late-model muscle in general, the LS-powered 4th-generation Firebirds truly capture Michael’s heart.
