KW V4's Released
 

https://www.kwsuspensions.com/produc...overs/variant4


I just noticed KW Suspensions released the KW V4 somewhat recently. According to the webpage:

KW Variant 4 coilovers are a combination of our innovative, race proven technology, as well as decades of experience tuning high end sports cars, super sedans and exotics such as the Audi R8, Audi RS6, BMW M5, Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 SV, Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Mercedes AMG GT and more. In addition to the individually adjustable ride height the KW Variant 4 coilover kit allows an independent adjustment of the rebound damping as well as the low-speed and high-speed compression damping. Each KW Variant 4 coilover kit is delivered with a vehicle-specific comfort setting and with the integrated adjustment controls the damping characteristics can be set quickly and intuitively transformed to an optimized performance setup.


The 3-way adjustable high-performance dampers in the KW Variant 4 coilover kits feature independent adjustment of the rebound damping utilizing patented TVR-A technology, as well as the low speed and high speed compression damping utilizing TVCLH-A technology. The KW Variant 4 coilovers are based upon successful race technology utilized by multiple overall winners of the ADAC Zurich 24h Nürburgring race.The new KW Variant 4 coilovers are exclusively developed for select high-performance vehicles, which benefit greatly from the KW suspension technology to improve their driving dynamics.



TVR-A Technology:

The two-stage, patented TVR-A (Twin Valve Rebound - Adjustable) technology enables a small volume of oil to flow through an adjustable, conically shaped, low-speed bypass during low damper speeds, while in the case of higher damper speeds, the main rebound stage valve opens allowing a larger volumn of oil to flow. This provides a big improvement in terms of ride comfort without influencing the safety-relevant high-speed range. There are 16 precise clicks available for individual settings, so you can choose between more comfort or more body control.




TVCLH-A Technology:

With 6 precise clicks in low-speed and 14 precise clicks in high-speed range of the compression damping, the cross-sections in the Variant 4 valves are decreased or increased, in order to achieve either more or less compression damping. The TVCLH-A (Twin Valve Compression Low High - Adjustable) technology has an engineered blow-off characteristic providing a large cross-section that allows substantial low-speed forces to provice optimum support of the vehicle body without unsettling the body in the case of sudded high damper stimulation induced by the wheels, like driving over apex curbing. The separate low and high-speed settings are always supplied with an additional rebound setting utilizing TVR-A technology for a truely independent 3-way damper setup.




Any thoughts?

Yowza $5k-$10k depending on the car, most land around $6k

Given that KW's aren't terribly customizable you better agree with their engineers on what you need or you're SOL. That's a lot of money that can get you a custom tuned rebuildable setup from most other quality suspension companies, I'd happily sacrifice a knob for that capability. It's also twin tube with remote canisters, low speed adjustment is probably just ramping up gas pressure with the knob, not that it's not neat but not as amazing as the price tag would lend you to believe imho.

Ummm.... I thought V4s had been out for a while. Maybe they're new to the US? They have 26 vehicles listed for V4s on their website.


Yes they are expensive but one of their biggest advantages in Europe is they are TUV certified. That is, one doesn't have to through the bureaucratic process of getting your aftermarket parts approved for road use. I doubt they could offer TUV certification if they offered customisation.

Bilstein and Ohlins offer first party revalves are easily revalvable by certified third parties (and non certified) and offer tuv certification. It's entirely a choice by KW to not offer any revalving services or parts to do so to third parties.

They used to and stopped about ten years ago from what I can tell.

Doesn't TVR-A sound a bit like Ohlins DFV? Not worth to much fuss about, as it seems, that they are listed produced only for BMW M-ones, AMG, Porsches, Lambos and Audi R8/RS5. And $5K doesn't sound that much for those cars :)

Our RCE Tarmac 3 coilovers (released in a couple years ago) are based on the KW Clubsport 3 ways.

The KW V4s are a similar but slightly more street oriented version of that, just not available for BRZ/FRS/GT86 as far as I know.

It's kind of a monotube twin tube hybrid. Oil and gas are separate in the piggyback canister. Very good shocks. See here.
https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79026

- Andrew