The application of technological innovations in every corner of every industry has made our lives easier and more convenient. The automotive industry is no exception. A few decades ago, features such as power windows, ABS (anti-lock braking systems), power steering, and rear-view cameras were rare and reserved only for luxury vehicles. However, today you can find them in everyday cars like standard hatchbacks and SUVs.
When a new technology is first developed, it’s often expensive and exclusive. However, over time, as production methods improve and costs decrease, economies of scale allow that technology to become more affordable and widely available. Eventually, it reaches the mass market, allowing everyday consumers to benefit.
In this article, we’ll explore how innovations from motorsport and luxury cars gradually shape everyday vehicles. And, since many key vehicle functions nowadays make use of hydraulics, including brakes and active aerodynamics, we’ll home in on the role that hydraulic systems and Domin play in this evolution.
The Innovative Technology of Today that will be the Mass Market of Tomorrow
Active Aerodynamics
Active aerodynamic systems, which adjust the aerodynamic features of a car to optimise it to its conditions, first appeared in Formula 1 vehicles and then exclusive hypercars like the McLaren P1 and the Bugatti Veyron. These systems use movable components, such as rear spoilers, air dams, grille shutters, and even brake flaps, to adapt the car’s shape on the fly. The goal of active aerodynamics is to balance two forces: downforce, which improves road grip and handling, and drag, which reduces efficiency and top speed.
The precise movement of these components is controlled by electro-hydraulic actuators managed by servo valves. These servo valves regulate fluid flow and pressure with high accuracy, allowing rapid and smooth adjustment of aerodynamic surfaces in response to sensor data like vehicle speed, braking force, and steering input.
In top-end motorsport for example, Formula 1 aerodynamic elements have long been used to increase cornering grip or decrease resistance on straights. Rear wings might flatten for speed or pop up during braking to act like an air brake. High-performance road cars like the McLaren MP4-12C use a dynamic rear wing that deploys under heavy braking above 95 kph, first to 32° (relative to its default or ‘flat’ position), and then airflow pushes it to 69°, reducing braking distances by up to 20 metres.
This principle of dynamically adjusting aerodynamic components to balance grip and efficiency also now powers active aerodynamic features in many other vehicles on the road today. The Porsche 911 Turbo uses hydraulic actuators to automatically extend the rear spoiler and front air dam at higher speeds to increase stability. Similarly, the Ferrari 458 Speciale includes vertical flaps and adjustable panels in the rear diffuser that open or close depending on speed and brake input, helping to manage airflow and balance the car’s downforce from front to rear.
SUVs and sedans have their own take on it. The Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera have rear spoilers that rise at higher speeds and retract at slower speeds to avoid unnecessary drag. Certain BMWs use active grille shutters that close at higher speeds to reduce drag if engine cooling isn’t needed. Audi’s innovative system even includes active shutters inside the wheels to regulate airflow for brake cooling.
Regenerative Braking/Brake-by-Wire Systems
Brake-by-wire and regenerative braking systems are becoming more widespread across a range of road cars, first appearing on the road in 1967 with the AMC Amitron prototype as an experimental proof of concept for energy recovery in vehicles. In 1998, the Panoz Q9 GTR-1 Hybrid became one of the first motorsport cars to use regenerative braking, combining a V8 engine with a 110kW Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and pioneering the energy recovery system (ERS) concept. Formula 1 introduced the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) in 2009, allowing drivers to deploy bursts of extra power harvested from braking energy. Now, regenerative braking is also a core component of the all-electric Formula E Series.
Rather than wasting the vehicle’s kinetic energy by losing it all to heat through friction between the braking materials, regenerative braking works by using the electric motor in reverse. When the car is moving, the motor normally uses electrical energy from the battery to propel the vehicle. During braking, the motor switches roles and acts like a generator, converting the kinetic energy of the vehicle back into electrical energy. This electrical energy is then stored as chemical energy in the battery for future use. In Formula E cars, this system is so advanced that over 40% of the energy expended by the car during a race is recaptured.
Controlling the regenerative braking process requires precision, which is where brake-by-wire comes in. It replaces the hydraulic connection between the brake pedal and braking components with electronic sensors and actuators. A sensor monitors the driver’s input to the brake pedal, and a control unit decides how much braking is needed from either the hydraulic system or the regenerative motor. An electrohydraulic pump then generates the required pressure. In some road cars like the Audi e-Tron and Porsche Taycan, light pedal pressure may only activate regeneration, with the hydraulic brakes kicking in once a certain braking power threshold is passed.
