The 2012 Lexus HS 250h. Image: Lexus

Lexus launched the HS 250h hybrid in the U.S. in the summer of 2009, as a 2010 model. Meant as a fuel-efficient bookend to Lexus’ other entry-level offering, the rear-drive IS sedan, the HS 250h never really took off in the U.S. market.

As Inside Line reports, sales in the 2010 model year were acceptable, hitting 10,663 units, but plummeted to just 2,864 units for 2011. The introduction of the less-expensive and more functional Lexus CT 200h had erased any market for the HS 250h, and the CT 200h has now become the fourth-best-selling vehicle in Lexus’ current product mix.

Sadly, the death of the HS 250h came with no announcement, but Toyota did admit to Inside Line that “Production of the HS 250h ceased in January, 2012. Lexus continues to monitor sales for each product and we make adjustments to make sure we meet market demand, and the discontinuation of the HS was part of that adjustment.”

If you’re looking for a hybrid sedan offering from Lexus in the coming months, you’re still in luck: Lexus will soon launch the ES 300h sedan, which is expected to be both more powerful and more fuel efficient than the discontinued HS 250h. We’ll bet that there are deals to be had on leftover HS models, though.

The Nürburgring is an amazing circuit that surely needs no introduction, and it’s as difficult as it is rewarding not only for drivers but also photographers. Trudging through the mud, slipping and sliding and hiking through the woods and going up and down extreme grades can be tiring, but the pay-off is always undoubtedly worth it. The Nordschleife rewards the brave and virtually all of its hundreds of corners are picture perfect. Regardless of lens or camera it’s nearly impossible to take a bad shot here. Here are some of our favorites thus far.

Speedhunters at the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours

GPS car-tracker
Live timing of all sessions
Alternate live timing

Latest entry list
Radio Le Mans audio commentary of all sessions
Audi video stream
Subaru video stream

-Sean

In 1968, the E9 was released as BMW’s halo car; the ultimate sports/touring grand coupe. Laden with luxuries rarely found anywhere else at the time, amenities such as power windows and air conditioning separated the 2800CS from the pack. It’s large straight-six engine gave it the power and torque to move about effortlessly, and the quality that went into the car was simply unparalleled. The unibody chassis was entirely one piece, from the nose panel, to the fenders, a pillars, roof, c pillars and entire rear end. The Karmann styled car was a sight to behold and it leaves little need for explanation why the E9’s value today is far more than it was brand new.

After the E9’s retirement in 1975, it was replaced by the E24 6-series. The E24’s sharp lines were a direct evolution of the E9’s, keeping the touring coupe heritage alive and well.

Today, we’re presented with the F12 650i M-Sport. Make no mistake, it’s certainly different from the car I know so well. The massive body dwarfs the already larger-than-most-sedans-of-the-time 2800. It’s electronics, ranging from fully dynamic suspension control to navigation and re-playable radio leave me feeling as though I’ve been stuck in a time capsule… but that’s hardly a bad thing.

As a vintage car lover and someone who is quick to put down cars of today’s generation, it was almost a shock to find myself falling in love with the new 6er so quickly. Andrew and I drove the car from our Newport shop up to Laguna Seca this past weekend, a 6.5-hour drive that was likely one of the most comfortable, easy-going, and well engineered drives I’ve ever experienced.

The ride quality was smooth and relaxing, and it was evident I was driving a car that vastly out-values anything I’ve owned, yet the calm nature of the suspension never left me feeling disconnected from the road. I could still feel the tires and their love/hate relationship with the asphalt beneath me, and the steering was responsive and quick, hardly what many would expect from such a large vehicle.

The power delivery was perfectly linear, the 400hp V8 picked up the weight of the coupe effortlessly and I admittedly found myself getting carried away on more than one occasion. The German roots were apparent and I knew I was driving a car that was built to storm the autobahn.

It’s all grand and well that I enjoyed driving a modern car; I’m sure that can be said for many more than myself… but my experience with the F13 did something special. It reassured my faith in the BMW brand. I’ve made it loud and clear that I’ll own vintage BMWs for the rest of my life and I’d argue to wit’s end that there’s no better car on the planet, yet now I can easily say I’d step up to bat for the BMWs of the 21^st century as well.

While there are countless differences between BMWs of old and new, many things remain entirely the same. The engineering is world class, and the steps forward in automotive development and the product delivered to the customer has never ceased to be the quality that BMW has built their name on.

