Following the most recent trend in the luxury segment, Lexus could be planning a compact mode for the United States market. If Lexus goes ahead with the compact model, it will likely be based on the LF-Ch concept first shown at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
A version of the LF-Ch will surface in European showrooms during the first part of next decade, but the compact hatchback could also be destined for Lexus’ U.S. dealerships. Mark Templin, Lexus’s General Manager, revealed to The Detroit Bureau that the LF-Ch could be for sale in the United States by 2012.
“There is a group of buyers growing up now who won’t buy cars by the pound,†Templin said. Templin added Lexus has already seen a shift to smaller vehicles and expects that trend to continue for the foreseeable future.
If given the green light, the Lexus LF-Ch would naturally compete with the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 . However, don’t expect the smaller Lexus to carry a bargain-basement price tag. “We’re not going to build a smaller vehicle with all that technology (found in the likes of a top-line LS sedan) and knock the price down,†Templin said. “Just because it’s small doesn’t mean cheap.â€
Lexus will keep an eye on public reaction as the LF-Ch makes its U.S. debut at next month’s Los Angeles Auto Show and resurfaces at the Detroit show in January. If the LF-Ch is met with praise, it could hit Lexus dealers by 2012. Despite the LF-Ch’s hybrid badging, the initial production version will likely be powered by a conventional drivetrain.
