The AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with its adaptive adjustable electronic damping system offers three settings at the touch of a button. The driver can choose between "Comfort", "Sport" and "Sport Plus", adapting the damping characteristics to the driving situation – from comfortable cruising to sporty and agile driving.

In Comfort mode the hydraulic forces of the shock absorbers are reduced for more comfort-oriented damping of body movements.In Sport mode the hydraulic forces of the shock absorbers are increased for a more sporty setup, better road contact and improved control of body roll and pitching. In Sport Plus mode there is a further upward adjustment of damping forces to meet the requirements of dynamic driving on predominantly level stretches of road.

The advantages of the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension at a glance:

The DIRECT CONTROL suspension, adjusted for optimum comfort, guarantees top-level comfort on long journeys as standard for the 4- and 6-cylinder models. The suspension with selective damping system combines agility with ride comfort.

The vibration dampers adapt automatically in line with the current driving situation, thus enhancing both damping and the car’s stability – even on poor road surfaces. The DIRECT CONTROL suspension can also be optionally configured for out-and-out sports performance.

The Direct-Steer system adds to the comfort of speed-sensitive power steering. It features a variable steering ratio aligned with the steering wheel angle. The vehicle's response to a steering lock becomes more agile and steering requirements are reduced.

It consists of two components: the speed-dependent power steering, well known from the speed-sensitive steering system, is complemented by a variable ratio dependent on the steering angle. The Direct-Steer system helps to ensure greater motoring pleasure when negotiating tight bends, as well as making parking and manoeuvring simpler, while also increasing straight-line stability at high speeds.

For this it features high-level power steering support and a gear rack with variable gearing. In the central regions the gears are more closely spaced than in the outer ones, so that the steering ratio varies with the steering angle.

The indirect ratio in the central area supports a stable straight-line stability at high speeds: already at a steering angle of around 5 degrees the ratio increases so that the steering reacts perceptibly more directly. In consequence the steering wheel turns from lock to lock are reduced by about 25 percent.

The AIRMATIC air suspension system, in combination with the electronically-controlled ADS Adaptive Damping System provides ride comfort and driving dynamics at the highest level.

The air suspension system acts in conjunction with a fully-automatic damping adjustment which adapts continuously to the momentary handling situation, enabling extraordinary ride comfort even over small road bumps. In addition to this, the level regulation included in the package allows the vehicle level to remain constant under all load conditions.

In addition the vehicle can be raised on poor or unfavourable stretches of road to increase ground clearance. When driving continually at a high speed the vehicle is automatically lowered. This improves handling and reduces wind resistance - an additional contribution to reducing fuel consumption.

The sports suspension enhances the dynamic appearance of the vehicle, while the tauter suspension and damper settings make an even sportier driving style possible without major loss of ride comfort.