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Škoda

Martin Hrdlicka, head of chassis and engine development

"Conventional chassis has always been a compromise between the comfort and dynamic qualities. Škoda offers a well balanced chassis offering a comfortable ride, nevertheless always with regard to the particular car’s characteristics, for example RS or Scout models.

"In the future cars cost will play the same important part as today, but topics such as reduction of CO2, components for passive safety and legislation will influence all of them.

"Weight reduction means using new materials, technologies and progressive solutions in a large measure.

"There will always be a solution satisfying many requirements and this makes the task complicated. The systems will be different, especially according to the car classes but also to the market region and the specific customer demands. An application of adjustable shock absorbers in upper-class cars is possible.

"In 2012 there could be differences between technologies for emerging markets and established markets such as Europe. In Europe you will certainly find more elements for active safety, control and driver assistance systems.

"All chassis areas and functions have to work together as one harmonised system. This is not an easy task for development, but complex control elements will enable us to keep pushing forwards.

"Most Škoda cars already have electrically-assisted power steering. It enables us to decrease fuel consumption and also CO2 emissions, while offering driver assistance features such as park-assist and further functions. Electric power steering represents a clear future in all Škoda cars.

"Torque vectoring is an interesting technology. We are working on it, especially with regard to the RS sports versions of our cars."

Martin Hrdlicka,
head of chassis & engine development,
Škoda