It took many years for engineers to come up with the design of different length control arms.

I can't get into due to a lack of knowledge, but I've had it explained to me a few times and it is the "right" way to build a front suspension, it seems backwards, but it's the best way to keep the most surface of the tire on the ground in corners.

As for the torsion bars versus the coil overs, I think you get more articulation out of the torsion bars, but coilovers are cool too, I can't rally argue the point either way.