Q7

Make
Audi
Segment
SUV

Reducing the body roll on large SUVs without sacrificing ride comfort presents automakers with many challenges, but Audi believes it has solved this issue with its clever 'electromechanical roll stabilization' technology. Working in conjunction with the 48-volt onboard electrical system and powerful actuators, the stabilizers on the front and rear axle can be actively controlled depending on the driving situation. Mercedes offers similar technology with its E-Active Body Control system.

This enables Audi SUVs equipped with this system to offer improved ride comfort in straight-line driving and tackle corners with minimal body roll compared to a conventional system. It's also highly efficient and requires no maintenance since it doesn't incorporate any hydraulic elements.

Large SUVs feature a higher curb weight and a higher center of gravity, which increases the body roll. While torsionally flexible anti-roll bars between the left- and right-hand side of the axle can help reduce body roll by applying reverse torsion torque to the suspension on the outside and inside of the corner, this reduces the ride comfort in straight-line driving on uneven road surfaces. Using sensors, Audi's electromechanical roll stabilization technology can detect the situation and adjust the spring rate of the stabilizers accordingly to reduce body roll and increase ride comfort.

The system features two stabilizer halves per axle, with an electric motor operating between them on both the front and rear axle. By rotating the stabilizer halves in opposite directions, torque can be generated that counteracts body roll torque individually for each wheel.

Control units on the front and rear axle send commands to the system, allowing it to match the speed, ride height, roll, and pitch movements of the car, along with the road surface, driving conditions such as understeer or oversteer, and the data of the chassis systems in real time.

Using these factors, the system calculates the ideal responses for the components and adjusts them accordingly. Supplying the required electrical energy is a 48-volt system that enables an immediate system response even at low speed. The electric motors deliver power through three-stage planetary gearboxes, generating up to 885 lb-ft of torque at the stabilizers. Audi's electromechanical roll stabilization technology is available on the Q7, SQ7, SQ8, and RS Q8 SUVs. This technology also helped the Audi RS Q8 set a new SUV lap record at the Nurburgring last year.