Many super sports cars and performance vehicles come equipped with factory lift systems to increase ground clearance at the touch of a button, which is useful for negotiating speed bumps and other road protrusions. Automotive suspension company KW is now expanding its portfolio with a new generation of retrofit hydraulic lift systems.
The new KW Hydraulic Lift System (HLS) Evolution system is available for the front axle or as a complete front-and-rear solution. It allows the vehicle to be raised while driving at speeds of up to 80 km/h, making obstacles such as steep driveways, parking garage ramps, and speed bumps easier to navigate. Once the obstacle is cleared and the vehicle accelerates again, the system automatically lowers the vehicle at around 65 km/h.
The retrofit kits are offered as the HLS 2 kit for the front axle and the HLS 4 kit for both axles. Each kit includes a compact, maintenance‑free radial piston pump, lift cylinders, hydraulic lines, electronic control unit, mounting hardware, and vehicle‑specific springs. The compact and lightweight HLS is available for selected vehicles as both a retrofit solution for OE suspension and in combination with KW coilover kits.
“The new HLS Evo kit uses a more compact and lighter pump,” explained KW product manager, Sascha Daucher. “We achieved a weight reduction of over 50%, and depending on the hydraulic reservoir, the hydraulic module weighs just 1.66 to 2.13 kg. We have also significantly reduced power consumption and current draw.”
The system uses new solenoid valves, and all the hydraulic lines have been replaced with Kevlar-reinforced hoses equipped with quick-release connectors.
A compact solution
KW says that, compared with air‑spring‑based lift systems, the HLS requires considerably less installation space and can be integrated discreetly into the vehicle. “The hydraulic module with reservoir is smaller than the starter battery of a typical compact car,” added Daucher.
The KW springs included with the HLS Evolution are engineered with vehicle‑specific spring rates so that, whether they are extended or retracted, neither ride comfort nor driving dynamics are affected. The lift cylinders raise the front end by up to 45 mm within four seconds. When all four dampers are equipped with lift cylinders, the entire vehicle can be lifted at both axles in roughly six to eight seconds.
