Michael Schumacher could make a comeback with Mercedes GP
Michael Schumacher’s aborted comeback with Ferrari after Felipe Massa’s season ended with a head injury may have been canned prematurely.
And while we were all disappointed that Schumi’s return to F1 didn’t materialize, we now have rumors that the seven-time world champion may be returning to race in 2010.
The twist is it might not be with Ferrari.
Schumacher and Mercedes GP (formerly Brawn GP) are in ‘preliminary talks’ over the prospect of Schumi driving for the team in 2010. With Jenson Button’s sudden defection to McLaren, Mercedes GP has yet to find a teammate for Nico Rosberg and Schumacher’s name has been brought up recently. If Schumi does decide to race for Mercedes GP, it would create a vaunted all-German pairing that could rival both Ferrari and McLaren.
Looking deeper into all of this, it doesn’t seem as far-fetched as it sounds; after all, Schumacher’s relationship with team principal Ross Brawn has been well-documented with the pair being responsible for Ferrari’s dominance for the better part of the decade.
In the event that Michael Schumacher ends up in Mercedes GP, it automatically makes the 2010 F1 season all that more tantalizing, so much so, that March can’t come soon enough.
Michael Schumacher could make a comeback with Mercedes GP originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 20:00 EST.
2010 Pirelli Calendar is probably the sexiest so far
This is the inside video from the making of the 2010 Pirelli calendar. It shows 12 beautiful girls (the most beautiful we’ve seen so far) in swimming suits, which is enough to keep our minds away from motorcycles until tomorrow.
2010 Pirelli Calendar is probably the sexiest so far originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 16:37 EST.
Teaser shot: 2010 Yamaha FZ8
Yamaha’s 2010 European range will feature a FZ8 model instead of the FZ6, which was having troubles competing with other middleweight models such as the Kawasaki Z750 or the Aprilia Shiver 750 as a result of its R6 engine being designed for horsepower rather than torque. Although we have no official information about the all-new 2010 Yamaha FZ8, it seems that the new model will come to fix that, hopefully, by making use of a V-twin engine.
All that Yamaha has revealed so far is the future FZ8’s pretty face, but we can’t help wondering if it’s ever gonna make it to the United States. More information as we have it.
Teaser shot: 2010 Yamaha FZ8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 15:48 EST.
Volkswagen plans to build the BlueSport at former Karmann facility
The German automaker Volkswagen has a long history with the independent motor vehicle manufacturing firm Karmann, most notably the classic VW Karmann Ghia that was styled by the Carrozzeria Ghia and constructed by the coach builder Karmann. More recently the Volkswagen Group announced that they have acquired the land, machinery and equipment at the Osnabrück site that formerly belonged to the Karmann holding company. The best part about the acquisition is that VW is planning on setting up a new manufacturing subsidiary and eventually break ground on a new project.
Production at the Osnabrück facility isn’t scheduled to begin until 2011, however current projections detail the creation of over 1,000 jobs by the year 2014. There has been no mention of whether VW will keep the Karmann staff on for the new project, however it would be foolish to let all of those experienced automotive craftsmen go due to their extensive experience building limited edition vehicles. One of the models that will be built at the Osnabrück site is the Volkswagen BlueSport diesel roadster as well as a drop top Cabrio version of the next generation Golf VI. It’s always nice to see old friends getting back together.
Volkswagen plans to build the BlueSport at former Karmann facility originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 15:30 EST.
Suzuki GSX-R1000 "25th Anniversary Edition"
In 2010, Suzuki will celebrate 25 years of producing the GSX-R series and have created a limited edition GSX-R1000 for the occasion. Called the Suzuki GSX-R1000Z, the anniversary edition will only feature cosmetic differences compared to a standard GSX-R1000 K9 or K10 model (there’s no mechanical difference between the two model years anyway).
Only 1000 such bikes will be made and feature a gold or beige frame, swingarm and parts of the fairing combined with the dominant pearl white color on the fairing. Also, the Gixxer will feature 25th anniversary graphics on the fairing, mufflers, wheel rims and ignition key, as well as a serial number plate.
