Hydropneumatic Suspension - why didn't it become mass market?

Hydropneumatic Suspension - why didn't it become mass market?

Hydropneumatic Suspension

If you've ever spoken to me and complained about the ride quality of your car, told me stories of how your passengers were sick after a long drive, then you will have heard me advocate the purchase of a Citroen equipped with Hydropneumatic Suspension. This amazing system, which reached the same sophistication as the McLaren P1 in 1994, could offer truly active suspension and active roll control. 

Nowadays you see all kinds of systems for "active" suspension control but most of these are only influencing damping. These semi-active systems are still running a fixed spring rate courtesy of a spring steel coil that is of a rate suitable to both suspend the car, and create pitch optimisation between front and rear.

Citroens Hydropneumatic system was far more sophisticate than this. It evolved over many years into a form called Hydractive 3. First demonstrated in the Xantia Activa (largely forgotten now) the handling and grip available were extraordinary. In fact I'd go so far as to say that if you put the average driver in a Ferrari 348 and Lewis Hamilton in a Xantia Activa around Brands Hatch Indy circuit - the Xantia Activa with just a 2.0 4 cylinder engine would win, such is it's incredible grip due to active roll control.

When you think of the large number of companies supplying aftermarket air suspension, it makes you wonder why the Citroen system didn't gain mass market appeal.

I think it is to do with brand equity. If VW had made the same system available on the Golf GTI it would now be in use on nearly every brand available. So superior is the ride with the system that really we should have left conventional springs, dampers and anti-roll bars behind a long time ago..