Chrysler scraps paper owner’s manuals, shifts to DVDs

Chrysler Group is replacing its traditional owner’s manuals with DVDs and an abridged printed guide in an effort to reduce costs and save 930 tons of paper annually. Chrysler will see “substantial savings” from the shift away from paper manuals, which often had more than 500 pages, spokesman Bryan Zvibleman said. He declined to say how much will be saved by the change, which is taking effect with 2010 models.

Jean Bugatti's final project realized 73 years after his death

Legendary designer Jean Buggati's final unfinished project has finally been realized by the Mullin Automotive Museum, 73 years after his death. The Southern Californian Museum is devoted to the preservation of French art and automobiles from the Art Deco era, and has announced that the 1939 Bugatti Type 64 Coupe Chassis #64002 project is nearing completion. The museum – alongside Stewart Reed Design of Pasadena and Automobile Metal Shaping Company of Michigan – has added the swooping coupé body to the original chassis based on sketches left unfinished by Bugatti at the time of his death in 1939.

Who's Where: Fabio Filippini appointed Design Director at Pininfarina

Famed Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina will soon welcome a new Design Director into the fold. Fabio Filippini, an Italian who has worked in France, Japan and Spain, will join the design house from April 1 2011, filling the roll previously vacated by Lowie Vermeersch late last year. Fabio Filippini joins Pininfarina from his previous role as Vice President of Interiors at Renault Design.