Supercar maker Spyker starts production in UK

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 10 February 2010 12:29 Spyker is having a busy 2010. Last month it closed the deal to buy Saab from GM; today it built its first car at the new UK factory after relocating from Holland.Spyker Cars is quitting production in the Netherlands to manufacture cars in Coventry – nearer its main supply base in the Midlands.The new Spyker facility switches assembly of the Aileron supercar from Zeewolde to a new 20,000sq ft plant at CPP Manufacturing in Wheler Road, Coventry. The first car went into production today.

BMW's new M engine needs a better voice

BMW's M division claims its new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine is every bit as good -- if not better -- than the glorious, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 powerplant it replaces in the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe. The figures are certainly impressive. They say it kicks out 424 hp and more than 25 percent extra torque, with what is described as significantly more than 369 lb-ft below 2,000 rpm.

Holt Ware becomes Design Director at GM-PATAC

Holt Ware has been appointed to design director at GM's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint venture in Shanghai, China. He replaces Friedhelm Engler who has since relocated to Germany to lead the Advanced Design Studio, a position vacated by Anthony Lo earlier this year. Ware's new role at GM-PATAC puts him in charge of designers and modelers working in China's leading automotive engineering and design facility.