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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.

We like you, we just won't call you

Trusty readers have alerted us that they are receiving phone calls from people who claim to work for AutoWeek. These callers don't. We've also heard that these telemarketers are nasty--cursing, name-calling, all-around crude behavior.

Flashback: 1994-96 Chevrolet Impala SS rocked rear-wheel, V8 power

Enthusiasts are already licking their chops as they await the next rear-wheel sedan from Chevrolet. After all, it's been 16 years since the bow-tie brand had a macho four-door of this potential with the power channeled to the back. But what exactly was the 1996 Impala SS?