Honda 35660-zw1-013 on 2040-parts.com

Saab secures more funds as it seeks to avert collapse

Saab parent Swedish Automobiles has found another financial lifeline in China as the struggling carmaker faces possible legal action from unions over unpaid wages. In a statement this morning, Swedish Automobiles announced that an un-named Chinese firm has placed an order for 582 Saab vehicles, valued at 13 million Euro (£11.5m) with full pre-payment 'expected to be made this week'.  Saab plans to use the funds to pay wages and begin partial payments to component suppliers in order to restart production. Saab's financial crisis: the current situation.

Bentley uses 3D printing to prototype new designs [w/Video]

3D printing is changing the way the world makes things by helping people of all disciplines to enhance and refine their ideas cheaply, quickly and effectively.  Bentley is the latest carmaker to utilize the technology to fabricate and prototype different parts to see how they'll look and work on the finished design. Using 3D printers, designers can produce parts from the exterior and interior such as the grille, tires, headlamps and door handles as well as combine different types of contrasting materials, ranging from hard plastics to rubbers of different tensile strengths.  The technology allows the user to create a solid 3D object straight from a digital model by printing layers of material on top of each other. This process rapidly decreases the delivery time, as parts can be printed overnight, and allows designers to be more creative in their ideas because of the reduced cost. Bentley isn't the first carmaker to use 3D printing technology. Audi announced last year it was beginning to prototype vehicle parts using 3D printers.

UK car production jumps as Europeans buy British

The UK’s car production jumped by 12% last month as demand from Europe for British-built cars increases. Nearly 80% of cars made in the UK are exported worldwide, and 142,158 were produced in March 2014 – compared to 126,909 in March 2013. Official: UK car production is booming UK car production hits six-year high That means so far this year the UK has built 404,803 cars, a rise of 2.9% compared to this time last year.