The suspension system, designed by Issigonis' friend Dr. Alex Moulton at Moulton Developments Limited, used compact rubber cones instead of conventional springs. This ingenious space-saving design also featured rising progressive rate springing of the cones, and provided some natural damping force. Built into the subframes, the rubber cone system gave a raw and bumpy ride which was accentuated by the woven-webbing seats, but the rigidity of the rubber cones, together with the wheels being pushed out to the corners of the car, gave the Mini go kart-like handling that would become famous. Initially an interconnected fluid system was planned — similar to the one which Alec Issigonis and Alex Moulton were working on in the mid-1950s at Alvis. They had assessed the mechanically interconnected Citroen 2CV suspension at that time (according to an interview by Moulton with CAR magazine in the late 1990s), which inspired the design of the Hydrolastic suspension system for the Mini and Austin 1100, to try to keep the benefits of the 2CV system (ride comfort, body levelling, keeping the roadwheel under good control and the tyre in contact with the road), but with added roll stiffness that the 2cv was very much lacking. The short development time of the car meant this was not ready in time for the Mini's launch. The system intended for the Mini was further developed and the hydrolastic system and was first used on the Austin 1100, launched in 1962, with the mini following two years later. Ten-inch (254 mm) wheels were specified, so new tyres needed to be developed, the initial contract going to Dunlop. Issigonis went to Dunlop stating that he wanted even smaller, eight- inch wheels (even though he had already settled on ten- inch). An agreement was made on the ten- inch size, after Dunlop choked on the eight- inch proposition. Sliding windows allowed storage pockets in the hollow doors; reportedly Issigonis sized them fit a bottle of Gordon's Gin. The boot lid was designed with the hinges at the bottom so that the car could be driven with it open to increase luggage space. On early cars the number plate was hinged so it swung down to remain visible when the boot lid was open. This design was later discontinued as it was discovered that exhaust gases could leak into the cockpit while the boot was open. The Mini was designed as a monocoque shell with welded seams that are visible on the outside of the car running down the A and C pillars, and between the body and the floor pan showing where the joins are. To further simplify construction, the car had external door and boot hinges. Cross-section shows how Mini maximizes passenger space

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