Porsche to open new design center and wind tunnel

Porsche will extensively upgrade its research and development center in Weissach, investing $200 million in an advanced wind tunnel, a state-of-the-art design center and an innovative electronics integration center.

The new design studio will offer more space for the designers, involved from the very earliest concept phase of each vehicle development process.

The new wind tunnel will incorporate advanced technology that will meet future requirements on vehicle development, increasingly focusing on energy efficiency.

As the system will not only be used for Porsche’s internal developments, but will also be extensively available for Porsche customer development, it offers direct access from the adjacent design studio, and separate entrances for the discrete completion of customer development projects.

Sub-areas which were previously scattered throughout several buildings at Porsche’s Weissach site can be bundled in the future electronics integration center.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Research and Development, has commented: “This spatial proximity is a major advantage.

“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.”

Besides investing in systems and buildings, Porsche is also increasing its staffing levels. Around 100 engineers are to be recruited in the first stage.

(Source: Porsche)