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Toyota to close Australian design studio

Toyota designers at its Technical Center Asia Pacific Australia (TTCAP-AU) are to lose their jobs as part of Toyota's decision to scale back the facility's activities as well as halting all manufacturing within the country by 2017. The TTCAP-AU, which carries out all its Australian design and evaluation operations, employs 150 designers and modelers and it's possible that its activities with the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion models could be scrapped, raising doubts over its future. Around 2,500 employees at Toyota's Altona manufacturing plant are expected to lose their jobs, although the effects are likely to be wider ranging.

Ken Okuyama Design USA Inc. moves into former Mercedes Advanced Design studio

Ken Okuyama Design Co. Ltd celebrated the growth of its US subsidiary with the opening of its new California Design Center at 17742 Cowan, Irvine. Previously occupied by Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design, this purpose built design studio provides Ken Okuyama Design's clients access to both the creative talent of Ken Okuyama Design as well as a creative center.

Gurney cars lead record list of entries at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The acceptance letters went out this week for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the vintage racing weekend formerly known as the Monterey Historics, and it looks as if you'll get your money's worth out of this year's event. While previous years usually featured about 400 or so cars, the 2010 running of the renamed Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, managed now by SCRAMP, will feature 520 vintage entries. Leading the pack is what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime collection of 35 cars either designed, built or raced by the great Dan Gurney, this year's honoree.