Details on Lexus’ 1-Series Competitor
Details are emerging about Lexus’ compact car—according to Top Gear’s Foreman blog, the 1-series competitor will be a hatchback based on the Prius platform and only available as a hybrid:
A Prius is designed to get small-car economy from a bigger car. But Lexus hybrids all have higher performance than their standard counterparts.
Lexus has decided that it has to change its hybrid policy. The GS and LS hybrids aren’t making much headway. Andy Pfeiffenberger, Lexus chief in Europe, told Foreman, ‘Our hybrid saloons are going up against the V8 diesels in Europe. In future we need to compete against the four-cylinder diesels. So we will enter new sectors with low-displacement hybrids. The C-premium [i.e. Audi A3] segment is the fastest growing segment and we must be in it.’
No question, this model is Lexus’ biggest opportunity for the European market, where the brand is having a hard time establishing an identity. Depending on the driving dynamics and the price, and we might see Lexus’ first dominant European model.
The expectation is that the compact car will be debuting in concept form at this year’s Frankfurt autos show and available at European dealerships some time in late 2010. North American availability is unknown, though the rumor is that it will only be available in Europe.
[Source: Top Gear]
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Yes, its called the HS…
The concept drawing is many years old.
The HS is actually bigger than the IS, and will not be available in Europe. Rest assured, this is a different vehicle all together.
I wonder if this will basically be the European HS. I feel like this won’t be offered in the US. If it is available in the US it would be interesting to see two engine types. Both hybrids, one for fuel economy and the other for power
The HS isn’t a good fit for Europe, and this is certainly filling the gap in the Lexus lineup over there.
Hard to say about it coming to North America, I imagine it will depend on how the 1-series and A3 are performing.
You may be right, but this certainly is not “new”. See this December 2005 article… (which uses the same concept drawing)
http://my.is/forums/f41/lexus-bs-may-not-b-s-after-all-277239/
Sorry for my negative spin, but this project seems dead.
I just don’t see the 1 series and A3 doing all that well. Look at the 1 series vs. 3 series base price. There is only about a $4000 difference for very different sized cars. Why get a 1 series when for $4k more you can have a 3 series? I think that’s why they won’t do so well in the US but will do fine in europe.
It bugs me when domestic automakers make cars for other countries and completely exclude it from their home country. Lexus started as Toyota’s luxury brand for North America, make every model available for US customers even if it is with limited production.
As for this 1 series competitor, I wish it wasn’t a hatchback. They should base it off the new Toyota/Subaru RWD coupe.
It makes sense not to make it available for every country. If a very limited amount of people in the US would buy a car why waste space in dealerships for it?
And I agree on your hatchback idea. But the A3 is also a hatchback so maybe that’s what people like
meh i guess it would be good for Lexus to make one in Europe but i doubt it would sell here very well. Unless they remake the IS hatchback, that would sell to college kids and teens like ipods.
Sedans sell very poorly in Europe (example: Corolla hatchback outsells the sedan about 9:1 in my country iirc) so the HS is not a good fit. So I hope these news are well rooted.
This actually excites me. There is definitely a big market for compacts that perform and have some status in Europe. With a cheaper hybrid in the lineup Lexus is definitely catering to some needs.
Yes, this artwork and rumor have been around for quite some time—but I’m convinced that this sub-compact is happening as it was confirmed by Lexus Europe’s managing director and now Mr. Pfeiffenberger.
Can’t see them talking about it in such definite terms and not to see some real progress.
I don’t really care for the idea myself, even if I can understand the financial reasons. Maybe we can get a compromise and North America can get the coupe & sedan versions.
Why the preference of wagons over sedans? Is it because of cargo space?
I think this model could be on par with hybrid technology in defining Lexus in Europe, provided both the interior and exterior are sufficiently attractive.
i wish we would get this one in N.A I am more a fan of cars designed in this manor. It be awesome if they would bring it to Canada only for the N.A release
That and an image problem - old men with hats drive sedans
Oh, and another thing, again the example of Corolla; the hatchback is 32cm (12in) shorter than the sedan. An advantage in the cramped European cities. If one can accept the increased length, one takes the wagon over the sedan due to more flexible cargo space.
I’m keeping an open mind as to whether or not the Lexus C-Premium will make it to the U.S. After all, the Lexus IS was once planned to be Europe-only, and Lexus later changed its mind. Yet another possibility is borrowing a page from the Mercedes-Benz B-Class playbook and offering it in Canada but not the U.S.
It’ll also be interesting to see whether it’ll keep the same 2700mm wheelbase as the Lexus HS/Toyota Avensis/Scion tC or go on the smaller (2600mm wheelbase) Toyota Corolla/Matrix/euro Auris platform.
Haha, it’s the complete opposite in North America!
Yeah, that would make up for the USA’s Scion exclusivity all those years.
If the amount of A3s and B-Class’ I see in Canada is any indication, the Lexus C-Premium would do very well here.
(My hope is that the car is truly compact, so I’d like to see it built on the smaller platform.)
5 or 6 years ago, when large SUV’s with 22’ chrome wheels were the it thing, subcompact luxury cars would have failed miserably in the US. It’s a different time today, less is truly more. The time is right for Lexus or any luxury company to launch a premium subcompact.
It was rumored that this car wouldn’t make it to North America, but you’re right, I can’t imagine that being the case anymore. It’s definitely the right time.