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Lexus to debut Audi A3, BMW 1-Series rival in fall 2010

26 July 2009 4 Comments

Lexus hybrid hatch to compete with Audi, BMW

It’s a ballsy move but Lexus is going ahead with plans to unveil a new premium hatch that goes head to head with Europe’s Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1-series. The concept will be revealed at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show with the production model making a debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new small hatch doesn’t have a name yet (probably ‘BS’ or ‘CS’) but rumors are suggesting the car will be sold only as a petrol-electric hybrid model. That leads me to believe it’ll likely use the same powertrain as Lexus’ latest HS250h luxury compact.

AutoCar writes: It’s a 90 per cent match for the real thing, which we’ll see at Geneva next year. It should be on sale in the UK by Autumn 2010.

  • Ghidrah ⇒ 7-27-2009 at 10:58 am said:

    I remember not long ago the Lexus fanboys were screaming that Lexus would never stoop to the level of making compact/4 cylinder/<$30k vehicles to battle the 1series/TSX.

    Will this diminish their value? Probably not if others are doing it …

  • Edward - JapanCarBlog (author) ⇒ 7-27-2009 at 3:01 pm said:

    Yeah they’ve really gone down makret in the last few months. First the HS and now this? Sure shut up fanboys.

    But that being said, you’re right that everyone is doing it. Merc went small, bmw went small, audi, acura, etc. It’s just another step towards their goal of European domination.

  • Carz ⇒ 7-30-2009 at 3:29 pm said:

    Ballsy movement, indeed. But I guess it works really for them since most of their cars are really edgy in the first place.

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