Obx Catback Exhaust System 98-99 Saab 9-5 4dr Sedan 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.

New COPO Camaro concept hits the drag strip

This Friday video goodness features a white 2012 COPO Camaro Stock Eliminator Concept on the drag strip. As Autoweek contributor Patrick Paternie explained during the SEMA show, the new COPO (Central Office Production Order) nameplate pays homage to the rare high-powered 1969 Camaros created through a loophole in the special-order program. This enabled dealers to specify a 427 engine--COPO 9560, the aluminum ZL1, or COPO 9561, the Corvette-based L72 iron block--despite the Camaro technically being limited to the 396-cubic-inch powerplant.

Aston Martin, AMG ink technical partnership deal

It's hard to remember that the VH-platform Aston Martins were pretty mind-bending when they came out. Since the sports-luxury marque was cut loose from Ford's stewardship six years ago, the British manufacturer has seemed a bit adrift, largely playing with variations on a theme, save for the rather radical One-77. It is, of course, a very pretty theme, but the basic design language begun with the DB9 is now a decade old.