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Mercedes signs joint venture to build carbonfibre parts

Not to be outdone by BMW’s joint venture with the SGL Group to manufacturer commercially viable carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the electric Megacity Vehicle, Mercedes has announced a joint venture with Japanese company Toray Industries to manufacturer and market its on CFRP automotive parts. The deal was signed in Germany today, with Toray taking a 50.1% stake, Daimler holding 44.9% and the remaining 5% being taken by other shareholders. The two companies started working together in March 2010, and while Toray has been working on the materials and moulding processes, Merc has designed the automotive parts and the technologies to join the parts together.

Bob Lutz reportedly to stay on at General Motors

Bob Lutz, General Motors vice chairman and internationally renowned product guru, has reversed his retirement plans and is expected to stay with the remade car company as it charts a new path out of bankruptcy. Multiple media outlets are reporting Lutz, 77, has changed course and will not retire from GM at the end of the year as he had planned. Automotive News, citing anonymous sources, says the veteran industry leader will stay on at the company, possibly in a marketing or communications role--and could have product input.

Jaguar F-Type 3.0 litre V6 Supercharged engine trailered (video)

The Jaguar F-Type is to get a new 3.0 litre V6 Supercharged engine and Jaguar are trailing it in a new video ahead of launch. We finally learnt in April that the C-X16 Concept would come to life as the Jaguar F-Type and just a few days later that the F-Type would be getting a new V6 supercharged 3.0 litre engine (amongst others). But with the launch of the Jaguar F-Type Roadster still almost a year away (spring 2013), Jaguar are keeping up the marketing impetus with a trailer video of the new supercharged lump destined for the E-Type’s spiritual successor.