VARIABLE-GEOMETRY SUSPENSION APPARATUS AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH APPARATUS

A variable-geometry suspension apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus having a resiliently compressible member, such as a coil-over damper, an actuator and support structure, such as a chassis of a vehicle. The resiliently compressible member is mounted to the support structure for compression under the weight of a mass suspendable by the apparatus. The compressible member is mounted with at least one end of the compressible member displaceable in a displacement direction having a component perpendicular to the direction of compression, so that such displacement varies the geometry of the suspension apparatus and thereby varies the compression of the compressible member. The actuator is arranged for displacing the end of the compressible member in the displacement direction to vary the geometry and thereby vary the compression. Applications include motor vehicles such as cars and motorcycles.