Porsche Taycan [spy Shot]

The German car maker has been testing the future Model S rival at the Nurburgring, as their goal is to make the Taycan drive and feel like a Porsche. The Taycan will also offer a lower center of gravity than the 911, thanks to its floor-mounted battery pack. Details about the battery so far have been scarce, with the pack to feature an active water cooling system and a pair of “permanently excited syncronous motors” that will prevent the Taycan from performance degradation, even after multiple hard launches. Porsche promises that when their new all-electric four-door model arrives in the market, it will offer over 500 km of driving range per the NEDC, and a combined output of over 592 hp from the two electric motors. 0-100 km/h will come in less than 3.5 seconds and if you keep your foot pinned down, you’ll see 200 km/h coming in less than 12 seconds. Porsche has also started rolling out its network of 800-Volt DC Fast Chargers, which the company calls Turbo Charging stations. The company says that the Taycan will be able to charge up to 80 percent of its battery in just 15 minutes when hooked up to one of its Turbo Charging stations. Porsche has plans to install 500 stations across the US by the second half of 2019, starting from its dealerships and along major highways. The German car maker will make its charging infrastructure compatible with electric vehicles from other manufacturers too.

A firm decision still has not been made on whether the vehicle will get the green light. But despite the CrossBlue being at the top of the list for Volkswagen's product plans in the US, a firm decision still has not been made on whether the vehicle will get the green light. Last we heard, the final decision will likely come early next year, with the company's Chattanooga, TN plant as the production site for this vehicle. Our takeaway from this encounter with the CrossBlue is that Volkswagen has a very solid plan laid out for a three-row crossover, designed specifically with the US market in mind. And with the death of the Routan leaving a seven-passenger hole in the company's lineup, a decision can't some soon enough. Volkswagen stands to gain a lot of traction in the US with an entry into this highly competitive class, making its 800,000-unit goal not seem quite as lofty.

The first AMG Performance Centre in the UK has launched at Mercedes-Benz World in fitting style. Its launch was timed to coincide with Mercedes-Benz World hosting a Pistonheads Sunday Service - with 600 vehicles and over a thousand guests attending in a diverse range of performance cars. Former Formula 1 racing driver and current AMG Ambassador, Karl Wendlinger, marked the occasion by setting a blistering pace as he performed dramatic laps of the Handling Circuits in the new E 63 AMG. Meanwhile, the new AMG Performance Centre hosted two UK debuts - the A 45 AMG and the dramatic new SLS AMG Black Series both appearing for the first time. The setting for the debuts was perfect - the design of the new AMG Performance Centre is intended to develop an even closer relationship with visitors and customers through a personalised showcase characterised by AMG’s brand identity. The opening of the new AMG Performance Centre complements the range of AMG Driving Experiences.

Visitors and customers to the brand centre can now see the latest models and more from AMG in an exclusive atmosphere. Beyond the opening weekend, an impressive selection of cars will always be on display, regularly changing to show the athletic range of models over the course of time. Feature cars will also take special position to capture the fascinating stories and performance that AMG has underneath its belt, that has gone on to make it the fastest-growing performance brand in the UK automotive market. Also on display and making a link from racetrack to road, was the SLS AMG GT3. An imposing reminder that AMG’s credentials are built on motor racing success. The GT3 was designed to win races, just like the cars before it from 1971 when the company took its first victory. And now as it was then, the racers are still developed from the road going versions.