I wouldn't try to compare the suspension designs on bike with those on cars, since the dynamics are completely different. In a vehicle, the wheels are suspended perpendicular to the suspension pivots.
The purpose of the fancy new "floating pivot" bikes like dw, Maestro, and VPP are to reduce the influence of pedaling on suspension action (dw, VPP, Maestro are just corporate names for a floating suspension pivot). While they go about it several different ways, those 3 systems (and others) are functionally very similar. Basically, the path of the rear wheel through suspension travel ends up being some version of an S or C instead of a simple (.
Horst link is most associated with the Specialized FSR name. It's a glorified single pivot with a second pivot on the chainstay. It's largely outdated due to the "floating" designs mentioned above but still rides very nice. In my experience, FSR bikes have the plushest, smoothest suspension action of any of the designs, but at the expense of pedaling stability and, to a lesser extent, rear end torsional rigidity.
Older suspension systems that are largely out of date are single pivot types with rigid rear triangles. These put the path of the rear wheel at a simple arc, as you would assume. The major disadvantage is that almost all pedaling action ends up in the suspension which necessitates a shock with some kind of internal valving.
