Corvette's suspension remembers rough spots

Low-slung cars that can raise their front ends to protect the fragile front fascia and mechanical suspension parts are not new — several exotic sports cars and some Tesla models have that feature.

But Chevrolet engineers took the technology to the next level by tying it into the car's GPS navigation system.

Instead of a driver having to remember to press a button to raise the car's front end every time the vehicle approaches a speed bump, climbs a steep driveway or encounters a pothole or cement parking lot barrier, the maneuver is done automatically.

When the driver first approaches an area that could damage the car's underpinnings, that location can be stored in the car's computer system. The Corvette can store up to 1,000 preset locations. When the vehicle nears one of those locations, the hydraulically operated system automatically raises the car as much as 1.7 inches in less than 3 seconds, as long as the speed is not greater than 24 mph.

After the car is clear of the impediment, it automatically lowers to the regular driving position.