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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.

More Teslas make electric migration

Last week, the father-daughter team of John and Jill Glenney completed the first cross-country drive in a Tesla using the company's new network of Superchargers to refuel. Yesterday, a pair of Tesla Model S sedans driven by a rotating squadron of 15 company employees set what they hope will be an electric record for cross-country travel. That team arrived in New York City Sunday morning Feb.

Chevrolet Orlando MPV Paris debut

The Chevrolet Orlando MPV (left) seems a bit bland after the concept (right) Chevrolet first penned the idea of the Chevrolet Orlando with a concept in 2008 (which you can see on the right in the picture above). That has now turned in to the production Orlando which will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, but it does seem to have lost something in the process of going from concept to production. Quelle surprise (well, it is the Paris Motor Show).