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Autodesk European Automotive Days 2008

The 2008 Autodesk European Automotive Days conference was held last week in Munich, bringing together 200 automotive design and visualization experts. Autodesk presented their strategy and vision for industrial design, with an emphasis on 'digital prototyping', where even at the concept stage the digital model is treated not just as a set of surfaces, but is integrated within the engineering process as as a functional digital prototype, with the aim to eventually replace physical models entirely. There was also a recognition that traditional techniques continue to have an important place alongside digital workflows, as the workflows and technologies continue to evolve.

Noble plans to bring the Fenix supercar to the United States with Chevrolet power

A new 200-mph, Chevrolet-powered supercar from Briton Lee Noble is headed to the United States, possibly in 2011 or 2012. Powered by either a 638-hp supercharged LS9 V8 or a 480-hp LS3 V8, Noble's new Fenix supercar will aim for Ferrari 458 Italia performance at about half the price, a performance-price offer that served Nobel well at his previous company, Noble Automotive. "The Chevy engines have partly been chosen because they have global homologation and sales in the U.S.

Mercedes-Benz to cut production time, halve number of vehicle architectures

Mercedes-Benz is restructuring its global production network to cut the average production time for its models to 30 hours by 2015 from 43 in 2008. "We have increased productivity by 2 percent a year over the last few years. We will be accelerating our productivity efforts," Mercedes production boss Wolfgang Bernhard said during an investor conference that was part of the automaker's plant opening in Kecskemet, Hungary, on Thursday.