Autoblog

Aggressive dealer cash incentives ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 on vehicles has helped Isuzu record its first quarterly sales increase in nearly eight years. The news of 2,007 new units out the door follows the not-so-shocking report earlier this year that Isuzu is abandoning the U.S. market -- ergo the fire sale.

There are 201 Isuzu dealers in the U.S. right now, and all are tasked with clearing the balance of their inventory by Jan. 31, 2009. If you've got the hots for an Ascender SUV or an i-290 / i-370 pickup, now would be a great time to take a stroll over to your Isuzu dealer (and don't forget to let them know Autoblog told you about the rebates).

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Another Schumacher has left the building... almost. Ralf Schumaker, who's been racing for Toyota since 2005, will leave the F1 team at the end of this season. Saying that he's looking for a "new challenge" the younger half of the Germanic duo still plans on racing the wheels off his F1 whip for the last two races of the season.

There's no word on what the other Schu will be up to in the future, but he plans to make an announcement at the season-ender Brazilian Grand Prix later this month.

[Source: AFP]

Jeremy Clarkson has laid to rest rumors that either he or Top Gear itself would not be returning for another season. During yesterday's show, which is the last for the current series, Clarkson said, "Everyone seems to think the programme is finished or that I've left. Well, sorry to disappoint you all but it isn't and I haven't. Top Gear... will be back in the autumn."

The rumor spread after Clarkson contradicted a BBC announcer's claim that a Top Gear "summer special" was in the works and that the show would return in the fall. Clarkson turned the rumor mill's key when he said in his column, "After last week's Top Gear, the continuity announcer said the show would be back in the summer. Can I just say, here and now, it won't be."

Most are now assuming that Clarkson is simply claiming that there won't be a summer special for the show, but that it will return, with Clarkson in tow, next fall.

Thanks for the tips, all!

[Source: Sundaymirror.co.uk]