Recall is last linked to fire hazard, Ford says

Ford Motor Co.'s new recall of vehicles that pose potential fire hazards will be its last because the latest action covers all remaining cars and trucks with cruise-control switches made by Texas Instruments, even if those switches don't pose safety risks, a Ford spokesman said today. "We did this to reassure customers and make sure there will be no future actions connected to this," spokesman Wes Sherwood said in an interview. "We've gone to extra lengths to include both vehicles with risks and those that don't show risk." Yesterday, Ford announced a recall of 4.5 million vehicles--its eighth in the past decade involving cars and trucks with faulty cruise-control deactivation switches.

Webinars: Autodesk – Virtual Design Workflow in Automotive

The second complimentary Webinar from Autodesk, entitled ‘Virtual Design Workflow in Automotive', has taken place, led by Industry Specialist for Technical Surfacing/Styling Uwe Rossbacher. The design process in the automotive industry focused on virtual models/techniques along with physical 3D models. Each OEM tries to balance both processes in order to get the optimum in efficiency and styling quality.

Porsche Boxster growing to make room for small two-seater, report says

The next-generation Porsche Boxster will get a longer wheelbase and measure nearly 173 inches long overall, British magazine Autocar says on its Web site. Why is the Boxster growing? To create room at the bottom of the Porsche lineup for a new two-seater based on the Volkswagen BlueSport concept shown at the Detroit auto show in 2009, the report says.