Lexus With 1-Series Competitor To Be Unveiled in Frankfurt (Sept)?

[tm30]

Sorry if these have already been posted. Did a search and didn't see anything.

Just a blurb from autospies.

REPORTS out of the US suggest that Lexus is planning to target younger buyers in the 25-49 age group. Toyota Executive Tokuichi Uranishi has mooted a new entry-level model for Europe, and Lexus Australia boss John Roca is eager to get such a car into Australian showrooms.

There has been talk that Lexus is working on a competitor to BMW’s 1 Series, which would give the Japanese luxury automaker a means of competing for younger buyers looking for a luxury brand, but aren’t yet ready to commit to a more expensive model.

The entry-level Lexus, which is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, will be built on the same Prius-derived platform as the HS 250h mini-Lexus, and, like the HS, will power its front wheels via a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.

Unlike the Prius, the Lexus hybrid will be tuned with a greater emphasis on power rather than efficiency, making it an appealing prospect for younger buyers more concerned with style and performance than frugality.

Lexus Australia CEO John Roca believes that a Lexus that sits below the IS 250 in size and price would be perfect for Australia. He notes that younger buyers are more open to and knowledgeable of the Lexus brand as a luxury badge, while older buyers are more traditionally inclined to favour European luxury brands.

(And a related, earlier article:

Lexus looks set to up the ante in its never-ending quest to upstage its German rivals, with the Japanese luxury brand rumoured to be prepping a 1 Series-fightin’ five-door hatchback for a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The hatch will be built on the same Prius-derived platform as the recently-released HS 250h mini-Lexus, and, like the HS, will power its front wheels via a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.

The Lexus hatchback is intended to do battle with the dominant turbodiesel hatches in the C-premium segment, namely Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1 Series. Unlike the Prius, the Lexus hybrid will be tuned with a greater emphasis on power rather than efficiency, however expect it to still be relatively frugal.

Styling is a mystery for now. Various renderings have been doing the rounds of late, but we’re told to expect it to share none of its sheetmetal with its HS 250h sibling (above). If the rumours are true, then we should get a better idea of what the finished product will look like at Frankfurt.

The as-yet unnamed Lexus hybrid hatch is expected to go on sale in Europe sometime in 2010, with a pricetag of around £20,000 (AU$40,000).

[lib]

There is definitely a bit of overlap among potential buyers but from those quotes they seem to be targeting the A3/GTI space more than the 1-series space.

[Schneller!]

Why would a 1er driver cross-shop a front-wheel drive car?

[deamon32]

Originally Posted by Schneller!

Why would a 1er driver cross-shop a front-wheel drive car?

Good point, I was looking at the A3 and the only reason I did not purchase it was because the 2.0 turbo was only available in front wheel drive.

[TMR013]

Originally Posted by Schneller!

Why would a 1er driver cross-shop a front-wheel drive car?

They wouldn't. Would only assume that they plan to go RWD or AWD.

[BlueC]

Originally Posted by deamon32

Good point, I was looking at the A3 and the only reason I did not purchase it was because the 2.0 turbo was only available in front wheel drive.

Or you get the V6 & Quattro, but you're stuck with an automatic. I sort of liked the A3. It's just unfortunate you cannot a build one to be decent.

[Lionel Hutz]

Good! I like seeing the trend of high end manufacturers making small, cheap(er) cars. That said, I'd be amazed if Lexus makes a true competitor. Every Lexus I've driven has been built to be easy to drive and isolate the driver from the road. Soft suspension, no exhaust note, light steering, automatic transmission, etc. Almost the exact opposite of the 1ers.

[vash_241987]

Lexus needs to make it an RWD :P

[JimD]

The 250is or ic and the 350 are rear wheel drive and similar in size to the 1s. But the 250 is a 2.5l V6 with about 25 less hp than the 1 and a 2 second longer 0-60 time. The 350 is peppier but a lot more money too. I wanted a convertible and the 250ic starts at about 38K. For a relatively slow car, no faster than my SUV.

The base equipment helps to demonstrate the difference in philosophy. The 250ic has leather seats in the base package but not self adjusting wipers. One is just a luxury feature, the other helps you drive easier/better. The ic has nearly 2 inches less headroom which is critical for me. I'll take a little less luxury - or maybe just a little stiffer ride - for better driveability. The 250ic alos looses almost it's entire trunk to the folding hard top. The 1 has significantly more space, about double the space, in the trunk with the top down.

