Yamaha Yfz350 Banshee Clutch on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes SLS AMG – production begins

The Mercedes SLS AMG has gone in to production in Germany I don’t know why – as Mercedes hadn’t previously announced it – but we guessed that they’d already started to put the Mercedes SLS AMG in to production ready for the first customer cars to start hitting in the Spring. But apparently they’ve only just started. The SLS AMG is due to arrive in Germany at the end of March at a base price of €177,310 and is being produced at the Mercedes factory in Sindelfengen, Germany.

Kia Soul EV goes in to production for UK and Europe

The Kia Soul EV (pictured) is now being produced for Europe The electric Kia Soul was revealed at the Chicago Motor Show back in February, with Kia promising it would go on sale in the UK and Europe late in 2014. And that looks to be on track. Kia has announced that the Soul EV for the export market has now gone in to production – the first electric car from Kia destined for export from South Korea – with the first cars off the production line destined for Europe.

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.