The fourth generation of General Motors’ Magnetic Ride Control debuted on the 2020 Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V, and is expanding to the 2021 CT5 Sport and Escalade, offering up to 45-percent faster damping response. The system was first introduced 20 years ago in the 2002 Cadillac Seville STS.

In addition to the faster response time, changers to the system include all-new wheel accelerometers, improved magnetic flux control, and an inertial measurement unit that increases sensitivity to body motion.

Magnetic Ride Control uses electromagnets paired with magnetorheological fluid within the shock absorbers to continually vary their damping rate.Photo courtesy of Cadillac

“With MagneRide 4.0, the world’s fastest reacting suspension system is now even faster,” said Thomas Schinderle, Cadillac vehicle performance engineer. “When paired with our sedans’ award-winning rear-wheel-drive architecture, the result is two of the most responsive sport sedans on the market, with reflexes that elevate the already high threshold of the V-Series legacy.”

Here’s how it works, according to Cadillac:

“Magnetic Ride Control is an active damping system that uses electromagnets paired with magnetorheological fluid within the shock absorbers to continually vary their damping rate. Wheel accelerometers read the road up to 1,000 times per second, triggering changes in the magnetic charge within the fluid that can alter the damping rates of the shocks almost instantly.”

MagneRide 4.0 includes redeveloped sensors, controller hardware, dampers, and vehicle tuning methods. Highlights include:

• New wheel hub accelerometers and an inertial measurement unit transmit and process changes in road conditions four times faster than the previous system, for more fluid and natural-feeling damping changes.
• The inertial measurement unit provides more precise measurements of body motion, relative to the wheel, for more accurate readings under heavy braking, hard cornering and other driving conditions.
• New secondary temperature maps enable engineers to compensate for changes in damper fluid temperature, which contributes to more consistent performance, especially during performance driving.
• New magnetic flux control creates a more consistent and more accurate transition between rebound and compression in the dampers, improving the system’s ability to sense and control vehicle body movement.
• A significant reduction in damper friction produces a near “no damping” effect that enables engineers to tune for more pronounced differences between drive modes.
• Upgrades to hardware and software improve transient body control to allow the vehicle to remain more level as it transitions between corners.
• A new magnetorheological fluid formula reduces friction within the damper that contributes to smoother overall damping.

Cadillac’s 2021 CT4-V (rear-wheel drive) and CT5-V come standard with MagneRide 4.0 and start at $45,890 and $48,790, respectively. The 2021 CT5 Sport starts at $42,790 and MagneRide 4.0 is available as part of the new optional V Performance package, which also includes additional suspension performance upgrades and a mechanical limited-slip differential.

Photo courtesy of Cadillac

For the 2021 Escalade, MagneRide 4.0 is standard on the Sport and Platinum models, which start at $86,890 and $101,290, respectively, and is available on the Premium Luxury trim as part of the optional Performance Package.

All prices include a $995 destination charge.