Out annual holiday is fast approaching (or not as the case maybe - 6wks)

 

As there will be 650+ mile so of Motorway driving through Holland, Germany and into Austria I am hoping we could enjoy the benefits of Comfort Mode.  However as I do not understand the mechanics of how it works, is it advisable given the car will be very heavily loaded (near maximum)?

No matter which mode you have the car in the engine power and gear change will be adapted to the engine load. So as the engine will be under more load if it needs to rev higher to change down etc it will do so regardless of the driving mode.

 

What you may find though is the gearbox will change up just to have to change down again soon after especially if making more progress or encountering hills.

I know I haven't got my car yet, but still....

The vehicle has got what is known as "active Suspension". The active suspension will adjust the spring pre-tension and the shock absorber's damping.

Both together will determine the softness of your ride.

Depending how clever the system is, it should adjust the pre-tension of the springs to suit the load....if it doesn't then this might be possible to adjust separately in the "custom mode".

I wouldn't get hung up too much on the modes. Try both comfort and normal mode while on the better highways and use what feels the best.

My BMW motorbike has got an active suspension with the same kind of "modes". These systems are now generically the same and the manufacturers adjust them to suit their specific vehicles.

I have ignored what they do to the gearbox and engine, as you seem to be asking mainly in regards to the ride of the vehicle.

Thanks, yes I was thinking more about the ride rather than the engine side of things.  I was concerned that if it softens the suspension it may soften too much given the amount of weight in the car.

As far as I recall mate comfort mode on ACC is equivalent to regular sprung suspension. I've never had any problems on mine (regular suspension) even five up with a boot full of compost and stones. Try it out but I wouldn't be expecting any issues. It'll be great to really stretch the 220s legs.

As I understand it, DCC does not alter spring rates, only damper settings, i.e. it alters the size of an orifice that the hydraulic damper oil passes through, to make the damping rate greater/smaller.

 

As such, it will not alter the loaded ride height of the car.

 

I wouldn't worry about it on my car - just choose the mode that suits you best at the time.