This smart system not only improves energy efficiency but also allows for customisable brake feel in different driving modes. In performance cars like the Acura NSX, brake-by-wire can adjust the brake response as temperatures rise in dynamic driving, giving the driver a consistent pedal feel.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
The technologies that now underpin safety and convenience in everyday vehicles were once reserved for the premium. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), like autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring, have become standard features in even mid-market car models. Yet early versions of these capabilities were pioneering innovations introduced exclusively in flagship vehicles from brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and BMW.
Early iterations of adaptive cruise control emerged in the late 1990s, notably in the Mercedes S-Class, using radar to intelligently maintain distance from vehicles ahead. Lane departure warning systems enhancements followed in high-end models like the Infiniti Q45, which also had night vision enhancements, and the Cadillac DeVille. Rear-view cameras, now a regulatory requirement in markets like the U.S., were first fitted to the 1991 Toyota Soarer, a clear example of innovation filtering down from premium to mainstream.
Today, models like the Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla frequently arrive with full ADAS packages as standard, bundling automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and traffic jam assist into cars designed for the mass market. Honda Sensing, Toyota Safety Sense, and Nissan ProPILOT are emblematic of this transition, making sophisticated driver support systems a baseline expectation rather than a luxury extra.
Some manufacturers have pushed the envelope even further. GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise now offer hands-free highway driving, leveraging high-definition maps and driver-monitoring technologies that evolved from commercial vehicle safety systems and early research prototypes. Tesla’s Autopilot, while not without controversy, played a significant role in bringing semi-autonomous driving capabilities into the public eye and normalising their presence in the consumer market.
These developments exemplify the broader pattern of “trickle-down” innovation in the automotive industry, where high-end experimentation, once limited to elite vehicles, steadily migrates into the cars we drive every day.
The Role of Hydraulics in Automotive Innovation
The highest levels of automotive performance require exceptional engineering design, reliability, and efficiency. Hydraulics provide a power-dense and dependable solution for many of the industry’s most impactful innovations. These support technologies already in the mass market and enable those on the verge of broader adoption. Brake-by-wire systems are one example. They need fast, precise actuation to generate brake pressure on demand. Hydraulic actuators are a great fit here because they respond quickly and consistently. And when it comes to something as safety-critical as braking, that kind of reliability isn’t optional. Plus, their high power density helps keep the system lightweight and compact, which is a win for overall vehicle performance.
Active suspension is another demanding application where hydraulics demonstrate clear advantages. Unlike passive or semi-active systems, true active architectures require continuous force generation rather than just variable damping. This means the actuators must deliver high bandwidth, precise force control, and minimal latency to respond to road inputs and vehicle dynamics in real time. Hydraulic actuators are uniquely capable of providing these performance characteristics, converting electronic control commands into large, finely controlled forces within milliseconds. This makes it possible to actively counteract roll, pitch, and heave across all four corners, ensuring that stability, ride comfort, and handling precision are maintained even under highly dynamic conditions. Mastering this technology has been the mission of automotive OEMs like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche or BYD to demonstrate their engineering expertise in automotive design and sell more cars.
Hydraulic Systems Enabling the Future of Automotive Design
Domin Suspension is an active suspension system that delivers a class-leading ride and handling experience without the compromise experienced by other systems on the market. By removing the limitations of centralised systems and enabling high-bandwidth, four-corner control, our solution constantly adjusts to road conditions in milliseconds, maintaining stability, comfort, and precision in every scenario.
At the heart of the system, our high-performance servo valves direct pressurised fluid with unrivalled speed and accuracy, instantly tuning damping rates and spring stiffness to counter bumps, vibrations, and sudden impacts. The result is a smoother, safer drive that enhances comfort and control, while also improving vehicle efficiency.
Domin’s compact, high-performance pump and valve technology is changing the way automotive hydraulic systems can be designed and deployed. For decades, hydraulic technology has delivered power at the expense of size and efficiency, resulting in a choice between performance, comfort, or energy efficiency. Domin overturns that compromise, delivering performance, comfort, and energy efficiency in small, powerful packages for any vehicle type and energy source.
By leveraging tools like metal 3D printing and integrating modern electronics and advanced motor control, our technology provides the reliable, rapid response needed for braking, suspension, and steering systems, while also improving energy efficiency through smarter fluid management.
Our technology unlocks a new design freedom for vehicle OEMs. No longer constrained by legacy hydraulics, manufacturers can build the driving experiences of tomorrow, whether it’s the silence of luxury passenger cars, the demands of high-performance motorsport, or the safety-critical balance of comfort and performance required in emergency vehicles. Dynamic, efficient, software-led motion control across the modern vehicle landscape is the foundation for the future.
For more information on Domin’s technologies and products, contact us to find out how we can assist you with your next project or application.
