Future

Autocar is reporting that the next-generation Lexus IS will be offered as a wagon—and will be hybrid-only:

...while the original model did offer an estate variant, called SportCross, the current car - introduced in 2005 - has never been available in a wagon.

Lexus insiders now admit that this policy has hurt sales of the car in Europe, where it must face the 3-series Touring and A4 Avant.

The next IS is also likely to only be available as a hybrid, fitting in with the firm’s current push towards this technology.

With its position well established in the US, Lexus is focusing more and more on the European market. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a wagon version of the GS some time in the future, as well.

As for the IS going hybrid-only, that’s likely just a marketing decision in Europe similar to only offering the RX 450h in the UK. I wouldn’t expect this to happen in the North American market.

Other tidbit in the article—the next-generation IS should appear in 2011. Not a big surprise, but nice to hear regardless.

[Source: Autocar]

Here are two videos of the Lexus CT 200h at the Geneva Auto Show Courtesy of CNET—The first features the site’s editor-at-large, with references made to auto start-stop technology and the sport mode, and was probably made before the CT 200h’s US sales announcement:

CNET UK also produced a similar video, with some unusual video effects at first, followed with some clear interior views and a demonstration of the power door-closers at the 0:47 mark:

(Thanks Seal!)

In a Wards Auto article (subscriber only), Lexus USA has confirmed that the CT 200h will go on sale in the U.S. “sometime between early and mid 2011.” It will become the second dedicated hybrid model in the US, after the HS 250h. According to Mark Templin, VP of Lexus USA, “When the all-new Lexus CT 200h enters the market, it will be the only hybrid vehicle in the emerging premium compact segment.”

[Source: Wards]

Lexus USA has added official press photos and information to a new CT 200h page on its website:

Billed as “the darker side of green,” the CT 200h sportback will be heading to the US market once it becomes available—the site also shows different angle views of the white CT 200h, with the rear 3/4 view revealing the aft windshield wiper which was left off the Geneva floor model and other press photos:

There is an option to sign up for e-mail updates and a future CT 200h Dark Ride, an “up-coming movie experience that allows you to virtually drive the all-new CT 200h.”

The CT 200h has also been added to Lexus.com’s hybrid power of h minisite, which shows much of the same information along with a rendering of the Lexus CT in silver:

[Via: Club Lexus]

Included as part of Motor Trend‘s Lexus GS-F rumor coverage was this Holiday Auto Magazine rendering of a possible look for the next generation SC:

This sketch manages borrows all the right elements from the existing lineup and puts together with some real potential, and the windshield-to-IS-F-air-vents is just brilliant, but I can’t imagine for one second that SC will be sporting the same grille as the current LS hybrid.

Motor Trend also elaborated on the rumor first spotted in Autocar:

The other star attraction in the upcoming Lexus lineup will be the next generation SC 600h, which is due to be unveiled in mid-2014. While the current SC is scheduled to go out of production in July of this year, the new SC coupe will resurface powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 hybrid system that drives the rear wheels. Set to lock horns with the Mercedes SL, the new luxury two-door is also expected to employ the GS’s rear-wheel torque split unit.

It’s a safe bet that the next-generation SC will be offered with the same engine options as the LS, which would naturally mean using the LS 600hL’s 5.0L hybrid system—still, I can’t believe that the next-generation SC won’t be available until 2014.

[Source: Motor Trend]

The New York Times (and many other outlets) is reporting that the Lexus CT 200h will start with a €21,000 when it goes on sale in Europe next year.

The natural question turns to how that translates into the North American price—a direct, euro-to-dollar conversion would currently mean a starting MSRP of $28,755 USD, putting it just over the top-end $28,070 USD Toyota Prius V.

However, when you consider the higher price of vehicles in Europe, it starts to tell a different story—some examples:

• The Audi A3 2.0 TDI Automatic has a base price of €26,700, or $36,560; in the USA, the same Audi A3 retails for $29,950 USD—meaning that the U.S. price is only 81.9% of the German price.
• The base model price of a Toyota Prius is €25,450, or $34,571 USD; in the USA, the top-end Prius is $28,070 USD—the U.S. price is 81.1% of the German price.
• The Lexus RX 450h retails for €50,159, or $68,135 USD; in the USA, the RX 450h AWD is $44,275 USD—so the U.S. price is 64.9% of the German price.

Ignoring the RX 450h and sticking with A3/Prius’ 81%, the rumored €21,000 price tag on the CT 200h would translate into a U.S. MSRP of $23,550 USD, a total that’s beyond ridiculous—but then, looking at the price of a German Prius would have ended the argument right there. Could the CT 200h really be less expensive than a Prius in Europe?

(In the end, I think $28,070 in the USA is more likely than €21,000 in Europe.)

[Source: NY Times]