A Ride Metric System Utilized to Benchmark and Develop a Superior Riding Sport Utility Vehicle

In the past, a vehicles ride had been evaluated subjectively which allowed many different interpretations of what the ride goal for a new vehicle program should be. With the advent of a ride metric system that evaluates ride based on customer input and provides an objective measure, we have been able to:

• Benchmark competitive vehicles,
• Define suitable road surfaces to evaluate,
• Define a target ride objective,
• Sort out various vehicle modifications,
• Track performance towards the objective throughout the development of a new vehicle.

Now that an objective measure of ride has been established, ride and handling engineers will be much more effective in providing customers with the level of ride required on new product programs.