Porsche recently announced that it has plans to tremendously upgrade its research and development center in Weissach, Germany. They are investing roughly $200 million in a highly advanced wind tunnel, a state-of-the-art design center and a pioneering electronics integration center.
"The new system will help us to maintain Porsche's top position in the fields of aerodynamics and design and to further extend our lead. Outstanding design with optimal aerodynamic efficiency has always been classic Porsche strongholds," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Research and Development.
The system will not only be used for Porsche's internal developments, but will also be extensively available for Porsche customer development, since it offers direct access from the adjacent design studio, and separate entrances for the discrete completion of customer development projects. Above all, a new studio will offer more space for the Porsche designers, who are involved from the very earliest concept phase of each vehicle development process. Due to extended tasks, increased capacities are urgently required in the Weissach center of competence for sports car construction.
“This spatial proximity is a major advantage,” said Dürheimer. “The close interaction of our suppliers' various electrical system/electronics experts and colleagues from related specialist fields during development will contribute significantly to the success of our work, particularly in the case of electronics, which now play a role in virtually every vehicle component."