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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.

Peugeot 90X breaks cover

Once a well kept secret in Peugeots Sport factory in Vélizy, near Paris, Peugeots new 2011, codenamed 90X, has been out and about for its first test at the Monza track. While the 90X complies with the new ACO's 2011 regulations, it still requires some considerable amount of work to be done to be ready for 2011. A curvier windscreen and slight change to the nose but the biggest changes are the new fin leading from the cockpit to the rear spoiler, aimed to offer more down force and avoid flipping in the case of a high speed crash.

AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept shows off ahead of PS3 appearance

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a spectacular new virtual sportscar concept created by its in-house design team for inclusion in Sony's new PlayStation 3 game "Gran Turismo 6." Called the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, the brawny-looking gullwing coupe is to be revealed as a model at the opening of Mercedes-Benz's new research-and-development center in Sunnyvale, Calif., on the eve of next week's LA Auto Show. Yet despite the unveiling in 1:1 scale, the new two-seater is destined to remain a feature of the virtual world as the first in what Mercedes-Benz is billing as a series of Vision Gran Turismo vehicles to be unveiled in the near future. While the virtual properties of the AMG Vision Gran Turismo mean it will only ever see running as a high-resolution graphic within the new "Gran Turismo 6" game, this hasn't deterred Mercedes-Benz from providing it with detailed styling and mechanical data -- elements of which are said to provide solid hints to the upcoming GT AMG due to be unveiled in mid-2014 as a range-topping replacement for the SLS AMG.