Suzuki plans to take the wraps off the GSX-R1000Z 25th anniversary edition this week at the NEC Show in Birmingham.
Suzuki GSX-R1000 "25th Anniversary Edition" originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 15:12 EST.
Erik Buell Racing – the rebirth of American sportbikes
We all thought the Buell brand was dead and gone, but it seems we haven’t seen the end of it yet as a recently issued announcement says the name will be associated with motorcycle racing in the near future. This is the result of Erik Buell leaving the Motor Company and establishing Erik Buell Racing with support from Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
Erik Buell Racing will be based at the Buell factory in East Troy, Wisconsin and supply the Buell 1125R to racing teams. This means meeting racing regulations and keeping part of the workforce previously engaged in producing American sportsbike. But most importantly, we’ll be hearing from Buell in the future when, hopefully, they’ll be winning races.
Press release is attached after the jump.
Erik Buell Racing – the rebirth of American sportbikes originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 14:23 EST.
Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini to skip the LA Auto Show
Among all of the states in the US, California holds the distinction of having the most exotics and supercars roaming around the streets. After all, the glitz and glamour that comes with being in California affords most people the moolah to get their hands on one.
So it comes with a tinge of irony that three of the biggest exotic makers – Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bentley – have all decided to skip the LA Auto Show
The news that three of the most prestigious manufacturers have decided to pass on LA when a spokesperson for the event told the Detroit Bureau that the decisions by Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini to skip LA hinged on the fact that they’ve decided to ‘put their resources to better use’.
Translation: “We don’t want to incur any unnecessary expenditures, like showing up for an event like the LA Auto Show.
Continued after the jump.
Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini to skip the LA Auto Show originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 14:13 EST.
Ford ‘10 Unleashed: 2010 Mustang vs pro skateboarders
Ford’s ’10 Unleashed campaign has given us some pretty good entertainment over the past couple of months. There was the touching story of a blind man getting his first taste of sitting behind the wheel of a 2010 Mustang, there was that owner who decided to turn his Mustang into a rally car, and of course, there was the four Need for Speed gamers who took their video game skills out on a real race track.
The latest instalment of the hit campaign sees the 2010 Mustang take on a group of professional skateboarders in a sort-of can-you-top-this competition.
Of course, we need to have a certain level of perspective as to how this challenge played out. After all, the 2010 Mustang had the decided advantage of computer-generated graphics on its side. So, in a nutshell, you can say that the competition wasn’t done on an even playing field – no pun intended.
Check out the videos after the jump to see who rocked whose wheels.
Ford ‘10 Unleashed: 2010 Mustang vs pro skateboarders originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 14:00 EST.
Star Stratoliner
Star Motorcycles really overpass themselves with the 2009 Stratoliner models as these were not only impressively powerful and offered great road behavior – like all other model years before them –, but also stood out in the style chapter. Truly unique motorcycles not only in their manufacturer’s lineup, but among all other big displacement cruisers available on the market today, with each year that passed by, the Stratoliners only demanded some new color schemes and they were good to go. For 2010, things are different as Star launched the all-new Stratoliner Deluxe and carries on producing the Stratoliner S without any upgrades, while the standard Stratoliner will only sell as a 2009 model year.
Whether that’s good or bad, we cannot yet say, but we can say a thing or two about these 2010 models that caught our attention.
Star Stratoliner originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 12:47 EST.
2010 Lexus GX 460 prices announced
After revealing today the first official details on the 2010 Lexus GX460, the Japanese company also the prices for the new SUV. The GX will be offered in two grades: the base version priced from $51,970, and Premium version which will be priced at $56,765.
The GX 460 is powered by an all-new 4.6-liter V8 engine that produces 301 hp and 329 lb-ft of peak torque. It is teamed with an efficient six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift that helps provide the best-in-class V8 fuel economy.
Press release after the jump.
2010 Lexus GX 460 prices announced originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 12:43 EST.