How Porsche will be integrated into VW

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 20 November 2009 12:32 Although Porsche won't be a fully integrated member of the Volkswagen group before mid-2011, the sports car maker can even at this early point in the merger no longer make independent strategic decisions. After all, Martin Winterkorn has effectively been appointed head of the Porsche SE Holding which in turn employs the Porsche AG chairman Michael Macht.  With a takeover as costly and complicated to fund as this one – all in all, VW will have to fork out a staggering €16 billion to absorb the latest family member – it is only logical that the new owner wants to get the restructuring process going asap. Overnight, Porsche has become easily VW's most expensive brand.How VW will integrate PorscheTo protect and eventually enhance its value, the powers in Wolfsburg will leave no stone unturned to rearrange the product portfolio, to streamline R&D, to shake up purchasing and production, and to ensure a variety of synergies which are estimated to range from €500m to €750m per year.

Toyota increases U.S. prices an average of 1.7 percent on most models

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., coping with a rising yen and an earthquake-shattered supply chain, announced price increases today that average 1.7 percent for many 2011 Toyota, Scion and Lexus models. The increases range from $65 for the small imported Scion xD, to $900 for two of its larger vehicles, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Sequoia SUVs, as well as several Lexus models.

Audi RS7 Dynamic Edition is an expensive styling package

How much dynamism does one man need -- nay, deserve? Audi attempts to answer that with the RS7 Dynamic Edition, a trim package for the current RS7, which is pretty dynamic to begin with. The Dynamic Edition provides no power or suspension upgrades over the regular RS7, preferring to merely look more dynamic (as a proof-of-concept from the "Audi exclusive" program).