This Week in Motoring: March 7, 2016

The best of the Geneva International Motor Show, Formula 1 tests closed cockpits (kinda), a motorcycle powered by a Maserati V8 and more.

On the Radar

Reads and New Gear

The Best of Geneva 2016

The Geneva International Motor Show was a frenzy of brand-new hypercars, sports cars, luxury cars and thankfully only one economy crossover. New flagships from Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Pagani dropped to fuel our octane-addled fantasies, while Aston Martin’s new DB11 reminded us why Bond has great taste in cars. Even Alfa Romeo’s pedestrian Giulia, Maserati’s new SUV and Ford’s upgraded Fiesta (yes, a Fiesta) are something to behold. And that’s just scratching the surface. The point? It was a really, really good week to be a car guy.

Kimi, I Can See Your Halo

Racing has been getting considerably safer over the last couple decades, but recent events have brought to light one big vulnerability in driver safety: open cockpits. It’s a simple fix, but one that F1’s governing body has been slow to to adopt. This week major progress has been made, with Ferrari testing a proposed “halo” protection system. According to Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen, “First impression on the visibility test is positive…the structure does not hamper [visibility].”

Like a Robot Wearing a Monocle

Morgan is perhaps the most anachronistic automaker out there, which is why it raised a few eyebrows when word got out it would make electric cars. However, their new launch video should put minds at ease — the new EV3 is still full of old-school cool and British bravado.

Two-Wheel Terror

The French lunatics at Lazareth probably took a look at the 210 horsepower Kawasaki Ninja H2 and decided they wanted more, opting instead to build a bike around a 470 horsepower Maserati V8.

Sebastien Loeb to Do Rallycross

WRC master Sebastien Loeb has tried his hand at Le Mans, Dakar, Pikes Peak and WTCC, and has even done a little Formula 1 testing. Now he’s turning his attention towards Rallycross, announcing his intention to compete in the 2016 season.

Reviews and Buying Guides

Advice from the Crew

Driving the Most Expensive SUV in the World

Forget Range Rovers and G-Wagens. There’s a new king of the ultraluxury SUV world, and it’s built by Bentley. Read the Story

The Auction at the Heart of Car Culture

An auto auction that’s just as much about the culture of cars as it is collecting them. Read the Story

The Find

What to Buy, Now

2002 Aston Martin DB7 Volante

Feeling discouraged by the new Aston Martin DB11’s $216,000 price tag? Good news: you can still buy a clean DB7 for a fifth of the price.

Noteworthy Reads

Stories from Around the Web

The new Koenigsegg Regera has 1,500 horsepower, a V8 engine, three electric motors and no transmission. How does it all work in tandem to get the Sweedish hypercar up to 248 mph? Travis Okulski at Jalopnik explains.

It’s nice to have friends who own Ferrari F40s. Turns out they occasionally let you drive them, as Gil Folk at Petrolicious found out.

Looking Ahead

What We’re Testing Now

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