Dual-clutch transmission put on hold at Chrysler

Chrysler Group has delayed introduction of a fuel-saving automatic transmission so it can make the shift patterns more palatable to U.S. drivers--the latest sign that a key tool in automakers' plans to meet tougher fuel-economy rules needs some fine-tuning. Two weeks ago, Ford Motor Co., which uses a similar dual-clutch transmission in its Fiesta and Focus, took a hit in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey because many drivers complained about balky shifting.

Webinars: Autodesk – Concept Modeling with Maya

Autodesk presented its third Webinar in the series entitled ‘Concept Modeling with Maya' that illustrates how the software helps to create concept models. Martin Emila of Autodesk showed how Maya could accelerate the development of a design concept with the help of polygonal modeling workflow, and how it can be integrated into common workflow - starting with first ideation sketch, move to polygon model and continue to surfacing and visualization. Emila's four-year career at Autodesk has largely focused on conceptual design and visualization.

75,000 Irish drivers left uninsured after policy provider collapses

TENS OF thousands of motorists in Ireland have been warned their insurance policies may be useless after the collapse of an insurer. The Central Bank has urged policy holders with Setanta Insurance to switch their cover after the Malta-based company went into liquidation. It is believed as many as 75,000 motorists are insured by the firm in Ireland, which is popular among smaller businesses who use vans for their deliveries and trading.