SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Palumbo Motorcar Company of America (Palumbo Motorcar, www.palumbocars.com), a bold new car design and manufacturing company, is using Autodesk Inventor software and Autodesk AliasStudio software to design a high-performance, environmentally friendly concept car called the Palumbo M-80. Powered by a hybrid gas-electric drive train, the Palumbo M-80 will provide the high-end sports car market with an automobile that delivers not just speed and acceleration, but outstanding fuel economy and minimal environmental impact.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO)

Both Inventor and AliasStudio played a central role in developing the 3D concept designs, drawings and components for the Palumbo M-80. Inventor software is the world's best-selling 3D mechanical design software and best choice for Palumbo's 3D design, providing them with a comprehensive and integrated set of design tools for 3D design and documentation, creating routed systems and validating designs. AliasStudio provided Palumbo with a complete set of tools for their conceptual design process, integrating all design disciplines required for shape definition and communication, from sketching and visualization through production modeling, within a single intuitive working environment.

Palumbo is just one customer benefiting from the full Autodesk Manufacturing solution. The latest Autodesk manufacturing solutions redefine the product design process by supporting and natively connecting the disciplines involved in digital product development, from industrial design to mechanical and electrical engineering and manufacturing.

"Using AliasStudio to conceptualize our designs in 3D and manipulate them has optimized our design workflow," said Joe Palumbo, co-founder and president of Palumbo Motorcar. "The ease of use and quality of surface modeling makes the design process faster, therefore reducing the risk of altering or losing our initial design ideas."

Palumbo Motorcar is able to transfer its AliasStudio concept drawings into Inventor to create 3D digital prototypes. More than allowing Palumbo Motorcar to better communicate its design intent, it also allows the design team to make performance-related changes earlier in the process.

"With Inventor, we can review, assess and interact with our designs before they become a reality, checking the validity of our design and engineering decisions as we work," said Jason Palumbo, co-founder and director of engineering of Palumbo Motorcar. "Small design changes that normally would take days to make can be accomplished in minutes using Inventor software. As a result, the design stage of our prototyping has been reduced by nearly 75%, which means we can go into production sooner."

"We see an increasing trend of leading companies incorporating green principles into their corporate vision and developing products that promote a cleaner environment," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "We are thrilled to help Palumbo Motorcar redefine the design of their Palumbo M-80 concept car with our powerful visualization, simulation and analysis technologies."

Wisconsin-based Autodesk reseller MasterGraphics provided ongoing training to Palumbo Motorcar to ensure that the company was able to derive full benefit from its Autodesk manufacturing solutions.

"Even though we're a small start-up company, we were able to immediately make the most of the 3D design environment, thanks to the broad range of learning and reference resources that are available for AliasStudio and Inventor," said Jason Palumbo. "The investment has paid off several times over in terms of productivity gains and has brought us closer to our vision of delivering a high-performance sports car that treads lightly upon the environment."

About Palumbo Motorcar Company of America

Palumbo Motorcar Company of America is a car design and manufacturing company focused on producing environmentally friendly sports cars. Our company vision is to measure success as not only profits, but also as contributions to our society; to build the world's most exciting and most beautiful sports cars; and to promote a cleaner environment.

About MasterGraphics

Since 1949, MasterGraphics has pursued a simple yet effective goal -- to provide our clients with top quality products and services promptly, efficiently and at a reasonable price. MasterGraphics serves architects, engineers and designers with the most complete and innovative reprographic services, supplies and CAD solutions in the industry. Comprehensive training, support and field service ensure MasterGraphics' clients maximum productivity and profits from their investment.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, AliasStudio, Autodesk Inventor, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

(C) 2007 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.


Contact: Carly Herrig
312.233.1356
carly.herrig@edelman.com


Andrew Favreau
312.297.7587
andrew.favreau@edelman.com


SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
05/30/2007
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
http://www.palumbocars.com
(ADSK)


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