Decoding the Mercedes-Benz E-Active Body Control suspension

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d and the GLE 400d Hip Hop Edition are two of the newest luxury SUVs launched in India. While the former gets regular AIRMATIC air suspension, the latter is equipped with a cutting-edge technology called the E-Active Body Control suspension. Let’s decode the cool sounding technology.

Components of the E-Active Body Control suspension

The E-Active Body Control suspension is based on the AIRMATIC air suspension system, the latter comprising of regular components like air springs, air compression chamber and height control valves. The E-Active system adds hydropneumatics to this package, that comprises of two specialised on-board computers, a hydraulic pump and sensors to detect body movement. The hydropneumatics draw power from the car’s 48V mild hybrid system. Why stress the engine and the battery unnecessarily?

How does the E-Active Body Control suspension work?

When these systems work in tandem, the combined effect keeps the vehicle ride height constant irrespective of the load. As the on-board sensors detect varied types of motion, E-ABC adjusts the length of each strut in as little as ten milliseconds. This compensates as counter force to act against the forces acting against the car. With every detected movement, E-ABC rapidly acts on each wheel to help keep the whole car level. This largely helps in handling, making it significantly flatter. So smart, Mercedes!

The GLE rocks itself free

If the GLE is bogged down by a sand dune, the Rocking mode automatically raises and lowers the suspension several times, thus alternately increasing and reducing the ground pressure of the tyres improving traction (this also explains the dancing). There’s also a Curve mode, where the GLE actively leans into bends by up to three degrees, like a motorcycle. This reduces the lateral forces and during our first drive review, the GLE 400d stayed mind-blowingly flat in corners.

According to Mercedes-Benz, this is the only system in the world that can individually control spring and damping forces at each wheel, suppressing rolling, pitching and lifting movements. We have already reviewed the GLE 400d Hip Hop Edition, and the system performs as well as it sounds in theory. Read the full review here.