Formula 1: Michael Schumacher to Return

And the big kahuna is back. In the wild ride that is the 2009 Formula One championship, this has got to be the biggest news of all. Not the threat of a new championship. Not Lewis Hamilton sucking or Jenson Button winning. Not the whole FIA brouhaha. Not even Massa’s possibly career-ending freak accident. It’s this – the one dubbed to be the greatest driver of all time is back – Michael Schumacher is back.

Rumors were abound that Schumacher is one the possible candidates to stand in for Felipe Massa. Among other candidates were the other Ferrari test drivers and Fernando Alonso if he decides to make a move to Ferrari early. Well, it looks like Alonso will have to endure Renault for now.

The seven-time world champion will be back inside a Ferrari car cockpit at the European GP at Valencia. Until yesterday, Schumacher’s camp has been denying a comeback but all’s certain now.

“It is true that the Formula 1 chapter has long been closed for me. The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive, and I wish him all the best again…This afternoon I met with team principal Stefano Domenicali and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe. As the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge,” Schumacher announced in a prepared statement.

Suzuki Unveils the Kizashi

Suzuki unveils their new sports saloon the Kizashi. Those who have been interested with Suzuki news might remember the Kizashi concept that they unveiled back in 2007.

The car packs a 2.4L DOHC engine mated to a choice between a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT gearbox with flappy-paddle shifters. Buyers can also pick between a two-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive options.

The car sports multi-link rear suspensions made from aluminum. It also packs anti-lock brakes and an ESP system. The Kizashi has also been tried and tested around the Nurburgring and English countryside to ensure that it can handle corners well without compromising comfort.

On the outside, the Kizashi lost the flair of the concept but promises to retain the sporty performance that the concept’s looks hinted. It sports 18-inch alloys for added bling. Inside are sports seats, eight airbags, and a smart dashboard.

Suzuki is also intent to join in the whole green movement by offering a hybrid in the future.

James May of Top Gear to Build Lego House

Want to get up close and personal with Captain Slow? This is your chance then. James May is looking for volunteers to help him build his Lego house. If you’re one who shares James’ penchant for the anal (retention), then this has got be a real treat for you.

James is making a new series called “Toy Stories” and as part of the series, he will be making an entire two-story house made of Lego bricks. Report has it that three million Lego bricks have already been delivered to the site.

He’s really ambitious with this plan and would want everything to be made of Lego. “I’ve got a man working on a flushing Lego lavatory. We think it’s possible… Things like power supply, sanitation and plumbing coming into the house are as they could be for a real building… everything within my Lego house must as far as possible be Lego,” he said.

This news bit isn’t really car news but this is Captain Slow. Deserves a mention in our book.

Source: BBC

Tata Posts Profits

No one expects automakers to make a profit in this world economy. But don’t tell that to the creators of the world’s cheapest car. Tata Motors saw a 58% rise in first quarter net profit. In a year that saw the bankruptcy of two of Detroit’s Big Three, this is something really amazing.

The Indian automaker who also owns known British luxury brands Land Rover and Jaguar defied analyst’s forecasts with the number. This is thanks mostly to accounting policy changes that it made.

Tata made $107 million in the quarter. It’s overall revenue, however, went down by 8% meaning that the company’s cost-cutting had a lot to do with its profit.

Still, concerns over Jaguar and Land Rover remain. “We are going ahead with their proposals and this is going to improve the cost reduction efforts in JLR,” Vice Chairman Ravi Kant told Reuters. More job cuts and plant closures are expected.

Source: Reuters

Toyota to Build Hybrid Yaris

The Yaris is one of the best smaller cars you can buy. Being a Toyota, it’s a hardy dependable car. With the whole industry going to green mode, Toyota is looking to expand its green line by offering a Yaris hybrid. Productions will be based in France.

Toyota confirmed that it will be building a smaller car dubbed the Auris and will be marketed just below the Yaris. Small cars have been the fad in Europe and expanding its offering of small green cars might enable Toyota to command a larger market share.

The Asian market will get its piece of the hybrid Yaris as well. The hybrid will also be built in Japan in order to compete with the upcoming Honda Fit Hybrid.

It looks like Toyota and Honda will continue to slug it out. Honda initially tried to trump the Toyota Prius with the Honda Insight but Insight sales hardly made a dent to the Prius’ established market stake.

Ferrari 458 Italia

And yet another Prancing Pony comes out of Maranello. The much awaited replacement for the F430 is here – the 458 Italia. Now we don’t have to settle for spy shots and leaked photos – this one here’s from Ferrari themselves as they officially unveil the car.

Since this is a Ferrari, everyone’s concerned primarily with the power details. The car packs a 4.5L V8 – the first direct-injection engine to be mid-rear mounted on a car. The powerhouse dishes out 570 horses at 9,000 rpm and has a max torque of 398 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm. Much of that is made available at just 3,250 rpm meaning this car doesn’t need to rev high to smoke other cars.

The engine’s mounted to a dual-clutch seven-speed F1-style gearbox enabling the car to go from standstill to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds and breaches supercar nirvana of 200 mph with its 202 mph top speed. On a good day, it might even go more than that.

Mind you that this horse doesn’t necessarily drink the whole well getting 17.1 mpg but when did mpg figures ever factor in when it comes to Ferraris? The car will be officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year.