Autoblog (via Motorcycle News) is reporting that seven-time F1 champ Michael Schumacher is to race a Honda CBR1000RR superbike this weekend at the IDM International German Motorbike Championship.

The relationship between motorcycle racing and car racing is nothing new. Many former bike racers; John Surtees and Mike Hailwood just to name a couple; all went on to become great car racers. What's unusual here is we have one of the best car racers ever going on to race a bike, which is the other way around.

Full story here and here.

I guess it all started with the Nissan GT-R recently setting an absolute record for production cars (7:25). Now there is a flurry of interest for Nürburgring lap records. One of the record-seeking parties is Cadillac, as their new CTS-V just set a new record for sedans, at 7:59.32.

Check out the story and video here at Inside Line: New Video: Watch Cadillac CTS-V Set Nürburgring Lap Record

Also here: IL Insider: Details on the Cadillac CTS-V's Run Around the 'Ring

In what is likely the last special edition model based on the current Legacy platform, Subaru has introduced the very special and very limited STI S402 for some very special Japanese customers.

Available in either sedan or wagon, Subaru has loaded up the Legacy GT with many STI performance parts, as well as some items that are exclusive to this vehicle. The end result being envy of just about every Subie driver worldwide.

One item that's exclusive to this model is that this is the first 2.5 Subaru that has a twin-scroll turbo (pictured). The JDM 2.0 turbos have had twin-scroll capability for some time. I'm hoping we will see this offered on US-spec models in the future, as it greatly improves power throughout the rev range.

The car goes on sale in Japan at the end of June.

Full story here.

To no one's surprise, with gas prices the way they're headed, hybrids are selling at record numbers; and also, as you might expect, the Toyota
Prius is leading the charge here.

Sales of the Prius rose 67 percent last month. Toyota cut the value of sales promotions on the five-year- old model to $123 per vehicle in April, from $1,471 in March 2007, said Jesse Toprak, of Edmunds.com.

"There's really no other car that's been out as long as Prius selling at this kind of volume with little or no incentive support," Toprak said. "Gas prices certainly help."

Full story here.

Here's AutoObserver's take: Toyota Prius: 1 Million Sales and Counting

The Chrysler-sourced VW Routan minivan will start $24,700 for the "S" model. The mid-range "SE" stickers at $29,600, and the range-topping "SEL" starts at $33,200. As an added incentive VW is partnering with Upromise, the country's largest private source of college funding, to offer Routan customers $1500 towards their kid's college education.

"We know parents are concerned about saving for their kid’s future. To help families tackle this challenge of saving for college, we’re excited that we are able to partner with Upromise,” said Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We’re aware that the cost of college continues to rise exponentially, far outpacing inflation, and our hope is to help our customer’s off-set that cost, while getting a great new vehicle.”

The vehicle will go on sale in September.

Full story here.

Afterlutz. Bone Monkeys. Ghosner. Jimbotron. Lens-Licker. Nardellied. Pontihacked. Slimecoat. Yorked.

Any idea what those words mean? Well you can find out here at Autoextremist as Peter De Lorenzo has compiled the latest (and greatest) list of automotive slang.

Bad news for Caddy fans, as the latest word is that Cadillac will not build a coupe-convertible version of their classy CTS coupe.

This is really odd, as coupe-convertibles from other luxury carmakers are hot items. To make matters worse, Cadillac's explanation as to why the decision, does nothing but raise more speculation and more questions.

"We're pleased to be the subject of speculation. Maybe that's a sign that the CTS has struck a chord with some folks. This issue of a convertible is one of the very rare times where we decline the offer to comment.," states Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell.

Here's Inside Line's take: Failure To Launch: Cadillac CTS Coupe Convertible

Not sure if this will sell more Canadian Foresters, but it's sure to garner a few giggles. Instead of using the expected buxom blonds at a car wash, Subaru of Canada thought that unexpected buxom sumo wrestlers would be more appealing. Hmmm...

Full story here.

The upcoming Infiniti G37 convertible will have a folding hardtop. So why am I not surprised?

Folding hardtops, which once were as rare as the dodo bird, are all the rage these days, and especially so within the premium car ranks. In fact, if this new Infiniti didn't have a folding hardtop, it would surely meet with a certain and quick death in the marketplace. Expect a fall auto show debut of this car.

Here's Inside Line's take: Infiniti G37 Convertible Will Be Retractable Hardtop

Carscoop lived up to their name by scooping an image of the upcoming Nissan 370Z. The image was taken by someone with a camera phone at a recent Nissan event.

As you might expect the new Z will be powered by a 3.7L V6 with horsepower well north of 300. It is expected to debut at the next LA auto show next fall.

Full story here. The smaller image has been enhanced via Photoshop, and can be found here at NASIOC.