TENNECO KINETICTM SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY FEATURED IN
WRC WORLD CHAMPIONS’ DRIVE TO VICTORY PARIS, FRANCE, October 13, 2005 –After winning two Manufacturers titles in 2003 and 2004, Citroën is leading the 2005 competition three events before the end of the season. The Xsara WRC which allowed Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena to claim two consecutive titles in the Drivers classification (2004-2005), sets itself apart once again with its Tenneco patented KineticTM suspension technology. The Citroën team has been dominating the World Rally Championship with a KineticTM Suspension System (KSS™) used on all rallies including gravel and tarmac. Tenneco engineers, who started working with Citroen’s chassis engineers in 2002 to develop the KineticTM system for racing, further perfected the technology for this year’s competition. Hari Nair, Executive Vice President of Tenneco Inc, and Managing Director of Tenneco Europe, South America and India, said: “KineticTM Suspension technology shows our continuous commitment to advanced technology and dedication to growing our global businesses by developing innovative solutions for our worldwide customers.” The KineticTM system is designed to eliminate the engineering compromises encountered when correcting both vertical articulation and roll on a vehicle.The passive system places a hydraulic cylinder at the vehicle's front and rear stabilizer bars, replacing one of the links to the suspension. The cylinders are then interconnected in such a way that they resist motion if both bars attempt to twist in the same direction, but do not resist motion in opposite directions. When the stabilizer bars move in the same direction the RFS system cylinders do not move, resisting body roll. In articulation events, however, the RFS system cylinders will move, preventing the stabilizers from resisting suspension motion. The performance benefit of the KSS™ used on the Citroën Xsara is that it enables the team’s engineers the ability to significantly increase the roll stiffness and simultaneously reduce the vertical tyre load variation during warp and single wheel inputs.The technology was recognized earlier this year with a Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence (PACE) award in which the judges commented: “It is the kind of breathtakingly simple solution that makes it a model of innovation… It means greater and softer suspension travel, plus stiffer anti-roll, and paradoxically, both better handling and compliance both on-road and off-road. Head toss and fatigue are greatly reduced in both situations." Development tests carried out on extreme off road terrain in Western Australia as well as on roads and test tracks, show significant reductions for roll angle of up to 40% when a KineticTM system is fitted to a vehicle – giving greater stability when cornering. Improved equal wheel loading improvements of up to 60% prove the system’s ability to improve traction, steering and overall handling. Vehicles equipped with Kinetic and operating in two-wheel drive were shown to out-perform conventionally sprung vehicles in four-wheel drive. Tests also show KineticTM can reduce suspension ‘single wheel’ stiffness on a SUV by up to 43% in the front and 64% in the rear – improving ride comfort. Suited to every type of wheeled vehicle, including trucks, buses, all-terrain and heavy duty vehicles, KineticTM technology breaks the traditional design compromise between ride comfort and handling. The first commercial application of Tenneco’s KineticTM Suspension Technology was on the 2004 Lexus GX 470. In addition to being a factory option again on this year’s model, KineticTM comes standard on the 2005 Lexus GX 470 sport package. The Tenneco KineticTM suspension system is also being tested in several other global motor sport competitions. Tenneco is a $4.2 billion manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 18,400 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of ride control and exhaust systems and products, which are sold under the Monroe® and Walker® global brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Trac® and Monroe Reflex® shocks and struts, Rancho® shock absorbers, Walker® Quiet-Flow® mufflers and DynoMax® performance exhaust products, and Monroe® Clevite® vibration control components. For Further Information: Simonetta Esposito, Public Relations Manager Europe, Middle East, Africa Tenneco Automotive Europe Email: Simonetta.Esposito@taeu.com |
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