Photochops

Here’s a bunch of new Lexus CT 200h photos showing the new hatchback in a more natural setting:

The more I look at the CT, the more impressed I get. Sure, there was plenty of L-Finesse design cues that could be drawn from, and there’s certainly some elements of the RX & the IS, but this is an entirely unique vehicle that has its own personality.

These photos also had me thinking of a possible coupe & sedan version of the CT, which led to this super-deformed ten-minute attempt:

Turning the CT (Compact Touring) into a CC (Compact Coupe) and a CS (Compact Sedan) would let Lexus compete with both the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series, and more importantly, would provide another model to help expand the brand’s position in the European market. Certainly makes sense to me.

[Source: Motorbox]

Shortly after the Lexus CT 200h was revealed in early March, rumors of a possible 3-door version sprung up, and now photochopper Theophilus Chin has put together a possible look for the hatchback coupe:

The main tweaks in the photochop, besides the subtraction of two doors, is a deeper slope in the A-pillar, a shorter rear overhang and a minor increase in ground clearance.

Even though I’m a big fan of the 3-door hatch myself and can definitely see this CT variant having success in European & Japanese markets, I have strong doubts it would make it to North American shores — a suspicion backed up by the fact that Audi only offers their A3 in a 5-door format.

[Source: Theophilus Chin] (Thanks Seal!)

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]

As part of their article on the Lexus LF-Ch today, German newspaper BILD did a little photochopping and came up with a blue production rendering, with real side mirrors and some minor softening of the front-end—I can see the production model retaining a variation on the concept’s grille, but think the front bumper will be see significant reworking.

View this image

With the Lexus SC 430 in its final months of production, our attention turns to what happens next—and Top Speed is more than happy to oblige with this rendering of the next-generation SC put together by photochopper Avarvarii:

This rendering hits a lot of the right notes—the next generation SC has a lot of potential depending on how much of the LFA’s design it borrows—and I especially like the LFA front-end with a more traditional grille. The rendering gets a little dull in the side profile and the rear, but the size is right if the 3SC is moved up to truly compete with the Mercedes SL & BMW 6-Series.

(I’m also hoping for a fixed-roof coupe along with a convertible, rather than one or the other.)

[Source: Top Speed]

Dutch website Autogespot has put together a photochop of a production Lexus LFA Roadster, merging elements of the final production car and the 2008 LFA roadster concept:

How far of a stretch would it be to expect an LFA Roadster to follow the LFA coupe? It would certainly help to recoup the V10 engine development cost, but there’s also the expense of developing a production roadster—along with usual price increase that goes along with having no roof.

Still, if Lexus has buyers for all 500 LFA coupes plus a waiting list, finding 500 buyers for a Roadster version may not be a stretch at all.

[Source: Autogespot (Thanks Safeer!)]