A test-drive event was held at the Alashan Heroes Festival, an off-road 4WD event held in the Gobi Desert, using 11 off-road vehicles fitted with TEIN,INC.'s new product, 4×4 DAMPER SPORT PLUS.
For the Alashan Heroes Festival, an off-road 4WD event held in the Gobi Desert, TEIN,INC. prepared 11 off-road vehicles fitted with its new height-adjustable suspension, 4×4 DAMPER SPORT PLUS, for test drives. The setup is designed to improve durability and maintain stability under harsh road conditions, including sand, compared with conventional shocks.
The new product is a damping-force-adjustable system based on the twin-tube 4×4 DAMPER SPORT with an added remote reservoir. Its gas-and-oil separation design is intended to limit performance deterioration during long-distance driving on rough roads. An optional built-in EDFC5 mechanism is also available, allowing the front and rear damping forces to be adjusted from inside the vehicle.
The test vehicles included Great Wall Motor's TANK 400/300/300L, BAIC 212 T01, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Toyota LC300/LC250/LC76, Mitsubishi Pajero and Suzuki Jimny, for a total of 11 vehicles. The vehicles used MUD-type tires from Bridgestone and other manufacturers, with tire pressures set relatively low to maintain traction on sand.
The event course was mainly laid out on sand, and the effects of EDFC5 were evaluated for each vehicle. Multiple settings were tested, with a focus on downforce and handling on sand, as well as renewed testing of vehicle behavior on gravel surfaces. All test vehicles were equipped with EDFC5, and the broad range of adjustability was presented as a key feature.
In the Chinese market, the product will be sold for 8,000 to 9,000 yuan, while the price in Japan is expected to be higher. The event also included a large exhibition and business meeting area, along with desert-based experiences, exhibits by related suppliers and demonstrations.