Local Motors reveals world's first 3D-printed car

Local Motors, an American motor vehicle manufaturing company, has revealed the world's first 3D-printed car last September during the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago.

In making the concept into a reality, Local Motors have collaborated with the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), Cincinnati Incorporated and Oak Ridge National Library (ORNL). It was designed by Michele Anoé of Italy with the help from the company's global community and built using the available technology at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at ORNL.

Ferrari F60 America (2014) - the US-only open-top F12

The new Ferrari F60 America has been unveiled to mark six decades of Ferrari sales in the United States.

Just 10 F60 America models will be produced, all bound for North America. All have been sold to US collectors already.

The open-top F12 Berlinetta will be unveiled this weekend at an anniversary celebration gala dinner at Beverly Hills City Hall.

Over to Maranello. ‘The decision to produce such a strictly limited edition pays homage to another great tradition,’ said the company in a statement. ‘Just 10 F60 Americas will be built as was the case, for example, with the 1967 275 GTS4 NART Spider, the open version of the 275 GTB4 that the importer, Luigi Chinetti, specifically requested from Enzo Ferrari for his US clients.’

The F60 is powered by the F12’s regular V12 and Ferrari claims 3.1 seconds in the 0-62mph sprint.

Maserati wants to add 20 U.S. rooftops by year end

PARIS -- The global head of Maserati wants the Italian luxury brand to add 20 dealerships in the U.S. by year end.

Speaking to Automotive News at the Paris auto show, Harald Wester said the U.S. is Maserati's "most important market" to reach its ambitious global sales goals.

"I think until the end of the year we would achieve the range of 120" dealerships in the U.S., up from the current 100, Wester said. At the end of 2013, Maserati had 79 U.S. dealerships.

Maserati aims to boost global sales nearly fivefold by 2018, from 15,400 vehicles in 2013 to 75,000.

"We came from 220 or 230 [dealers] globally at the end of 2012, and currently we are in the range of 355 dealers," Wester said.

Plans call for about 450 Maserati dealers worldwide by the end of 2015.

In the U.S., Wester said "there are some nice spots in the middle where we aren't yet properly represented."

Last November, Peter Grady, the longtime head of Chrysler's dealer network, was also named president and CEO of Maserati North America and tasked with adding Maserati stores. Wester said that Maserati is on track to reach about 35,000 sales globally this year, more than double its 2013 sales number. He expects global sales of 50,000 in 2015.

Five technologies auto suppliers can bank on, analyst says

DETROIT -- The next six years will be boom times for suppliers with the right technology.

LED front lights, telematics, cameras, radar and lithium ion batteries are five technologies that will enjoy the biggest growth in global sales through 2020, predicted Itay Michaeli, Citigroup Inc.’s automotive research director.

“It’s an attractive time for suppliers to be in the right technology segments -- particularly for powertrains and safety,” Michaeli said today following his technology presentation at a suburban Detroit seminar sponsored by the Society for Automotive Analysts.

Michaeli offered annual unit sales growth projections through 2020 for the following technologies:

• LED front lights: 51 percent

• Telematics: 34 percent

• Cameras: 29 percent

• Radar: 23 percent

• Lithium ion batteries: 22 percent.

The Citigroup report also forecast 40 percent annual sales growth for plug-in hybrid vehicles and “pure” electric cars.

According to Michaeli, these technologies are growing more popular because costs have fallen steadily. Moreover, consumers have proven willing to pay for technology that significantly improves safety, fuel economy or comfort.

“People are willing to pay $1,000 or more for things like traffic jam assist,” Michaeli said. “That’s encouraging data.”

Esteban Ocon takes lights-to-flag win, Max Verstappen retires

Esteban Ocon is now 97 points ahead of Tom Blomqvist

Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam) made his comeback on the top step of the podium at the 4.909 kilometres long Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. The 18-year-old Frenchman won the 28th race of the season and thus also wrapped up the title in the rookie classification of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

In the 20 lap race, British drivers Jordan King (Carlin) and Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) finished second and third. Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing), who came to Italy as the runner-up in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings, retired from a turbulent race.

As a result, the 17-year-old Dutchman, who participated in his first free practice session in Formula 1 last week, lost his second place in the championship to Tom Blomqvist. Ocon, who is now 97 points ahead of Blomqvist, remains on top of the standings.

Pole position certainly helped me to take the lead after the start.

Esteban Ocon

The safety-car was deployed on the opening lap following a collision between Santino Ferrucci (Fortec Motorsports) and Hongwei Cao (Fortec Motorsports). At that time, Esteban Ocon was in the lead after a successful start from pole position. Jordan King followed in second place from Tom Blomqvist and Felix Rosenqvist (kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport).

Kia GT four-door coupe reportedly headed into production

Luxury fastback to take on the likes of the Audi A7

Kia has greelit a four-door luxury coupe for the U.S., slated to appear in 2016, according to a report from Edmunds. The new coupe is expected to take aim at the Audi A7 and the BMW 5-series GT, with the car itself following the GT concept that was first previewed at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

Just as the concept, the production version is expected to be a four-door fastback and will try to attract new buyers to the brand with its design and luxury features, following in the footsteps of the upmarket Kia K900 sedan. Edmunds reports that the production version will be powered by a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and will go on sale during the latter half of 2016.

Toyota supplier celebrates Nobel Prize winners

From the Nobel Prize in Physics announcement: "The invention of the blue LED is just twenty years old, but it has already contributed to create white light in an entirely new manner to the benefit of us all."

 

TOKYO -- A Toyota-affiliated supplier is applauding two of its researchers as winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics.

Toyoda Gosei Co. may be best known for its steering wheels, airbags, interior components and sealing systems.

But the Japanese company also makes blue light emitting diodes. In fact, it was first to develop the technology in 1991 and pioneer their commercialization four years later, with the help of two winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in physics.

The award, announced this week, went to Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura. Akasaki and Amano, both professors at Nagoya University and not direct employees of Gosei, began collaborating with Gosei in 1986 to develop their blue LEDs.

Nakamura worked separately on the technology in the U.S.