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Video: Michael Mauer on the 991-series Porsche 911

Porsche has released a video featuring its Design Director, Michael Mauer, explaining how he and his team went about redesigning the 911, an ‘automotive, engineering icon' as he describes it. "What we as designers are striving to above all is to optimize the width to height ratio with the result that although the 911's width has not increased, the front axle area has become wider, and we've managed to make the roof a bit lower," Mauer explains via a rather dramatic-sounding voiceover.

Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer revealed

  Vauxhall has revealed the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer to go on sale later this year So the Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer joins the saloon and hatchback to make a full set of hot Insignias. The VXR Sports Tourer gets the same engine as its siblings, namely a 2.8 litre V6 twin-turbo with 325bhp, 4WD and a six speed gearbox. It sports the big air intakes at the the front and the same aggressive body styling as the other VXR models, but with a big estate lump on the back.

RCA's Dale Harrow: Car design more crucial than ever

As well as serving as head of the RCA's Vehicle Design Program, Dale Harrow is also a Financial Times columnist. His latest piece suggests the car is in the process of change, and at a rate beyond that undertaken in its first century of existence. Manufacturers have 'solved' the function of the car, and as reliability is no longer a concern for the consumer, design is now crucial.