This Week in Motoring: March 14, 2016

An exclusive preview of the NYIAS, an all-new EV racing series, VW’s USA CEO says auf wiedersehen and more.

On the Radar

Reads and New Gear

East Side House Settlement Gala Preview of NYIAS

To raise funds to support East Side House Settlement, a leading South Bronx social service agency, the organization is hosting a private preview of the entire New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), before it is open to the public. Tickets are $200, and with that you get music, cocktails, a silent auction and a look at the first-edition Jaguar F-Pace, as well as everything else NYIAS has to offer before the general public. And since you’re a Gear Patrol reader, you get a 12.5% discount with the code “LEHMANYABC3000“. Hope to see you there.

Michael Horn Says ‘Auf Wiedersehen’

Despite Volkswagen USA CEO Michael Horn’s distance from the VW diesel scandal (geographically and politically), he has left the company, effective immediately. Volkswagen says it was “through mutual agreement,” but anyone who has had a “mutual” breakup of their own can tell you it’s usually anything but.

The Hellcat Heads Off-Road

When the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Charger Hellcat were unveiled, enthusiasts everywhere wanted FCA to put the 707 horsepower engine in everything, from Dodge Vipers to Jeep Cherokees. Well, ahead of this year’s Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, the event’s 50th anniversary and Jeep’s 75th, Jeep announced it’s bringing the Jeep Trailcat concept: a heavily modified Wrangler with, you guessed it, the 6.2-liter Hellcat V8.

Euro Trip: The Abridged Version

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, a company looking to utilize Elon Musk’s high-speed transport tech, has just signed a deal with the Slovakian government to assess the possibility of linking three European capitals by two different links: Vienna to Bratislava, a 35-mile, eight-minute trip, and Bratislava to Budapest, a 100-mile jaunt that would take just 10 minutes.

Comedians With Cars Selling Porsches

Jerry Seinfeld’s three Porsches, announced in January to go up for auction, were just the tip of the iceberg. Last Friday at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island Auction, 15 of Seinfeld’s Porsches and three of his Volkswagens ended up on the block.

Telsa Model S Goes Racing

The Electric GT World Series has announced its plans to have its first race ready for 2017. For the inaugural season the grid of 10 teams and 20 cars will be made up entirely of race-prepped Tesla Model S’s, to ease the rigors of starting a new race series. But we can’t help but think BMW i8’s and Audi e-Trons will make it to the coming seasons.

Reviews and Buying Guides

Advice from the Crew

Driver’s Seat or Rear — It’s All Good in the Bentley Flying Spur

Refinement leads to illustrious musings in one of the finest four-seaters on earth. Read the Story

The Mercedes-AMG E 43 4MATIC: Teutonic, Twin-Turbo Traction

Touched by the angels at Mercedes-AMG, the sleek E 43 sedan has a clever power plant, more gears than your first Huffy and traction in spades. Read the Story

The Find

What to Buy, Now

1972 Datsun 240Z

Sports cars from the ’70s, in good condition, more often than not, are trailer queens, babied like they’re made of fine china. Not so with this immaculate 1972 Datsun 240Z. This 240Z, for sale by the original owner (who took fantastic car of this road-going veteran), was meant to be driven, experienced and heard. Buy Now

Noteworthy Reads

Stories from Around the Web

Hybrid technology is advancing fuel efficiency and helping to save the planet — but it’s also pushing the boundaries of performance in the hypercar realm.

Overlanding is easy to fall in love with. It’s a great way to see more of the outdoors, purposely get lost, enjoy the company you’re with and create long-lasting memories.

Looking Ahead

What We’re Testing Now

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