There’s something deep inside of me that finds true joy in noticing remnants of the E9 in it’s modern evolution, from the hofmeister kink in the quarter windows to the subtly similar body-lines and profiles. While it may be years before I find myself owning a BMW made any time recently, I can say on no official terms that I welcome the F13 to the BMW family I know and love.

They still build ‘em like they used to.

Nowhere is it written that muscle cars must be ancient relics, stuffed full of carburetor-fed, hydrocarbon-belching V-8 engine and fitted with the kind of primitive suspensions usually found on farm wagons. There are plenty of muscle cars available from new car dealers, like anything with an SRT badge, the upcoming Chevy SS and the Cadillac CTS-V series.

Most discussions of muscle cars don’t extend to station wagons, either, but the CTS-V wagon is equally adept at hauling groceries, hauling the family or just plain hauling ass. Unlike that Buick Roadmaster wagon your grandfather owned, the CTS-V wagon handles as well as anything with the mass of a small planet can, thanks to both its Magnetic Ride Control suspension and the electro-wizardry of stability control.

On a dry track, the CTS-V is quite a bit faster than you think it will be. Throw some rain into the mix, and the weaknesses of 556 horsepower sent to two wheels only, coupled with a long wheelbase, begin to become apparent.

Enter the BMW X5 M, which exists in the category of “Uber SUV” alongside rides like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8. Like the CTS-V wagon, the X5 M is a lot faster than you’d expect it to be, and it’s M-tuned stability control and all-wheel-drive system don’t care much if the track is dry, wet or somewhere in between.

Which is the best choice for a family hauler? That all depends on geography, budget and expectations, we suppose. If you live where snow isn’t an issue and favor wagons over SUVs, the CTS-V wagon will save you around $25k compared to the X5 M. On the other hand, if you deal with snow in the winter, the X5 M may be worth the price of admission.

One thing is absolutely certain, though: you can’t go wrong with either choice.

Source: gazhphotography.co.uk

It’s around midday here at the Nürburgring and the sun is shining once again. The 24HR cars are just completing their second qualifying sessions but I’m inside preparing for the ADAC Nürburgring Classic race which takes place in about 90 minutes times. Whilst I’m waiting for some batteries to charge, I thought I’d upload a couple of desktops from yesterday’s session of the WRT Speedhunters Audi R8. If you want to keep up with the race, I’ve  included the links from Jonathan’s story including live timing, GPS tracking and live streams (which may be region specific).

Back soon with more …

-

Paddy McGrath

Speedhunters at the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours

GPS car-tracker
Live timing of all sessions
Alternate live timing

Latest entry list
Radio Le Mans audio commentary of all sessions
Audi video stream
Subaru video stream

CLICK HERE to head back to the original post, where you’ll find the build thread and init.

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To us, it seems like every tuned vehicle Mansory releases is more subdued and tasteful than the last one. The company seems to have outgrown its cornea-melting-colors and scoops-for-the-sake-of-scoops phase, while still churning out cars and SUVs that won’t be mistaken for their factory standard brethren. Mansory has gotten, dare we say it, respectable.

And sure to make the company even more respectable is its treatment for the Ferrari 458 Spider, dubbed the 458 Spider Monaco Edition. Of course, since the newest al fresco Ferrari is so amazing right out of the wrapper, tuners can’t get away with bolting on a new set of wheels, sticking a K&N filter in the airbox and call it a day. No, they have to go the extra mile, and Mansory has certainly done that.

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A veteran of broadcast television and advertising, with a background in visual art and illustration, Brad Fox has turned his considerable creative talents to his love of motorsport and desire to capture the essence of historic racing in Northern California.

And that’s something truly worth striving for. The cars, bikes, and boats of the golden ages of motorsport may be beautiful and even inspirational on their own, but it’s the people who sat in, on and around them and filled the decades with incredible stories of courage, determination and triumph that make it all worth celebrating.

The essence and spirit of racing is hidden somewhere in there, and we love to see new generations of people out there creating and capturing new stories.

Read on for Brad’s story, and get in contact with him to pick up a few prints.

I have visual art background and degree in illustration from School of Visual Art in New York.

After 15 years of creating visuals for broadcast and commercials in Manhattan I moved to the Bay Area to work in the feature film industry. Over the past 10 years I have been a visual effects artist on over a dozen major films.

With Northern California’s incredible natural beauty and vast motorsport culture, my passion for motorsport and photography has been renewed. For the past ten years I have been focusing my efforts on refining my photographic skills and striving to convey the richness and excitement of vintage and pro racing of the area.

For information on ordering prints of any of these photos contact brad@bradfoxphoto.com

Photo Gallery: Best of Brad Fox is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.