1965 Pontiac Bonneville Dash Nameplate Script Emblem on 2040-parts.com

AutoWeek Design Forum: McLaren evolves with carbon fiber

McLaren Automotive design boss Frank Stephenson detailed his company's transformation from strictly racing to producing road-going models on Thursday at the AutoWeek Design Forum. McLaren is launching the highly anticipated MP4-12C this year, and the company has been hard at work refining the use of carbon fiber, which it pioneered in the iconic McLaren F1. The company cut the amount of time required to design a carbon-fiber tub from 3,000 hours for the F1 to a mere four hours for the MP4-12C.

NADA asks U.S. to suspend clunkers program

National Automobile Dealers Association officials asked the government to suspend the cash-for-clunkers program because a survey by the group found that the $3 billion fund has been exhausted, NADA Chairman John McEleney said. "We asked them to put a halt to the program--I think we said 'very soon'--but a suspension at midnight tonight would make sense," McEleney said in an interview Wednesday. "Our survey opened the eyes of the Transportation Department." A suspension would allow dealers to submit all pending claims and permit the government to process them so that a precise determination could be made of how much money, if any, is left in the program, he said.

Singapore billionaire Peter Lim invests in McLaren Automotive

Singapore billionaire Peter Lim has invested in McLaren Automotive and has taken a spot on the board of directors along with Ron Dennis, Mansour Ojjeh and the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Co., McLaren said on Friday. The company declined to reveal the amount of the investment, but privately held McLaren said it is a “significant amount.” More details of the deal will be announced closer to the Singapore Grand Prix. Lim is ranked as the eighth-richest businessperson in Singapore, according to Forbes, and he owns a chain of Manchester United-themed restaurants and bars in Asia.