INTRODUCTION - SUSPENSION AND WHEELS

One of the main aims of this vehicle has been to increase the general level of comfort compared with the previous model, guaranteeing standards reserved for vehicles in a higher segment with excellent handling qualities.

The technological solutions adopted to reach this goal can be summarized as follows:

- Increased track (front and rear) and adoption of larger tyres for improved driving stability.

- Front suspension geometry with rectangular triangular lower suspension arms for improved uncoupling of the effect of braking loads from those when cornering guaranteeing better balance in all driving conditions. The new front geometry has also made it possible to contain the turning circle of the vehicle in spite of the adoption of larger wheels and the increased track.

- Semi-independent rear suspension with the wheels connected by a torsion beam designed to increase structural rigidity and increase the flexibility of the suspension under loads achieved through the improvement of the bush connecting the axle with the bodyshell. The design of the new suspension has also involved the shape of the buffers in order to improve dynamic response when cornering.

- Special care has been taken over the design of the components in terms of the aspects relating to comfort, with technical solutions being adopted that are typical of vehicles in a higher category such as the use of a dual path type front turret mounting and the positioning of the vertical shock absorber at the rear; these operations have made it possible to contain the effect caused by vibrations produced from the road surface without altering the structural rigidity to the detriment of improved driving precision.

- Dimensions of flexible bushes increased to improve filtering of road surface uneveness and improve driving comfort.

- Shock absorbers with 22 mm stem on all versions to increase stability limit conditions when cornering.

- Structural rigidity of suspension front crossmember increased to produce better vibrational acoustic comfort.