Wagner Bc140235 Brake Cable-parking Brake Cable on 2040-parts.com

Autodesk European Automotive Days 2008

The 2008 Autodesk European Automotive Days conference was held last week in Munich, bringing together 200 automotive design and visualization experts. Autodesk presented their strategy and vision for industrial design, with an emphasis on 'digital prototyping', where even at the concept stage the digital model is treated not just as a set of surfaces, but is integrated within the engineering process as as a functional digital prototype, with the aim to eventually replace physical models entirely. There was also a recognition that traditional techniques continue to have an important place alongside digital workflows, as the workflows and technologies continue to evolve.

Maserati GranTurismo

Maserati has released photos of their new coupe, the GranTurismo, in advance of its unveiling at Geneva next week. Designed by Pininfarina, the sketches also circulating were by Jason Castriota who penned the Maserati Birdcage concept shown in Geneva in 2005, before it turned heads at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that year. There is affinity between the two designs, and a more aggressive look than the current car designed by ItalDesign.

Infiniti demands luxury look for Leaf variant

Infiniti executives are taking pains to ensure that their luxury version of the electric Nissan Leaf hatchback will be markedly different and more upscale. This year, U.S. officials of Infiniti reviewed initial designs at Nissan's San Diego styling studio and complained that they simply looked like another version of the Leaf, say people who were there.