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Lexus Ceased Production of HS 250h in 2012

Just because the Toyota Group is the king of hybrids does not mean that all of its products are a runaway success. Take Lexus' HS 250h dedicated hybrid sedan, which was introduced in North America in August of 2009, for example. In 2010, Lexus sold a mediocre 10,663 units of the HS 250h, which at the time was priced from $34,200. The following year was worse, much, much worse with sales plummeting 73 percent to a pitiful 2,864 units or less than 240 cars per month.
Apparently, Lexus evaluated that sales would not get any better so it made the decision to quietly pull the plug on the HS 250h. In a response to an email from InsideLine, Lexus told the website that it ended production of the HS 250h in January.
"Production of the HS 250h ceased in January, 2012. Lexus continues to monitor sales for each product and we make adjustments to make sure that we meet market demand, and the discontinuation of HS was part of that adjustment," said Lexus in a statement.
Interestingly, the company noted that the new ES 300h will not take the place of the HS 250h.
"The ES 300h is not replacing HS in our lineup. It's merely part of the hybridization of many of our existing vehicles in the Toyota and Lexus lineups."
Lexus still has the HS 250h listed on its website at $37,030 excluding handling and destination, most likely because it has yet to deplete its inventory.

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BMW i-FD is a Concept Study for a Green Sports

While BMW is officially keeping quiet about the matter, understandably, it’s not a question if the Bavarian automaker will introduce a four-door model into the range of it's newly launched i-sub brand, but when. Currently, we're looking forward to the presentation of the production versions of the i3 hatchback and the i8 sports coupe, both of which have been spied on several occasions.
Until the time comes for BMW to either inform us about its future plans or better yet, tease us with a concept model, we have a study to show you. It's called the BMW i-FD and it was created by independent industrial designer Feliciano Ruy-Díaz from Valencia, Spain.
The young designer says that the inspiration for the styling of the i-FD came from the work of renowned Spanish architect and structural engineer Santiago Calatrava as well as the forms of ancient Greek armor and the lines of a white shark.
The goal was to create a unique looking sports sedan with a design that conveys both strength and dynamism.
Díaz doesn’t tell us what kind of powertrain he had in mind while designing the i-FD, but we reckon that the sedan would probably feature a similar all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid setup as the i8 coupe.
Photo and Design Credits: Feliciano Ruy-Díaz

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New Owner Plans to Resurrect Studebaker with a Hybrid Twist in the 21st Century

Even though you may know the name and perhaps even seen one of its models, chances are that you were either too young to remember or not even born yet when the Studebaker Automobile Company closed shop in 1966. Fast forward to today and the company may have a second chance in life - hopefully with better designs than the official CGIs you see here... According to a report from FoxNews, Ric Reed, who bought the rights to the Studebaker brand in 2001, has revealed new plans to resurrect the famous nameplate.
Reed, who runs the Denver, Colorado-based Big Kahuna apparel company, told the news site that he wants to revive Studebaker's classic monikers such as the Lark, President and Hawk for the new model series, adding, however, that the cars themselves will be 21st-century hybrids.
"As the entrepreneur at the helm of Studebaker Motor Company, it is my earnest goal to create vehicles that are in some way reminiscent of classic Studebakers, or in other words, definitively Studebaker, yet brought into the 21st Century, and again to see Studebaker Motor Company the American Icon it once was," says Reed on the company's website.
"It is also my dream to develop or reopen factories, employ Americans in those manufacturing and assembly plants, which shall be on American soil. I desire to make vehicles that not only compete, but have a significant cutting edge in a highly competitive world market," he adds.
Reed said he wants to employ hybrid technology because he thinks that electric cars still have a long way to go. He intends to use the Hydristor, a device invented by Tom Kasner for a sports car that John DeLorean wanted to make before his demise. The Hydristor is a hydraulic transistor, which Kasmer claims, is akin to a highly efficient CVT gearbox.
Before rolling out his brand-new models, Reed says he may cooperate with another, yet unnamed company, to build a US$70,000 limited run of a retro-themed modern iteration of the Chump pickup truck in order to raise some cash and mainly attract investors.

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2013 BMW X6 Facelift

We've been following the development of the facelifted X6 through our scoop section for a while now and today, BMW officially revealed the 2013 model year version that goes on sale worldwide this spring. The big news on the 2013 X6 is the introduction of the diesel-powered X6 M50d of the M Performance series, but we've already covered it in our previous post, so let's see what else is new about BMW's so-called Sports Activity Coupe.
The styling updates throughout the range are quite subtle and include a new set of headlamps, more pronounced kidney grilles with bars that are angled in the lower section, repositioned fog lamps set in matt finish surrounds and new LED tail lamps, while BMW also offers adaptive LED headlights as an option.
The 2013 model year also brings new exterior colors including the Marrakesh Brown metallic featured in the pictured vehicle, plus the option of Vermilion Red and Ivory White leather upholsteries and new alloy wheel designs.
The X6 comes as a four-seat model with a three-seat rear bench being available as an option.
The basic engine range remains the same, with the U.S. lineup including the xDrive50i with a 400hp 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 and the xDrive35i with a 300 hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. Both engines are mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission. The X6 M with a V8 engine delivering 555 bhp linked to a 6-speed M Sport automatic transmission tops the range.
While the X6 M50d won't be making it in the States, BMW offers an M Performance Package in the U.S., which adds 15hp and 30 lb-ft of torque on the X6 xDrive35i giving it 315 hp and 330 lb-ft respectively, while the increase on the X6 xDrive50i is +40 hp +30 lb-ft of torque for total peak output of 440 hp and 480 lb-ft.
Along with the engine upgrades, the M Performance Package adds 20-inch light alloy wheels, black chrome exhaust tips, stainless steel pedals, M footrest and door sills, shadowline exterior trim, anthracite headliner, and optional Carbon Black metallic paint.
In Europe, the modestly refreshed X6 will also be available with a pair of 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engines, producing 245bhp on the xDrive30d and 306bhp on the xDrive40d.
The 2013 BMW X6 will receive its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

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