In this video, Nikon's mechanical design team recounts the challenges they overcame while developing the newly released AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR.
One part that proved especially facinating to me was that Nikon was able to reduce the external diameter of the VR lens by 10mm by reducing the size of one [likely internal] component by .1 mm. [Sean]
B&H has the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR available for preorder.