02 Cavalier Passenger Front Door Panel,manual,coupe on 2040-parts.com

Porsche announces new Weissach design center and wind tunnel

Porsche is to invest around €150m into its Weissach development facility, including a new design center. The plans also include an electronics integration department and a state-of-the art, on-site wind tunnel, which is hoped will allow the company to realize an holistic approach to efficient design, with a strong focus on aerodynamics. When we spoke with head of Porsche design, Michael Mauer, at this year's Paris motor show, he also alluded to the fact that the Volkswagen Group's – and, more specifically, Walter de'Silva's – recent influence on the German manufacturer was shifting its attitudes: "The Volkswagen Group has a very good understanding of how much freedom a brand needs to keep its characteristics and with [Walter] as 'conductor', I feel a lot of support with design issues within the company," explained Mauer.

Callum: JLR needs design studios in China and US

Jaguar and Land Rover are to open design studios in China and the United States as the two British brands look to better understand local tastes, according to Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director in an interview with Automotive News Europe. The United States is currently the carmaker's second-biggest market after the UK, closely followed by China in third. To further tap into these markets is key for the long-term success of JLR and so it is following its competitors in opening up foreign design studios.

Volvo XC Coupe concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 08 January 2014 09:00 This is the Volvo XC Coupe concept, revealed in full after teaser sketches were shown late last year. It’s 'the next chapter in the Volvo design story', according to the Swedish automaker and it's new design boss, Thomas Ingenlath. The rakish SUV will take centre stage for Volvo at the Detroit motor show later in January 2014.