2002 Harley Davidson Xl1200r Front Axle 81776 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.

Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez on the Mercedes tie-up, the rise of turbo cars and the end of the Lagonda SUV project

MSN Cars is in Palm Springs, California, to drive the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante and V12 Vantage S. Aston Martin, voted the second coolest brand in the world behind Apple, is celebrating its 100th year. Over an informal dinner, MSN Cars was given an exclusive chance to talk shop with Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez to see what the future holds for the Gaydon-based company.

Mercedes SLS AMG: The UK Video

The Mercedes SLS AMG - the UK Promo Video below   Now that things are finally starting to Rock ‘n’ Roll for the new Mercedes SLS AMG – Mercedes actually started building it in January – we’re getting some UK-specific stuff, which makes a change from Auto Bild telling the world the SLS AMG is the best looking car in existence. Mind you, it’s not bad looking. The video we have here – which is the first UK SLS AMG push we’ve seen – is nicely lit and edited (even if there is some CGI in there) and it certainly does the SLS no harm on the looks front.