Chassis evolution

Is it time for suspension system designs-increasingly costly to develop-to be standardized to conform to the ride and handling requirements of particular types and segments of cars instead of constantly being re-invented? The mere idea is anathema to some, but tempting common sense to others.

It might be thought that, after 100 years of car chassis design, the automotive industry would have come up with permanent answers to the questions regarding ideal ride and handling. But although some suspension systems have become very widely used for decades (the MacPherson strut is a prime example), the fact is that the re-invention continues. There is platform and module sharing, but fresh models are almost constantly arriving on the market with “new” front and rear suspension systems, doubtless designed and developed at great expense, with those costs often passed on to the end user. But the basic problems are twofold: competitive commercial pressure for endless design changes and constant redefinement of crashworthiness requirements that also vary for different international markets-adding more cost and complexity.

So, is there any hope that this huge investment might be curtailed and that companies could at last decide on the type and design of suspension for particular models (such as SUV, sedan, coupe, and sports two-seater), with only relatively minor tweaks needed from generation to generation, and could those standards even be shared across the industry? Or is all that just naive wishful thinking?