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Faceoff? Lexus Plans To Fight The 1-Series And The A3 With New Model

Agent009 submitted on 7/24/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:26:34 AM

40 user comments | Category: Spy Shots | Source: | SOURCE: www.4wheelsnews.com

A Lexus five-door compact hatchback will be launched at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show!

There has been no official confirmation from Lexus yet.

However, we found out that the concept is a close match to the car that Lexus will be offering up against BMW’s 1-series and Audi’s A3 in 2010.

If rumors are to be believed, the car was planned late last year due to European executives who pointed out that the Europe’s premium C-segment was very lucrative.

2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Sneak Preview-Eight Weeks Early!!!!!

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Faceoff? Lexus Plans To Fight The 1-Series And The A3 With New Model

About the Author

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
— Agent009 (View Profile)

User Comments

go lexus!.. cars that are compact but still has lexus luxurious feel and quality!
— Lexury (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 11:40:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -10

go BMW!.. 1 series is the ultimate BMW! Much better quality and reliability over lexus.
— BMWonder (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 12:51:58 PM | | Votes: -3

Let me get this straight. The Lexus dipsh_ts on this site are always the first to talk smack about the 1 series, A-Klasse from MB or A3 from Audi and now that Lexus finally realizes it needs such a car to even remotely succeed in Europe, it is "all cool and acceptable" all of a sudden. You Lexus clowns are pathetic losers. Seriously.
— ErichHartmann (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 12:54:09 PM | | Votes: 9

Come on lexury, be realistic here.
— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 2:48:20 PM | | Votes: 4

OH BOY.... over priced corollas for all...
— fatandsassy (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 11:46:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 13

I wouldn't say overpriced Corollas but definitely this car will be made from the parts bins of Toyota. I personally would avoid buying a car of this grade and just buy a fully loaded Toyota Avalon/Camry but that's just me.
— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 7:15:41 PM | | Votes: -3

hey, if Audi can charge all the way up to almost 50 grand what is essentially a Rabbit with audi styling and interior, a lexus corolla is no different. I doubt they will take the Vw groups approach, and instead take BMW's and base it on a "premium car" not one of their economy cars that starts what 16 or 17 grand which was Audis approach
— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 11:21:17 PM | | Votes: 4

Looks like someone photohacked a Kia Rondo
— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 11:50:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8

With the exception of their slow-selling hybrids, is there any other category that Lexus has been at the forefront?
— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 12:30:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

Lexus is THE frontrunner in the beige car category. They are the car manufacturer that sells the most beige cars in the world, and by far !

Toyota is actually the leader in beige paint, plastics,leather and cloth. They're even filing patents for new shades of beige, spending a lot of money in beige-engineering.
— MSP6 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 12:54:05 PM | | Votes: 0

— MSP6

LOL
— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 3:49:50 PM | | Votes: -1

The ES and RX lead their respective classes. The LS is the most-technologically-loaded car in the world (still). And you already mentioned the hybrids.
— Anthony (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 2:37:29 PM | | Votes: 3

How is a front-wheel drive hybrid be a competitor of the BMW, twin-turbo petrol 1-series. I'm getting really sick of these misleading titles.
— investor27 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 12:53:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

The title is not misleading. If they choose to bring this model to market then they are competing against the 1-Series and the A3 by default.
— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 1:12:51 PM | | Votes: -1

I fail to see what revelance FWD vs. RWD has as far as them being competitors. Most people that buy these have no clue what wheels are motivating the car anyway!
— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 1:59:47 PM | | Votes: -2

nobody needs a re badged yaris
— DROOPYSAKK (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 1:20:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10

Guess we were a little ahead of the competition on this one ;)

9/25/2007

http://www.autospies.com/news/Lexus-already-developing-BMW-1-Series-competitor-20900/

We also told you almost two years ago that EVERYONE in the premium segment will have to have an answer for the 1-Series.

Read re-hashed press releases elsewhere, see the future here.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 2:16:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5

Rumor has been around for a while. They at one time, I kid you not. intended to call it the Lexus BS. The they use the moniker, or just its orignal title was just prescient is yet to be seen

http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/04/lexus-developing-bs-hatchback-for-europe/
— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 3:15:37 PM | | Votes: 2

@MSP6
That was quite funny! Indeed they are the undisputed leader in that category.
Good one!
— SP2Hybrid (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 3:04:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Too late, this was reported LAST YEAR! Both Lexus and Infiniti were reported to have been developing a 1 series competitor.
— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 6:51:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

I guess the 1 series must be doing something right.
— investor27 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 6:56:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

The 1 series is not reeeeally doing something right- the MINI is. That being said with gas being cheaper than last summer (thank god)small cars are not that much in demand as they were(at least here in the U.S.) so..........A Lexus 1 series fighter may do well in Europe but here in the U.S. is another story....
If MINI was smart they would make a MINI hybrid.........
— BondMI6 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 7:12:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

it's still 1989 at lexus.
watch and copy.
watch and copy.
— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 7:36:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

