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Porsche becomes first company to rent out Vatican's Sistine Chapel

We wouldn't go so far as to say God is a Porsche fan, but those in charge of one of the holiest Christian spots on our little blue marble are welcoming the German automaker into one of the religion's most revered and beautiful settings - the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. In so doing, Porsche will reportedly become the first company to rent out the holy hall for a corporate function.
Now, it's not like Pope Francis has signed off on Porsche doing do donuts in a 911 underneath Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam. Instead, the Vatican has rented out the home of the Papal Conclave to the Porsche Travel Club, which will host a classical music concert. The Travel Club organizes events and tours across Europe for Porsche enthusiasts, with the Vatican concert just one part of a tour of Rome.
According to Automotive News Europe, Porsche will sell 40 tickets - at 5,000 euros each ($6,379) - to the event, while the Vatican has confirmed that the Pope will not be in attendance.

Car Club USA: Porsche Club of America Escape to Rushmore

The Porsche Club of America, whose motto is "it's not just the cars, it's the people," plans its annual Escape in a different city every year. This year's was particularly epic, as Porsche fans headed to the Black Hills of South Dakota for their gathering. The scenery and the history are part of the attraction, but the winding roads are the real headliner. "This road right here is the reason why we chose the Black Hills of South Dakota to do the 2015 Escape," said Ron Johnson of the Nord Stern Porsche Club as he navigated the mountain range. "These Porsches really love these twisty, curvy roads." That statement neatly sums up why the sports cars have resonated so deeply with their owners and enthusiasts for so long. In addition to the guided tours and drives around the winding terrain, the club hosts a car show. This year marks the club's 60th in the United States, and the Escape drew a wide range of Porsches of all vintages. Lloyd and Donna Nelson from Valley City, ND, arrived in their 1955 Porsche Speedster, which they purchased alongside a 1951 coupe in 1964 for a grand total of $750. Needless to say, it was a good investment – although they didn't know it at the time. "We had two children, one on the way, we were both working and I really didn't see the sense in two old cars," explained Donna. "I said, 'one of them has to go,'" to which Lloyd responded, "which one of the kids?" They sold the coupe long ago, but the speedster is still gorgeous and gets more than its fair share of stares and use. Will they win best of show? "This is what us as enthusiasts dream of," Johnson said. Watch the latest episode of Car Club USA to see how it turns out and for a snapshot of life at the Escape. Each Car Club USA episode features a different car club or event from across the US, where passionate owner communities gather to share automotive experiences and embark on incredible adventures. From Main Street cruises to off-road trails, catch all the latest car club activity on Autoblog.

German judge 'inclined to dismiss' hedge fund lawsuit against Porsche

Last year, around two dozen investors, including hedge funds, leveled a 1.4 billion euro ($1.95 billion at the time) lawsuit against Porsche in connection with the automaker's attempted takeover of Volkswagen in 2008. The Stuttgart Regional Court dismissed the case. Around 19 of those plaintiffs are heading back to court to appeal the ruling and still hope to get 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion). However, according to one German judge, the chances for success aren't any better this time around. "On balance it's our view that we consider the lawsuit, or the appeal, to be unpromising for several reasons," Gerhard Ruf, a judge in Stuttgart, said to Reuters. "We are inclined to dismiss the case." The court's ruling on the appeal will be announced on March 26. The investors' case hinges on Porsche's strategy surrounding the botched takeover. The sports car maker said that it wasn't trying to control VW, when in fact it was. These hedge funds had bet against Volkswagen stock, but the share price surged when Porsche's plan inevitably came to light. Investors have sued the sports car company multiple times since then in attempts to recoup billions of dollars. However, none of the lawsuits have been successful, whether attempted in the US or Germany. Former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and and CFO Holger Haerter might still stand trial for the alleged stock manipulation, though. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Matthias Rietschel / AP Photo Government/Legal Porsche Volkswagen lawsuit hedge funds porsche lawsuit