Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
A revolution in the automotive sector, rooted in forgotten technology, comes to life through innovation and advancements in suspensions, becoming a global reference.
A technology developed over two decades ago, which seemed forgotten by time, has been reborn with full force and has become the secret behind the smoothness of one of the most sophisticated electric SUVs today.
The Nio ET9, a Chinese model priced at around US$ 110,000, has gone viral on social media for challenging the laws of physics — or at least seeming to do so.
In videos that impress with their stability, the car crosses speed bumps and uneven surfaces with champagne glasses on the body, without spilling a drop.
-
With a TSI engine of up to 150 hp, a 420-liter trunk, a 10.1-inch VW Play infotainment system, and almost 7,900 units sold in April 2026, Volkswagen’s SUV remains the segment leader, leaving Creta, Tracker, and Compass behind.
-
A young woman from a Rio de Janeiro community, daughter of a single mother and a former public school student, has been accepted into one of the world’s most competitive universities and also secured spots at four other US institutions.
-
The next generation of the Toyota Corolla could become almost unrecognizable next to the current model, according to projections, the images show a tapered front end, LED bar headlights, recessed door handles, and a new rear end with two light strips.
-
Millionaire mansions, thousands of heads of cattle, landing strips, and giant farms: the rural empire of the biggest sertanejo stars, away from the stages and in the heart of agribusiness.
The secret behind this impressive stability lies in a suspension system curiously rooted in American, not Chinese, technology.
The innovation originated in the 1980s when the renowned audio equipment manufacturer Bose decided to invest in an ambitious idea: to create the world’s most advanced automotive suspension.
Named Project Sound, the project was envisioned by the company’s founder, Amar Bose, an electrical engineer with a passion for technological perfection.
The Origin of a Visionary Suspension
Inspired by the limitations of existing systems, such as Citroën’s famous hydropneumatic system, Bose believed that he could create something more effective, lightweight, and with lower maintenance needs.
His proposal was to replace traditional hydraulic and pneumatic systems with a set of electromechanical actuators, capable of responding in real time to imperfections in the road.
The Bose system used electric motors mounted directly on the shock absorbers, controlled by complex algorithms that adjusted according to the ground conditions.
The result was an incredibly smooth ride, something that seemed to come out of a science fiction movie.
However, despite promising tests — a functional prototype was even installed in a Lexus LS 400 — the high cost and the limitations of computing at the time prevented mass production.
Amar Bose himself was known for his extreme perfectionism, which further delayed the commercialization of the technology.
It took five years just to refine the equations that controlled the system.
According to the engineer himself, several automakers showed interest — including Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and even Ferrari — but none signed a definitive agreement.
From Limbo to Rebirth
By around 2004, the project was officially shelved.
For years, it became almost an urban legend among automotive engineering enthusiasts.
However, in 2017, the story began to change with the emergence of the American startup ClearMotion.
Founded by former MIT engineers, the company saw commercial potential in Bose’s suspension and purchased the rights to the technology, including patents, prototypes, and software.
According to documents from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), over US$ 100 million was raised in investments to revive the project.
ClearMotion’s approach was different: they simplified the mechanics and bet on advancements in embedded computing to make the system more accessible and reliable.
This bet paid off.
In 2023, Nio — a Chinese automaker known for its focus on high-performance electric vehicles — signed a multimillion-dollar contract with ClearMotion.
The agreement called for the installation of the technology in about 750,000 vehicles in the coming years, including the sophisticated ET9.
The Arrival of SkyRide
Rebranded as SkyRide, the system is now one of the major bets of the Chinese automotive industry.
Integrated with the sensor and camera suite of the Nio ET9, it makes thousands of adjustments per second to each wheel of the car, anticipating the terrain with the help of artificial intelligence.
The entire Nio fleet contributes to this system, sending real-time data about the conditions of the roads they traverse.
The innovation goes beyond comfort.
SkyRide also includes additional functions that leverage its ability to move each part of the suspension individually.
Among the most curious features is a “jolt” mode to remove accumulated snow and a motion sickness prevention system, ideal for sensitive passengers.
There is even a mini-game that allows controlling the car’s tilt using the movement of a smartphone.
Updates are made remotely via the internet, allowing new features to be added over time, as is already done in many next-generation electric vehicles.
A Revolution with Forgotten Roots
The rebirth of Bose’s suspension not only brings Nio to the forefront of the global market but also reinforces the importance of revisiting projects once deemed unfeasible.
With advancements in technology, what was once impossible may become the next big trend in the industry.
This movement also shows how China is increasingly betting on the acquisition and improvement of Western technologies rather than simply copying them, as was common in the past.
The case of Nio and ClearMotion is a clear example of this strategic shift.
With the rise of technologies like SkyRide, the concept of “flying carpet” may stop being a mere compliment and become a literal description of the driving experience.
And the most curious thing is that this has become a reality not through the hands of a European or American giant, but by an unlikely union between an engineering startup and a Chinese automaker.
Have you ever imagined a car that can anticipate potholes in the road and adjust the suspension before even crossing them? Leave your comment below and share your opinion on this revolution in the way of driving!
Be the first to react!