Lexus sales in Europe only commands 1% of the total market, but Lexus plans to hopefully increase this to 150,000 units a year by the year 2015. Spearheading this push is a new premium hatchback that’s now been confirmed by Lexus Europe managing director Tadashi Arashima, but a launch date has not been set yet. A tentative guesstimated launch has been set for 2011. Europe is quite fond of premium hatchbacks such as the BMW 118d that recently won the World Green Car of the Year award. The new Lexus hatch will rival the likes of that car, and the Audi A3.
Internally, the new Lexus hatchback is called the C-Premium. It’s development is in such early stages that it’s not quite sure at the moment whether it will be a rear wheel drive platform based on the IS, or a front wheel drive platform likely to be based on the Toyota Auris, which spawned a premium C-segment hatchback in Japan called the Toyota Blade.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
well guess lexus is trying to be more european. if they do sell in malaysia, pray hard they are going to be below 200k mark. else it wont compete, even with the golf gti
This car seems to be one of the best hatchback we have on earth…. But the pricing need to be considered…. If it’s overpriced, then Lexus should forget it’s high end sales of these hatchbacks…
Waste of time Toyota, European ain’t as stupid as Asians, and Americans (look what happen to their big three)
Dream on. When Europeans can buy ford focus ST (n upcoming RS), golf gti, Vauxhall Astra, Fiat Bravo, Mini cooper, Fiat 500, Fiat panda, renault megane, clio, etc….. who the hell wants to put their money on a brand that drives as exciting as being dead?
Toyota Auris+IS250
nice design, but I doubt ppl wants a Lexus hatch.
so boring with the segi tiga headlamp and front grille zZzZz…
whyy nowadays car became so lame???
or its just me??
Mmm let me guess…
Take C segment platform Auris hatchback or Blade, put heavy damping and sound deadning material. Some tuning here and there. Voila! a Lexus hatch. They still have their last stock of rear drive assembly from Trueno, in-case target market prefer rear wheel drive. Haha.
Seriously, can we call this effort as rebadging?
Having IS250 front is not going to solve the problem….
It’s practiced elsewhere too. An affordable (by European standard) Skoda Octavia is related to Audi A4. Seat Ibiza platform to be used by Audi for their A2 or A1. Heck, even Porsche and VW share their SUV platform. Recently, Seat use previous A4 as their own Exeo.
So long Lexus doesn’t rebadge a Viva I’m fine with their intended C-segment “premium” hatchback.
the golf plus looks better
TC,
Haha. Lexus=Toyota=Daihatsu=Perudua. They might rebadge this one also next time.
TC,
Haha. Lexus=Toyota=Daihatsu=Perodua. They might rebadge this one also next time.
TheophilusChin said,
December 8, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
It’s practiced elsewhere too. An affordable (by European standard) Skoda Octavia is related to Audi A4. Seat Ibiza platform to be used by Audi for their A2 or A1. Heck, even Porsche and VW share their SUV platform. Recently, Seat use previous A4 as their own Exeo.
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but all these guys are in bed with each other of course
PAG group(VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat..etc) and the fact that porsche is the majority shareholder in VW…
BanyakMasukWorkshop said,
December 8, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
but all these guys are in bed with each other of course
PAG group(VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat..etc) and the fact that porsche is the majority shareholder in VW…
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I don’t mind joining such orgy
reminds me of Nissan Latio Sport
OMG thats a Corolla with a Lexus Batch!
c’eed back end. 90%
Theo? ya really didn’t get from c’eed? XD
c’eed rear
http://hostanyimage.com/files/0ob4p4dyvb3cuslj3q6i.jpg
perodua rx350 when come out?
it looks depressed..somebody end its misery.
give it the F treatment
overall look very korean…imagine parking this next to a chevy optra-5….doesn’t look a single bit more premium than the korean car…
but you can be sure the price will be above 200k…
What everyone forgot about the new compact RWD platform that Toyota is on about?
I don’t think Lexus will go FWD. Going after the Golf will be setting the target a bit low……it most likely has the 1 Series and Audi A3 in its sights. The A3 is stupid popular in Europe, seeing them everywhere.. I’m sure Toyota is eyeing that chunk.
I seriously don’t get people that scream badge engineering and point fingers.
If it makes for better cars, why complain.
An example.
Lexus ES300 and the Camry. Both ran on the same platform. Lexus benefited from volume production of the Camry (lower units costs), the Camry benefited because the platform was made better than it would be if it had not needed to underpin a Lexus.
Sure, some may just be that, badge engineered, but the benefits are still there. VW group for instance, they have a HUGH selection of platforms, engines and massive flexibility to cater to a wide range of market demographics, and the benefit of extremely short time to market leadtime.
4G63T DSM said,
December 10, 2008 @ 9:43 am
I seriously don’t get people that scream badge engineering and point fingers.
If it makes for better cars, why complain.
An example.
Lexus ES300 and the Camry. Both ran on the same platform. Lexus benefited from volume production of the Camry (lower units costs), the Camry benefited because the platform was made better than it would be if it had not needed to underpin a Lexus.
Sure, some may just be that, badge engineered, but the benefits are still there. VW group for instance, they have a HUGH selection of platforms, engines and massive flexibility to cater to a wide range of market demographics, and the benefit of extremely short time to market leadtime.
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what happen to the es300?
car name is blade in japan.
blade had been sold in japan jan 2007.