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Volkswagen Woofwagen – There’s a dog for every VW (video)

There’s a dog for every Volkswagen Instead of focusing on marketing just one car in its enormous range, Volkswagen UK has decided to go mad and produce one video advert for its entire line-up. Sensibly, VW has used a simple mechanism to make sure the advert gets the attention of British car buyers by using 36 different dogs to identify with the over 20 car VW model range (and it’s not the first time VW has used a lot of dogs to promote their cars). With getting on for half of all UK households owning at least one dog, it’s a simple way to get attention from viewers along with lots of ‘Aaahs’ and ‘that one looks just like ours’ to keep attention to the end of the sales pitch.

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.

Fuel cell Hyundai powers ecosystem installation

IN AN UNUSUAL combination of motoring and gardening, car manufacturer Hyundai has created a design installation consisting of a aquaponics ecosystem powered by the emissions from its fuel-cell vehicle. Aquaponics is a sustainable method of farming that combines growing plants in water (hydroponics) and aquaculture (raising fish in tanks). Unlike any other fuel-powered vehicle, the hyrdrogen fuel cell ix35 emits nothing other than water when being driven.