14 Sea-doo Spark 900 Ace Reverse Lever on 2040-parts.com

Bentley uses 3D printing to prototype new designs [w/Video]

3D printing is changing the way the world makes things by helping people of all disciplines to enhance and refine their ideas cheaply, quickly and effectively.  Bentley is the latest carmaker to utilize the technology to fabricate and prototype different parts to see how they'll look and work on the finished design. Using 3D printers, designers can produce parts from the exterior and interior such as the grille, tires, headlamps and door handles as well as combine different types of contrasting materials, ranging from hard plastics to rubbers of different tensile strengths.  The technology allows the user to create a solid 3D object straight from a digital model by printing layers of material on top of each other. This process rapidly decreases the delivery time, as parts can be printed overnight, and allows designers to be more creative in their ideas because of the reduced cost. Bentley isn't the first carmaker to use 3D printing technology. Audi announced last year it was beginning to prototype vehicle parts using 3D printers.

Nissan expands Beijing studio

With the expansion of the Chinese market, the country's position in the automotive industry is increasingly important. Homegrown design elements look set to enhance brand competitiveness, while the on-the-ground knowledge garnered by Chinese studios is becoming invaluable feeding back into global companies. It's clear therefore that Nissan Design China (NDC) will play an increasingly important role in Nissan's global design network.

Ford Focus RS photo leak

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 11 June 2008 17:50 These leaked, blinding lime-green photos of the new Ford Focus RS have surfaced on the internet today – nearly a month ahead of the planned unveiling of Ford's new hot hatch. However, CAR has learned that they are computer-generated images of the Focus RS and do not reveal the finished item, which will be launched at the 2008 London motor show in July.The three shots were used in an internal presentation in 2007 and insiders claim the finished car is considerably different. Come back to CAR Online on 4 July 2008 to find out exactly how different it is...So what do we know about the new Ford Focus RS?Ford's latest hot hatch will use the front-wheel drive chassis and powertrain of the regular Focus ST, but beefed up considerably by the boys in the RS division.