Coventry University MA Design Show 2007

Coventry University's MA Automotive Design Show, now in its fifteenth year, recently had its annual exhibition in Coventry's Transport Museum. Entitled 'InGenius', the exhibition presented work which covered a spectrum of vehicle concepts, including public transport systems. The projects were presented as scale models and digital animated presentations using CAD modeling tools.

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner out, replaced by COO Fritz Henderson

General Motors chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner has agreed to "step aside" after pressure from the Obama administration last week, ending his eight-year tenure at the helm as the company seeks additional federal aid. He's been replaced by GM President and COO Fritz Henderson, effective immediately. GM confirmed the moves shortly after midnight Monday.

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.