All Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo and Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo racecars are using KW Racing Shocks.
History
The company was originally founded under the name KW Tuning in 1992 by Klaus Wohlfarth. The company originally sold and distributed car parts out of a 75 square meter retail building in Murrhardt.[1]
In 1995, the first coilover suspension system by the company was introduced by Klaus and his brother Jürgen Wohlfarth. This system was approved by the TÜV and was presented at the Essen Motor Show. The company shifted their focus fully to suspension in 1996, under the new name KW Coilover Suspensions in a new 150 square metre facility. The company relocated to a new 1,000 square meter facility in Fichtenberg and was renamed to KW automotive GmbH in 1998.[1][2][3]
Aside from suspension, KW also entered other industries. From 1997 to 2001, KW wheels made alloy wheels for road use. In 2003, KW automotive launched Lambo Style Doors (LSD) for aftermarket scissor doors.[1][4]
In 2006, the signature yellow and purple color scheme was registered as an official trademark of KW across Europe. KW also developed the first aftermarket control system for factory air suspension in 2012, called Dynamic Level Control (DLC). In 2013, KW partnered with Polyphony Digital in the physics engine and engineering of vehicle dynamics in the Gran Turismo 6 racing simulation video game. In 2019, a new innovation in solid piston technology was invented and launched by KW suspensions.[1][4][5]
Company
KW Automotive employs approximately 1,202 employees worldwide with 13 locations.[6] The company is headquartered in Fichtenberg, Germany, where the main R&D departments and production site are also located.[7]
The company's flagship brand KW suspensions produces suspension for aftermarket, motorsport, and OEM applications.[1][8] KW suspensions also produces other types of vehicle components, including steering dampers, chassis parts, and ride height control systems.[2][9][10]
With over 26,000 individual applications in aftermarket suspension, KW suspensions has the largest aftermarket suspension portfolio in the industry.[11]
KW suspensions has been influential in high-end suspension systems and components manufacture, with stainless steel struts, height adjustable rear-axle springs, solid piston technology, hydraulic lift system (HLS), DDC plug-and-play systems for use with factory semi-active suspension, artificial intelligence for chassis control, and the utilization of an in-house advanced 7-post drive dynamics test stand, similar to those used in Formula One development, which is rare in the aftermarket car suspension industry.[5][12][19][20][21]
Since 2023 KW automotive is also official Technology Partner Brabus [22] and also technical partner of Lamborghini Squadra Corse [23]- the Motorsports department of Lamborghini. In 2024 Lamborghini SC63 will be running KW shock absorbers.
Other brands
KW Automotive owns a group of brands covering industries such as wheels, suspension, chassis components, and sim racing, with subsidiaries such as BBS Automotive, ST Suspensions, Reiger Suspension, Belltech, ap Sportfahrwerke, AL-KO, TrackTime, Ascher Racing, and RaceRoom (including the game's developer KW Studios).[24][25][26][27][28]
Motorsport
All Porsche 911 GT3 R racecars are using KW V6 Racing Shocks
KW has a strong presence and great success in various forms of motorsport, especially in sports car racing.[1][28]
In Motorsports following cars are homologized with KW Racing Shocks: Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo, BMW M4 GT3, BMW M4 GT4, Lamborghini SC63, Mercedes-AMG GT4, Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R and Toyota GR Supra GT4.
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