New performance mod & need your input pls.

[JBsC5]

JB,

Thanks for your interest. These gentlemen are looking to get as much input from current vette owners as possible: So here it is guys..What do you think? What do you want? I really believe this is one of the very cool parts of internet corvette forums..We get to give input to manufacturers....so heres' what they want to know! I recommend suggestions to the manufacturer so we could all benefit if we would want it.

We are interested in offering an "active" suspension system for corvette owners, starting with a system for the C-5. We feel that corvette owner's are the most "performance" oriented car enthusiasts, making you the most viable users of a system of this sort. I am unable to disclose a detailed description of the system's operating principles at this time, but I can outline some of its features:

The system is to include a user interface that allows for three distinct "driving style" settings. Including comfort mode, performance mode, and a clearance mode. The comfort mode provides a soft ride with a factory ride height, to provide comfort during calm driving over rough roads. The performance mode would be most similar to driving a C5-R on the street, with a lower ride height and stiffer ride with minimal body roll. The clearance setting would provide a maximum ride height for getting into sharp driveways etc.

The system installation would include removal of the vehicle's OEM transverse springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars, to be replaced with a single spring member with all necessary mounting brackets.

Although the system involves user inputs, it also does its own closed loop control. It uses sensor inputs including vehicle speed, steering, accelerometer, and braking, to make judgments on suspension adjustment.

We would like to know: 1.) How many of you would be interested in a system like this for your car. 2.) What range of price you would expect to pay for a system incorporating this level of technology. 3.) Any specific needs or goals that you wish to provide for a system like this.

[johnl]

Wow, sounds like a great concept. The most attractive part is the clearance setting.
My 97 has no selectable settings so I’m not familiar with how these work. Will it be such that you could just select the setting while driving? Like I could hit the Clearance setting when I turn down my street so it would clear the dip between the street and my driveway incline?
As for the price. I was looking at coilovers and they run from about $2000 to $3500. Add the electronics and interior h/w that would be required. I dun no, maybe 4K to 5K?
For what this would add to the C5 I would seriously consider it.
My C5 is lowered and using Bilstein sports, sort of the performance profile. It would be nice to have a Comfort setting for dates and the like. And I already mentioned steep driveways.