Lexus C-segment premium hatch due in 2011?

Lexus Hatchback
Lexus Hatchback

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.

Source

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Paul Tan

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.

 

Comments

  • Kevin Lee (Member) on Dec 07, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    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

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  • Xx- Ferrari -xX (Member) on Dec 07, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    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…

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  • IsaacVky (Member) on Dec 07, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    Waste of time Toyota, European ain’t as stupid as Asians, and Americans (look what happen to their big three)

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  • tokmoh (Member) on Dec 07, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    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?

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  • sutheshkumar87 (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 1:38 am

    Toyota Auris+IS250

    :D

    nice design, but I doubt ppl wants a Lexus hatch.

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  • ignas (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 1:55 am

    so boring with the segi tiga headlamp and front grille zZzZz…

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  • vivio (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 8:49 am

    whyy nowadays car became so lame???
    or its just me??

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  • Wisdom (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    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?

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  • mystvearn (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Having IS250 front is not going to solve the problem….

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  • TheophilusChin (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 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.

    So long Lexus doesn’t rebadge a Viva I’m fine with their intended C-segment “premium” hatchback.

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  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    the golf plus looks better

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  • Wisdom (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    TC,

    Haha. Lexus=Toyota=Daihatsu=Perudua. They might rebadge this one also next time.

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  • Wisdom (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    TC,

    Haha. Lexus=Toyota=Daihatsu=Perodua. They might rebadge this one also next time.

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  • BanyakMasukWorkshop (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    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.
    ————————-

    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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  • TheophilusChin (Member) on Dec 08, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    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…
    ————————-

    I don’t mind joining such orgy :P

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  • fyzal (Member) on Dec 09, 2008 at 8:02 am

    reminds me of Nissan Latio Sport ;-)

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  • jamsbong (Member) on Dec 09, 2008 at 11:02 am

    OMG thats a Corolla with a Lexus Batch!

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  • kei9 (Member) on Dec 09, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    c’eed back end. 90%

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  • kei9 (Member) on Dec 09, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    Theo? ya really didn’t get from c’eed? XD

    c’eed rear
    http://hostanyimage.com/files/0ob4p4dyvb3cuslj3q6i.jpg

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Dec 09, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    perodua rx350 when come out?

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  • David9988 (Member) on Dec 09, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    it looks depressed..somebody end its misery.

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  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Dec 09, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    give it the F treatment

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  • king (Member) on Dec 10, 2008 at 1:39 am

    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…

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  • 4G63T DSM (Member) on Dec 10, 2008 at 9:29 am

    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.

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  • 4G63T DSM (Member) on Dec 10, 2008 at 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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  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Dec 10, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    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.
    ———————
    what happen to the es300?

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  • car name is blade in japan.

    blade had been sold in japan jan 2007.

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