Club Car Ds G/e Inner Steering Joint - Ds (1984 - 1996) 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.

Renault’s electric cars ‘will cost the same as its diesels’

By Richard Yarrow Motor Industry 28 April 2009 12:10 Three electric vehicles (EVs) in development by Renault will cost the same as the equivalent diesels in Britain, the company has confirmed to CAR Online. Battery-powered electric Renaults are expected to cost from around £15,000 when they arrive in the next couple of years. The announcement takes into account the UK Government’s £5000 EV incentive scheme announced earlier this month.

Manzoni, Ingenlath and Hildebrand to speak at Auto Design Prague

The fourth annual Auto Design Prague conference will take place on 18 September at the National Technical Library in Prague-Dejvice. The event is open to professionals and the wider public, and will include a program of 10 presentations by designers including vice president of Ferrari design, Flavio Manzoni; Volvo design director Thomas Ingenlath; Jaguar's advanced design director, Julian Thompson, and Qoros head of design, Gert Hildebrand. Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari In addition to the talks, visitors will also be able to sample the wares of conference partners that supply a host of design tools and services, including virtual prototyping software, 3D printers, and prototype construction.