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Production output decline slowing

By Alex Michaelides Motor Industry 24 July 2009 12:09 It appears there may be some light at the end of the tunnel for ailing car manufacturers as the most recent vehicle production figures are released. The data, presented by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), show that, while production levels are still on the decline, the pace at which they are declining is slowing. Car production figures for June 2009 are still down by 30.2% compared with this time last year, however this is an improvement on the 50.2% by which production is down so far this year.

Ford to open Silicon Valley lab

Ford Motor Co., aiming to keep ahead of technology trends, will establish a research lab in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. The automaker said Friday the lab will open near Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., in the first few months of this year. Ford wants the lab to take on a start-up feel and expand beyond the traditional automaker mindset to encourage innovation and improve mobility and safety.

Ferrari shows next Enzo's HY-KERS V12 at Beijing

Ferrari stole a surprise march at the 2012 Beijing auto show when it announced a few details about its forthcoming Enzo successor. The powertrain you see here is essentially the hybrid supercar architecture which'll underpin the new hypercar being readied for launch later in 2012. Ferrari chief Amadeo Felisa told CAR the electric powertrain would lop 10% off the 0-124mph time - and its V12 is related to that in the F12, but with more power and 40% lower CO2 emissions.