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.

Official 2014 BMW 4-series convertible photo gallery

Feast your eyes on the new 2014 BMW 4-series convertible: The newest drop-top BMW looks, well, a lot like you'd expect a hardtop convertible version of the company's new 4-series coupe to look. Mimicking the rest of the 4-series lineup, the 2014 4-series convertible will be offered in I-4 428i and straight-six 435i versions, each with a standard 8-speed automatic. Only the 428i will be available with BMW's xDrive AWD system at launch, however -- RWD is standard on both trim levels.

Local Motors Announces Texas Competition

New American car company Local Motors has announced the Texas Motors competition, the 19th design contest initiated by the Boston based start-up company. The deadline for submissions is February 10, 2010. The brief, which asks entrants to design a dynamic and capable hunting vehicle for the gamers of the largest US state, stipulates that the vehicle should be a ready-made solution for hunters of every variety, whether hunting stags or fowl.