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Latest GM shakeup shuffles execs in product planning, development

General Motors Co. has reassigned dozens of product development executives and appointed new heads of global product planning, powertrain engineering and quality in its latest departmental shakeup. Responsibility for global product planning moves to CEO Ed Whitacre from Vice Chairman Tom Stephens.

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.

SEMA 2008 show report: Ford F-150, Mustang and Flex

By Phil McNamara Motor Shows 06 November 2008 09:30 Ford's stand was dominated by four models: the Flex, a slammed, seven-seat SUV with Range Rover-styling cues; the iconic F-150 pick up; the Focus; and, of course, the Mustang. With an ear-splitting V8 roar, Ford unveiled a 50-edition run of the Cobra Jet Mustang, and the F-150 SVT Raptor, a go-anywhere extreme version of the pick-up, which will bounce across sand dunes in the Baja California race later this month before going on sale next year. But tucked away in a corner was a less environmentally destructive F-150, shaped by British engineering firm PML.