Chrysler to close Pacifica Advanced Design Studios

The 20 designers at Chrysler's Pacifica Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, California will soon be finding themselves out of a job. The struggling North American automaker announced the closure of the facility on Friday, stating that the company is ‘leveraging resources worldwide, forming new joint ventures and alliances and consolidating operations in order to better achieve global balance.' Responsible for many of the more successful designs hailing from Chrysler in recent times, including the Chrysler 300 sedan and the new Dodge Challenger musclecar, the Pacifica Advanced Product Design Center also yielded the Nassau concept car and the Pacifica crossover – bearing the same name as the west coast studios in which it was created. The work done at the Pacifica Advanced Design Center will be consolidated into the Advance Design function in Auburn Hills and continue to be led by Senior Vice President of Design, Trevor Creed.

JLR Factory plans on track – Sunday Times story rejected

JLR's UK restructuring is on track despite the stories in this weekend's press Back in September, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) announced that it intended closing one of its Midlands factories as part of a long-term plan to breathe new life in to the future of JLR. We dutifully reported that but confess we took the easy ‘Bad News’ tack on the story. It was obvious; JLR are closing a factory ergo bad news.

Aston Martin Shop – at the Nurburgring

Aston Martin has opened a 2500 sq ft shop at the Nurburgring selling accessories and trinkets And now Aston Martin has decided it’s time to play shopkeeper, so they have opened up a new merchandise store at the Nurburgring. And they’re in good company, as both Nissan and Ferrari have recently done the same. But this is as much about the Nurburgring’s intention of becoming a leisure and business centre as it is about being a sales refuge for beleaguered car makers.