Australia's Holden to cease production after 2017, GM says

General Motors, in the latest blow to Australia's auto industry, will end vehicle and engine manufacturing and scale back engineering operations in the country by the end of 2017. The company's Holden unit, a mainstay in Australia for decades, cited the high cost of manufacturing in one of the world's smallest but most competitive markets and one that has also been upended by a steady rise in imports, mostly from southeast Asia. There has been widespread speculation of the move in recent days and earlier Tuesday, in Australia, GM officials said no decision had been made.

Porsche's Tony Hatter on the design of the new Cayman [w/Video]

Porsche design manager for Sports Cars Tony Hatter features in a short video explaining the design process and evolution of the new Cayman. Hatter explains how the design team worked towards seriously transforming the proportions of the car to give it a new image while keeping it looking like a Cayman. The Porsche 904's design was crucial in the process, inspiring several of the car's main aesthetic features.

Local Motors Announces Texas Competition

New American car company Local Motors has announced the Texas Motors competition, the 19th design contest initiated by the Boston based start-up company. The deadline for submissions is February 10, 2010. The brief, which asks entrants to design a dynamic and capable hunting vehicle for the gamers of the largest US state, stipulates that the vehicle should be a ready-made solution for hunters of every variety, whether hunting stags or fowl.