Mercruiser Exhaust Bellows 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.

Brabus B63 S – Mercedes E63 AMG Plus

The Brabus B63 S - 300bhp more and a 200mph top speed Brabus is one of the best known Mercedes car tuners, and produces a huge array of tuned versions of Mercedes AMG products. And at the Essen Motor Show this week it’s revealed the Brabus B63 S, a tuned and sorted Mercedes E63 AMG with extra horses. Also on offer are liberal doses of carbon fibre and other interior tweaks and titivates.

Cars in the living room--art or furniture?

It takes a special kind of person to put a $100,000 supercar in the living room instead of the garage, but we say if you have the means, go ahead and do it. A photo collage that appeared on www.home-designing.com last week showed Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis sitting in houses as showpieces, like the works of art they are. Our enthusiast side says the owners should be out driving these spectacular pieces of machinery, but something tells us that if you have a Gran Turismo in the rumpus room, there's probably another one in your garage, too.