This Week in Motoring: February 1, 2016

The Opel GT returns, the MTA (very slowly) revamps NYC’s subways, the last Defender rolls out of the factory and more.

On the Radar

The Latest in Motoring News

GM’s Answer to the Miata

GM brand Opel unveiled an homage concept to its long-gone and often-forgotten GT from the late ’60s and early ’70s. The new GT comes sporting a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine producing 145 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, rear-wheel-drive platform, a curb weight under 2,200 pounds and, most importantly, red tires. Whether or not the new GT (and its red tires) comes to production is still up in the air, but if it did we would welcome it with open arms and lead feet.

The New Underground

The Metropolitan Transit Authority will be experimenting with 10 new open gangway subway cars over the next few years on the A and F lines. The cars will be used in an effort to combat overcrowding on the city’s subway lines, with the potential to increase passenger capacity by 10 percent.

Goodnight, Sweet Prince

For 68 years, over 2 million Land Rover Defenders have rolled out of the company’s factory in Solihull, England. This past week, number 2,016,933 — a mint green “Heritage” soft-top two-door — became the last to roll off the line.

$1 Million Over Sticker

You may remember a SuperBowl ad from a few years back showing comedians Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld vying for the very first Acura NSX. Well, neither of them is getting it; that honor goes to NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who bid $1.2 million for VIN number one at Barrett-Jackson this weekend, with all proceeds going to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground.

Back to the Icon

DeLorean may be making a comeback, thanks to a recent house bill stating that low-volume manufacturers don’t have to adhere to the same safety regulations as bigger companies.

America’s Endurance Race

This weekend’s 24 Hours of Daytona was full of exciting moments right down to the end. Honda won its first overall victory at Daytona when the Honda-powered Ligier JS P2 took first overall in the race and first in the prototype class. Meanwhile, in the GTLM class, two Corvettes took first and second in their class within a second of each other, while the anticipated Ford GTLM cars were burdened by technical issues.

Reviews and Buying Guides

Advice from the Crew

Volkswagen’s New Special-Edition Beetle Is the Best in the Lineup

There’s no mistaking the new Beetle Dune with the original Baja Bug, but VW’s special-edition Beetle isn’t without its charms. Read the Review

10 Hidden Gem Driving Roads in the USA

The oceans, mountains, thousands of lakes, rivers and canyons of the US make for some beautiful driving roads. Read the Review

The Find

What to Buy, Now

The opportunity to own VIN number one of the new NSX is gone, but there are plenty of originals on the market — and this blue example from 2003 is about as close to brand new as you’ll find.

Noteworthy Reads

Motoring Stories from Around the Web

The Science Guy isn’t too keen on NASCAR because it doesn’t embrace technological innovation. Here’s how he’d fix that.

Matthew Shear of The New York Times Magazine breaks down the events of the derailment of Amtrack 188 — the worst railway accident in recent memory.

Looking Ahead

What We’re Driving Now

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