Porsche acquires Nardo Test Track as its new playground

Porsche Nardo Test Track (map from Google Earth) The enormous Nardo Test Track near Lecce, Italy, has been acquired by Porsche as a new testing ground. Top Gear viewers will probably remember the opening episode if the last series of Top Gear (series 18) with the Lamborghini, McLaren and Noble in Italy or, more specifically, in the Lecce region of Italy which nestles in the warmth of Italy’s heel. The Lecce region also houses the Nardo Test Track which is where the boys took their supercars to hammer round the slightly bumpy outer oval seeking top speed.

Aston Martin and AMG confirm partnership on new V8 engine

Aston Martin and AMG working on new V8 engines The collaboration deal between Aston Martin and AMG has moved to another level with the announcement that the two companies are working on a new V8 engine for Aston Martin. Aston Martin and AMG signed a letter of intent in July to kick off their technical partnership, and the news the companies are working together on a new V8 engine – which will probably first be seen in a new V8 Vantage – is the first fruits of the deal. A statement from AML and AMG said they are planning to expand their agreement to work on sharing electronic components and will “investigate additional areas of operation”.

A look at Cadillac future products

General Motors has green-lighted the development of a large flagship sedan for Cadillac, sources say, part of its plan to position its luxury brand's lineup to take on the German luxury stalwarts in every key sedan segment. The flagship sedan is to be built on a new rear-wheel-drive platform and arrive by 2015. The long-rumored rwd flagship would challenge the BMW 7-series and Mercedes-Benz S-class and is a key to GM's ambitions to expand Cadillac in China.