Lexus‘ European market managing director Tadashi Arashima confirmed that the automaker is working on a small car aimed squarely at the European market. To be smaller than the IS, the smallest Lexus currently on sale, the automaker hopes that the new car will help boost volume levels in Europe to over 150,000 units sold annually.
In an interview with Germany’s WirtschaftsWoche newspaper, Arashima described the car as a rival to the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3, among others. It will be designed to comply with Europe’s strict emissions and pedestrian safety regulations.
Though Leftlane hasn’t been able to confirm specifics on the new car, it’s expected that it will eventually be part of a full line of small cars, including a hatchback and sporty coupe. Expect power to come from efficient but refined diesel four-cylinders and probably a hybrid powerplant.
United States sales are unlikely, though Lexus could initially test the waters in the Canadian market, which has consistently shown more favor to small luxury cars like the Acura EL.
10/20, 11:00 AM
posted by:
hecti
its gonna be a lexus yaris
oh dear =o
10/20, 11:43 AM
posted by:
nickkop
lexus should think back to the original IS200 / Altezza. That was a nice luxury/performance compact sedan. You made this new IS too big, bland, too much of what it wasn’t and abandoned the original near-perfect design. ( The original’s only flaw among enthusiasts toward which it was originally intended to appeal to, was its relative lack of power. This could have easily been addressed by turbocharging.) IMO
10/20, 11:53 AM
posted by:
A4
oh so lets create a luxury brand specifically for the US market and then not give it models! brilliant!
10/20, 1:05 PM
posted by:
buenos
Perhaps a Lexus iQ?
10/20, 1:13 PM
posted by:
nickkop
i say bring back the 2JZ-GTTE with direct injection… as far as the powertrain goes..
10/20, 4:38 PM
posted by:
tzu13
Yeah, great move not bringing it here, Lexus. I mean honestly, who here wants a sporty small car that’s also more upscale? That’s why MINI sales are in the tank…
10/20, 5:45 PM
posted by:
JoshyLofty
+1
10/20, 6:32 PM
posted by:
jonmiles
A lexus that is not going to be sold in the US?? Isn’t that just a toyota?
10/20, 6:32 PM
posted by:
jonmiles
+1 for nickkop. No ****
10/20, 7:14 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Isn’t Toyota supposed to be developing a smaller RWD performance coupe with Subaru, supposedly evoking the earlier Celicas and Corolla GTS? That would be the perfect platform for a entry-level Lexus sedan!
10/20, 9:41 PM
posted by:
eff1Fifty
A4 is so right… the Lexus brand exists because it was meant for America! And now u wont give it to us?
10/20, 11:36 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
…blame Canada.
10/21, 10:02 AM
posted by:
pavlindrom
Canada is to be blamed. They did… (what did they do john, I don’t know)
Anyway, I want a small car. 140lbs with 5′10″ makes this no problem.
11/09, 4:41 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Why not bring in the rebadged Corolla? The camry seems to be doing OK.