1964 Oldsmobile 330ci 1965 V-8 Crankcase Vent Valve Nos Ac 1116 on 2040-parts.com

Bentley uses 3D printing to prototype new designs [w/Video]

3D printing is changing the way the world makes things by helping people of all disciplines to enhance and refine their ideas cheaply, quickly and effectively.  Bentley is the latest carmaker to utilize the technology to fabricate and prototype different parts to see how they'll look and work on the finished design. Using 3D printers, designers can produce parts from the exterior and interior such as the grille, tires, headlamps and door handles as well as combine different types of contrasting materials, ranging from hard plastics to rubbers of different tensile strengths.  The technology allows the user to create a solid 3D object straight from a digital model by printing layers of material on top of each other. This process rapidly decreases the delivery time, as parts can be printed overnight, and allows designers to be more creative in their ideas because of the reduced cost. Bentley isn't the first carmaker to use 3D printing technology. Audi announced last year it was beginning to prototype vehicle parts using 3D printers.

McLaren MP4-12C Can-Am (2012) racer revealed

McLaren will show this MP4-12C Can-Am racing car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August 2012. It's only a one-off design study at the moment, says McLaren, but the Can-Am racer could morph into an off-the-shelf racer for well-heeled enthusiasts keen to take their racing seriously - if there's enough interest. What are the specs of the McLaren MP4-12C Can-Am racer?

New Ford S-Max Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show

The New Ford S-Max Concept (pictured) will debut at Frankfurt Ford’s sporty take on the Galaxy – the Ford S-Max – has been with us since 2006, so it’s time for a change. But with Ford in Europe not having the best of times and the new Ford Mondeo not expected to arrive until 2014, the all new S-Max – which will have underpinnings from the new Mondeo – won’t be arriving until 2015. But in the absence of anything new to show at Frankfurt, Ford has put together a Concept version of the new S-Max to try and show Europe it really does have new stuff on the way.