That's what Lexus does best.

lol
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 12:01:57 PM | | Votes: -2

^^^Hmm, BMW doesn't have a LF-A competitor?
— Inline6 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 8:23:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

There's no LF-A to compete with yet. Don't get ahead of yourself.
— JMB1013 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/26/2009 9:10:05 PM | | Votes: -1

#$@#$%!!
Hopefully the economy will recover quick enough so Lexus won't need to introduce this car. At the very least, make it Europe only since they need all the help they can get. Lexus, leave the wannabe segment to the Germans.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 8:54:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Monkey see, monkey do

That what ToyLex do...
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/24/2009 10:16:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

Yeah, and look who's building hybrids now?
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 11:53:41 PM | | Votes: 3

From the looks of it, this new model will wreak havoc on the segment. The Eurofans here can't even bare the announcement of the debut without going into defense mode.

If executed right, this car will be a real winner for Lexus. Lexus as a brand, seems to listen to the chatter of the real world more than any other automaker. People practically begged Lexus to produce a convertible in the 3-Series/CLK cabrio segment and they did. More-affluent Prius customers asked Lexus to produce a dedicated hybrid and they did. People asked Lexus to produce performance cars and now they are. This is what you call a will to please.
— Anthony (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 1:06:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Don't kid yourself. Lexus is offering a convertible because they see profit in that niche. The HS250h was also conceived because Lexus thought they could sell a CHEAPER wannabe premium car (oh look, Lexus leads sales again, wow they must be so good!) with the magical hybrid badge to silly Americans. Let's face it, we're so gullible as a nation and Lexus is totally taking advantage of this.

If Lexus really listened to their customers they'd offer smaller engines with more focus towards fuel economy in other markets, dump that hideously ugly and outdated SC430 instead of offering us Pebble Beach Edition Nr. 12 and so forth etc. etc. etc.

The LF-A? Lexus wants to be associated with the big boys. That's the only reason this thing exist. They think they can cheat their way into having a "motorsport heritage" or "heritage" in general with this thing.
— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 2:03:39 PM | | Votes: 0

Clearly you're a skeptic, and a conspiracy theorist. "America is dumb because they buy Lexus" is perhaps the most pathetic excuse I have ever come across regarding the brand.

I don't disagree that Lexus could benefit from smaller engines, but the same can be said for all the premium brands in North America. Why wont Mercedes give us 6-cylinder S-, CL-, and SL-Classes? Why wont they give us the A-, and B-Classes? Why wont Audi give us the A1? Lexus is a North-America-centric brand. But what do you know? Here they are giving other markets an economy car. I guess they do listen.

The LF-A and IS-F both exist because enthusiasts within the Toyota/Lexus corporation wanted to do something special and break the norm for their brand.

It amazes me how many people actually want to see the brand fail. You're worse than the radio talk show host that wants the President to fail for pure politics. Which begs the question why I am even debating you in the first place. Clearly this is no website for the rational and unbiased.
— Anthony (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 2:35:41 PM | | Votes: 3

willis--

"... because Lexus thought they could sell a CHEAPER wannabe premium car"

LMAO!!! proof that wee willie has NO BRAIN!

consider the whole lineup of audi, bmw, lexus, and mb. which brand has NO vehicles priced under $30,000? 'nuff said.
— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 4:30:02 AM | | Votes: 1

WOW!!! a Lexus Matrix! lame...
people will buy it because they feel like they are buying luxury because of the badge and it will be a cheap price point. silly americans fall for the dumbest things...
— 2ndbimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 11:01:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Just like silly Americans paying more for a BWM roundel!
— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 7/27/2009 9:28:13 AM | | Votes: 3

Based on the HS250 h platform it will offer new levels of refinement not seen on the BMW and audi.It won't offer the performance but mileage will be better.
— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 11:45:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

To some extent, everybody laughed at BMW for developing the 1-series & their seriousness about expanding the MINI brand. Those same people also laughed when M-B started to further develop the A & B-class cars and continued to push their Smart brand.

I'm sure Lexus has seen the benefits of growing the brand with smaller vehicles by using the Corolla and Matrix as bases. Toyota would probably use their existing assembly lines to make the Lexus-brand vehicles.
— dumpsty (View Profile)

Posted on 7/25/2009 9:53:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

bmwdrvr, I'll take an Audi over BMW any day, I would even take a Passat over the puny little BMW 3 series. A friend recently bought a 5 series which looks great but and my less costly Passat has better seats and more interior room in terms of width and rear leg room. BMW's are notorious for lack of protective side strips that prevent lo-lifes from creating door dings in crowded shopping centre parking lots. I had a leased A6 before buying the Passat off the lot when the lease ran out. I am totally happy with VW's frugal 2.0 litre 200 h.p. turbo 4-banger. Audi cars have the best interiors.
— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/26/2009 8:27:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

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Faceoff? Lexus Plans To Fight The 1-Series And The A3 With New Model

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