It’s probably safe to say that a significant portion of Porsches sold the U.S. go to buyers in the unofficial car capital of Southern California. So it’s a safe bet for Porsche Cars North America to locate its new Porsche Experience Center smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles' sprawl -- and right off Interstate 405 -- in Carson.

Actually, the facility is moving just a few miles north along 405 from its former operations in Santa Ana, just over the Orange County border. Spread across the Porsche Experience Center’s 53 acres will be a “world-class” test track and handling course, including special surfaces that replicate rain, ice and snow – precipitation that this part of Southern California rarely sees. The center will also incorporate an off-road area – we’re assuming for Cayenne SUVs and the new Macan CUV – with 45-degree declines and ascents.

To make sure that owners who visit the facility stay fit for hard driving, the center will also offer personal training that’s patterned after techniques used in preparing Porsche’s race car drivers. Porsche says it’s also designing the center to be family-friendly, with a Porsche Café, gift shop and track-side viewing areas. “Fine dining” facilities are also planned for hosting business meetings and events. The Porsche Experience Center is expected to be finished in the fall of 2013.

The center will also be headquarters for Porsche Motorsport North America. “We are very happy that we’ll be able to move [our] operations to the next level,” Jens Walther, president of PMNA, said in a statement. “Our future home will offer us the space needed to expand our operations from engine and transmission building, parts supply and race support to developing our vintage racing services to the many owners of Porsche’s historic race cars in this country.”

[Source: InsideLine.]