Currently reading: Toyota hires Mini guru

An important new research contract, agreed between Dr Alex Moulton, the designer of the original Mini’s suspension, and Toyota could bring interconnected suspension systems into the Japanese marque’s future small models.

Few details have been made public, but Toyota is interested in Moulton’s work on refining the front-to-rear interconnected fluid suspension systems, Hydrolastic and Hydragas, used in many BL models up to the turn of the century.

Moulton said: ‘All small cars are far more prone to pitch than larger ones, and the situation gets worse when you design them with a wheel at each corner, as you must do for good cabin space. Today’s buyers want more space-efficient, yet more comfortable, small cars – and with an interconnected suspension, both things are possible.’

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