Jim

[jeremyc74]

I don't know how they can consider something that's FWD a 1 Series competitor.

[nordique14]

Originally Posted by JimD

The 250is or ic and the 350 are rear wheel drive and similar in size to the 1s. But the 250 is a 2.5l V6 with about 25 less hp than the 1 and a 2 second longer 0-60 time. The 350 is peppier but a lot more money too. I wanted a convertible and the 250ic starts at about 38K. For a relatively slow car, no faster than my SUV.

The base equipment helps to demonstrate the difference in philosophy. The 250ic has leather seats in the base package but not self adjusting wipers. One is just a luxury feature, the other helps you drive easier/better. The ic has nearly 2 inches less headroom which is critical for me. I'll take a little less luxury - or maybe just a little stiffer ride - for better driveability. The 250ic alos looses almost it's entire trunk to the folding hard top. The 1 has significantly more space, about double the space, in the trunk with the top down.

more importantly, a manual transmission is only available in the lower hp 250. the 350 is only available with an auto. deal breaker.

[mattssi]

I would love to get back to the Lexus family. The quality was great, service is awesome, but I can't find the right engine and trans combo. If they had a convertible manual isf, I'd be all over it. I loved my turbo is300 and there is nothing that Lexus offers any more that's fits that niche and a fwd car will definitely not fill the shoes of a one. That being said, the 1 issues really make me think twice about ordering.

[MOCKBA]

Good job Lexus! 1ser has almost no competitors and it really worries me.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by MOCKBA

Good job Lexus! 1ser has almost no competitors and it really worries me.

Benz is working on a competitor for the 1er.

[deamon32]

Originally Posted by BlueC

Or you get the V6 & Quattro, but you're stuck with an automatic. I sort of liked the A3. It's just unfortunate you cannot a build one to be decent.

Didn't feel like paying a ton more money for a bigger heavier engine that is no faster than the turbo.
But I am extremely satisfied with the 135, its everything that I wanted and then some.

[1speedbike]

I cry when I have to drive my sister's IS250. Other than how superbly quiet it is, and the reliability I'd never consider a Lexus..

[GreatDane]

I don't think BMW and Lexus really compete. Would anyone here want a FWD Prius-derived car, as great as it may be? Merc and Lexus are more comparable. Infiniti seems to have positioned itself more in BMW's territory. Audi still tries to do both lux and performance.

I think Lexus has just noticed the trend of offering smaller, less expensive models to younger audiences among many premium manufacturers. BMW and Audi already have them(the A1 will be even closer in comparison to the 1er than the A3), and Merc and others are working on getting theirs out. It is not only profitable, but it draws in new blood and (if done correctly) repeat customers.

Entry level models are dangerous though, and Lexus should be wary. Costs have to be cut, but the brand's core values must be maintained. BMW ran into trouble in this area, and, imo, ultimately made the right decision with the 1 by keeping it very well appointed - basically a slightly smaller 3. However, it bumps into the 3 series, especially when you play around with the options packages. One has to wonder if it is cannablizing the 3 any.

Overall though, the 1 launch has been pretty successfull - imo, because the product is well executed and not obviously cost cut. Other companies have not done so well, and in the cases of Jaguar and Caddy for example, the X-Type and Cimmaron seriously damaged their respective brands.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Schneller!

Why would a 1er driver cross-shop a front-wheel drive car?

C'mon, Volkswagen GTI? Mini? There are people on this forum who cross-shopped those. I'm sure most of them bought 1's though

[BBK]

I don't know about in the US, but in Australia, I highly doubt there are a lot of 1 series hatch buyers that actively buy the one because it is RWD. Unless it's the 130i, most of the lower model hatches will be bought because it is a) a BMW, b) it's a BMW and c) because it's a BMW.

I don't think the lower models target driving enthusiasts who want RWD. They target people wanting a well made luxury car with some sort of status. And this is what Lexus will be targeting too. So I think they will compete very nicely. I am sure there are a lot of 120i drivers out there that don't even know their car is RWD!

[cagekicker]

they can try! a bimmer has history behind it

[esses]

If the new Lexus competes with the 1 the same way the IS-F competes with the M3 sedan, its all good.

[ORIGIN M.]

They just now figured out killing the Celica, & MR2, and having no sport car was a bad idea?