A de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses a solid tubular beam to hold the opposite wheels in parallel. Unlike an anti-roll bar, a de Dion tube is not directly connected to the chassis nor is it intended to flex. In suspension geometry it is close to the trailing beam suspension most recently seen on the front wheel drive Chrysler "K-cars", but without the torsional flexibility of that suspension. Karl Benzs Velo model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race An automobile is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... An Independent Suspension is an automobile suspension system that allows the wheels on an axle to move independent of each other. ... A swing axle suspension is a simple type of independent suspension used in automobiles. ... The dominant form of power transmission for front-engine, rear-drive cars in the twentieth century is called the Hotchkiss drive. ... A universal joint Spicer joint is a joint in a rigid rod that allows the rod to bend in any direction. ... Input torque is applied to the ring gear, which turns the entire carrier (all blue), providing torque to both side gears (red and yellow), which in turn may drive the left and right wheels. ... A sway bar (also called an anti-sway bar or anti-roll bar) is an automobile suspension device. ... A chassis (plural: chassis) consists of a framework which supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animals skeleton; for example in the construction of an automobile or of a firearm. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... The Chrysler Corporation is a United States-based automobile manufacturer, since 1998 merged with Daimler_Benz into DaimlerChrysler. ... A 1987 Plymouth Reliant K. Chrysler Corporations K Car initiative of the 1980s ranks as the most overt use of platform sharing in automotive history. ...

The benefits of a de Dion suspension include:

1. Reduced unsprung weight compared to the Hotchkiss drive since the differential is connected to the chassis.
2. Unlike a fully independent suspension there are no camber changes on suspension unloading (or rebound). Fixing the camber of both wheels at zero degrees assists in obtaining good traction from wide tires and also tends to reduce wheel hop under high power operations compared to an independent suspension.

There are costs, however: Unsprung weight is a term used to describe that part of a vehicles mass that is directly connected to the wheels, and not isolated through the suspension. ... Camber may refer to: Camber, East Sussex, a seaside resort in England, near to Camber Sands. ...

1. If coil springs are used then a lateral location link (usually either a Panhard rod or Watts linkage), plus additional torque links on each side (five link suspension) or a combination of lower trailing links and an upper transverse wishbone are required. None of these additional links are required if steel leaf springs are used.
2. Sympathetic camber changes on opposite wheels are seen on single-wheel suspension compression. This is not important for operation on improved surfaces but is more critical for rough road or off road use.
3. Compared to a fully independent rear suspension the ability to refine the dynamic response of the vehicle is somewhat limited.

De Dion tubes are generally considered exotic and are rarely used. The smart fortwo micro-compact car produced by DaimlerChrysler and the Caterham 7 produced by Caterham Cars UK are the only cars currently in production that utilize this arrangement, as well as some kit car companies. In addition the original Mazda Cosmo, Alfa Romeo GTV6, and Rover P6 are examples of production vehicles using this suspension. A Panhard rod is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. ... Watts Linkage The Watts linkage is an automotive rear suspension designed in the early twentieth century as an improvement over the Panhard rod as a means of locating the rear axle of an automobile relative to the body and preventing relative movement side to side. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mazda Cosmo There have been 4- generations Mazda automobiles named Mazda Cosmo. ... The Alfa Romeo GTV6, introduced in 1981 as a revision of the Alfetta Sprint GT and Alfetta GTV, arrived with Alfas new big six-cylinder engine stuffed under the hood of a car designed for Alfas brilliant four cylinder. ... The Rover P6 series (named 2000, 2200, and 3500 for their engine displacement) was a group of saloon automobiles produced from 1963 through 1976. ...

A recent production vehicle using this suspension using an aluminum tube with leaf springs was the Ford Ranger EV. The earliest production used carbon fiber leaf springs which required the use of a transverse locating linkage of the Watts type. Subsequent production used steel leaf springs which were sufficiently rigid to perform the transverse location function. Rather than only a differential, an integrated drive component consisting of an AC electrical motor, 3:1 reduction, and differential action was mounted to the chassies. Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... The Ford Ranger EV (Electric Vehicle) is a battery electric vehicle produced by Ford Motor Company. ...

de Dion suspension characteristics: Camber change on bumps, none on rebound