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.

Hyundai to launch battery electric car in 2016

The Hyundai BlueOn EV (pictured) was Hyundai’s last electric car Back in 2011 it seemed that Hyundai was to concentrate on building hydrogen powered and hybrid cars as it looked to the future, but that seems to have changed. Back then, Hyundai Motors head of R&D - Yang Woong-Chul – said he believed BEVs (battery electric vehicles) had zero chance of replacing ICE cars because of their poor range, poor battery technology and high costs. But it seems Hyundai has had a rethink.

McLaren F1: It was 20 years ago today…

The McLaren F1 20th Anniversary photo - 21 McLarens together   Well, not quite 20 years ago today that Ron Dennis got his band to play, but it is 20 years this year since McLaren first brought together the team that was to create the mighty McLaren F1, which is cause for celebration. To mark the occasion McLaren has issued a McLaren F1 20th Anniversary Press Release reprising the chronology of the F1 and lots of interesting stats. Take a look – it’s well worth the read.