Originally Posted by
NickS
Close ... the system isn't on or off, it is always on. It just has different levels being Luxury, Performance & Track.
The shocks have the fluid filled with metalic particles and a current runs through the fluid, the current can be altered making the shocks firmer when needed. The track setting is always firmer. There are sensors in each shock that can adjust the settings, they read the cars steering, braking, cornering forces every 100th of a second and adjust the suspension accordingly.
e.g. you hit the brakes, the front shocks get a current through them to firm them up, this stops the nose diving under brakes and reduces braking distances. Likewise you corner hard, the outside wheels are firmed up to stop body roll, you accelerate hard and the rear shocks are firmed up to stop the back dropping and the nose pionting up.
Basically the system constantly adjusts to keep the car flat ... that's my basic understanding of it anyway.