Autoblog

Much like the automotive crash test industry utilizes "dummies" of different statures and body weights to simulate different passenger types, Nissan engineers have developed a special suit to "simulate" the elderly. Nissan went to all this trouble because it anticipates that Baby Boomers will soon command a larger share of automotive sales. It's a preemptive plan to design vehicles that accommodate their needs. Well, some of them, as we don't expect in-dash prune juice dispensers anytime soon.

This innovative suit is comprised of several different components that are each designed to restrict physical movement or reduce vision (interestingly enough, donning the suit does not make the wearer crave early bird specials or migrate to Palm Springs). Dark colored glasses simulate the poor vision and gloves simulate reduced dexterity. Casts on on the body also weigh down the wearer's limbs to simulate arthritic pain. Our favorite is the big thick waist belt designed to simulate the "middle aged spread."

[Source: Nissan via WorldCarFans]

For a retiree, Michael Schumacher sure has been getting a lot of press lately. If he's not testing prototypes for Ferrari, he's taking on rivals in the Race of Champions or getting in trouble with the fuzz for driving a taxi. But the 7-time world champion is also making an awful lot of money for someone who isn't even working.

Thanks to continued partnerships with some of Schumacher's biggest sponsors, the driving superstar is expected to pull in a staggering €35 million over the next seven years, taking his sponsorship deals through 2014.

Schumi's manager Willi Weber has been hard at work maintaining the commercial relationships with such big sponsors as Shell, Omega and Deutsche Vermogenberatung. At this year's RoC, the champ wore a white, black and orange suit decked out in sponsor's logos instead of the scarlet he wore while driving for Ferrari.

[Source: F1-Live, Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty]