Harley Davidson Rear Fender Touring Street Glide, Road King Road Glide Electra G 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.

Car buying, minus the dealership

“Test drives delivered” is the motto of Tred, a Seattle-based startup that's taking the car dealership out of the car-buying process -- at least from the shopper's perspective. Wired.com reported Thursday that by accessing Tred via the Web or an iPad app, shoppers will be able to select the cars they want to test-drive and have them delivered to the location of their choice. Each car is then delivered by a Tred staffer rather than a dealership salesperson.

The Monster Audio Lamborghini Veneno is Las Vegas

A Monster Lamborghini would be a monster Lamborghini; and a monster Lamborghini, so the thinking goes, could yet still be enhanced by Monster audio equipment. If Lady Gaga drove the Monster Lamborghini Veneno, she'd be a Fame Monster in a Monster Lamborghini. If someone played the "Space Jam" soundtrack from the Monster Lamborghini's Monster speakers, it'd be Monstars from Monsters in a Monster Lamborghini.