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How Porsche will be integrated into VW

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 20 November 2009 12:32 Although Porsche won't be a fully integrated member of the Volkswagen group before mid-2011, the sports car maker can even at this early point in the merger no longer make independent strategic decisions. After all, Martin Winterkorn has effectively been appointed head of the Porsche SE Holding which in turn employs the Porsche AG chairman Michael Macht.  With a takeover as costly and complicated to fund as this one – all in all, VW will have to fork out a staggering €16 billion to absorb the latest family member – it is only logical that the new owner wants to get the restructuring process going asap. Overnight, Porsche has become easily VW's most expensive brand.How VW will integrate PorscheTo protect and eventually enhance its value, the powers in Wolfsburg will leave no stone unturned to rearrange the product portfolio, to streamline R&D, to shake up purchasing and production, and to ensure a variety of synergies which are estimated to range from €500m to €750m per year.

First Lamborghini Huracans making £30k premiums

Lamborghini Huracan (pictured) fethcing premiums of up to £30k Tim Marlow, Director of Magnitude Finance, has revealed that two of their clients are amongst the first UK buyers due to get their car, and despite financing the purchase they’ve already decided to flip their car as soon as it arrives for a quick return. One has already secured a £27k premium for the car – which he won’t even bother to drive before he sells it on – and the expectation is that premiums could hit £30k in the first months after the Huracan arrives, such is demand for Lamborghini’s new supercar. But with UK dealers expecting just 4 cars each in 2014 (although Lamborghini London are getting a few more) those buyers who got in quick for an early delivery are sitting on a near 20 per cent profit as the less organised seek to get behind the wheel.

Could Michelin’s Active Wheel truly transform the car?

Cars today have evolved and been refined to an extraordinary degree, but carmakers – and car designers – are still always looking for ‘the next big thing'. Yet despite a myriad of recent technical innovations, ask the man on the street what is the problem with cars of today, and he'll likely reply along the lines of "they all look the same". Mass production processes, packaging requirements and safety and regulatory constraints are just a few of the reasons why it is hard to make a car that looks truly different.