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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.

Aston says One-77 prototype hits 220-mph mark

Aston Martin's One-77 supercar looks fast--and it goes fast. The British luxury-car maker says a prototype of the One-77 notched 220.007 mph during testing in southern Europe. The speed mark was set in dry and windy conditions.

Toyota Unveils new Prius at Detroit Auto Show: Bigger, with more power and less weight

Toyota introduced its third-generation Prius at the Detroit Auto Show with an extensively re-engineered hybrid drivetrain. Ninety percent of the Prius's hybrid synergy drive system has been redesigned, with the focus on weight reduction. The lighter components include the transaxle to cut down on torque loss, inverter with direct cooling and smaller motor.