Legendary Bose Magic Carpet Suspension Is Finally Going Global

Reliability, Complexity, and Failure Modes

• Several commenters worry about long‑term reliability and repair cost, comparing modern premium brands’ complex, failure‑prone hardware (CVTs, plastic pumps, complicated timing setups) and fearing $5,000/ corner shocks.
• Others note typical semi‑active failure mode is just “overdamped and harsh,” which is at least safe.
• Some participants explicitly want simpler, 1980s‑style cars with minimal electronics instead of ever more complex systems.

Is This Technology Actually New?

• Many point out that variable or “active” suspensions have existed for decades: magnetic fluid dampers (e.g., MagneRide), solenoid‑valve dampers (Ford, Mercedes), and especially Citroën’s hydropneumatic systems dating back to the 1950s.
• Distinction is drawn between:
  • Semi‑active systems that only vary damping, versus
  • Fully active systems that can push and pull wheels, keeping the body flat over bumps or in corners.
• BYD, Porsche, Mercedes, and others already ship advanced active systems; some think this is more about branding and IP than a breakthrough.

Control, Latency, and Demos

• A long sub‑thread debates sensor sampling, processing latency, and real‑time control, with disagreement on how critical camera frame rate and end‑to‑end latency are in vehicle dynamics.
• Skepticism is expressed about staged videos with evenly spaced bumps that could be pre‑programmed; concern that courses might even be tuned to competitor vehicles’ resonances.

Traffic Calming, Behavior, and Safety

• If suspensions can “erase” speed bumps, commenters ask what happens to traffic calming. Some expect a shift toward chicanes, narrowings, or roundabouts.
• Others note speed bumps already work poorly: they punish cautious drivers and small cars more than large SUVs and trucks.
• There’s concern that very smooth, insulated cars encourage more aggressive driving by disconnecting drivers from the outside world.

Comfort, Autonomy, and Luxury

• Many see huge appeal for autonomous or long‑ride scenarios: less motion sickness, the ability to read or work, and a “moving living room” feel.
• Sound deadening and ride quality are seen as the real differentiators of high‑end cars.

ClearMotion’s Clarifications and Practicality

• The ClearMotion founder describes their system as electro‑hydraulic actuators (not special fluids) with millisecond response, predictive control, and “infinite preview” using crowdsourced road maps and precise localization.
• They claim ~80% vibration reduction vs leading semi‑active systems, plus features like pre‑crash posture optimization and tire‑grip management.
• They state the system has undergone years and millions of miles of durability testing and is now cost‑effective via hydraulic “gear ratios” instead of heavy, expensive linear motors.
• Some raise privacy concerns about road‑data collection, but others see city‑planning value in aggregated roughness maps.