Filed under: Economy, Euro, Hatchbacks, Lexus
Enter the rumormill: Lexus to develop 1-series rival for Europe
The Lexus BS compact lived up to its name when rumors flew back in 2005.
Those purveyors of the finest automotive speculation at Auto Motor und Sport recently sat down with Tokuichi Uranishi to discuss the finer points of Lexus' future. During the interview, the Toyota exec mentioned that if Lexus wants to become a real threat to BMW and Mercedes abroad it would have to expand its product line in ways similar to its Germanic rivals. One such brand extension would be the development of a smaller model designed to rival the BMW 1-series and Mercedes A- and B-class vehicles.
Mr. Uranishi explained during the interview that Lexus aims to sell 150,000 vehicles in Europe by 2015, something that would only be possible through the expansion of the marque's lineup. The new luxury compact model would join the new LF-1 coupe and a hybrid-only vehicle supposedly under development.
[Source: Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sk 10:46AM (9/26/2007)
Lets guess, a corolla with an additional Euro 5000 slapped on it.
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stefan 11:07AM (9/26/2007)
A corolla with RWD.
J 10:54AM (9/26/2007)
Oh please let this lexus be the chromed and leathered version of the so called ae86 revival.
Because Toyota/Lexus is all about the bottom line, and large volumes and inflated selling prices will bring in the $$$(or euros or yen)
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JMa 11:11AM (9/26/2007)
Unlike all those other auto manufactures and corporations who aren't all about the the bottom line.
Guenther 11:12AM (9/26/2007)
All about the bottom line, as any company is. What makes them different, is that those who are locked into hoigh manufacturing volumes have to sell cars, those who are flexible only have to sell profitable cars
Tim 11:10AM (9/26/2007)
What are they going to call it......
a Camry?
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judd 11:25AM (9/26/2007)
At least we know there is a platform for the AE86 replacement.
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geo.stewart 11:26AM (9/26/2007)
Euro-only?
what are we (USM), chopped liver?
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NeoteriX 1:28PM (9/26/2007)
It's more that we have historically had less of a need for small luxury cars.
Chris 11:42AM (9/26/2007)
BS? Really, this is a new name for a Lexus... LOL! Great branding I'm sure it will be a huge hit like the IS vs. the 3-series. Yeah, that's going great...ha, ha, ha.
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akatsuki 11:48AM (9/26/2007)
Lexus really needs to either decide to compete with BMW or just go for luxury. The IS is hampered by this waffling between the two and this car probably will be as well.
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Daniel 1:26PM (9/26/2007)
This will flop like any other lexus cars in Europe.
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Bart 1:45PM (9/26/2007)
The IS is doing pretty great here. The LS is less for our market, cause unlike you lazy Americans we can actually park our own cars. Ok sorry that just was a lame stab.
If Lexus would continue their build quality onto a new compact luxury, to compete with the Audi A4 (not the 1 series, it's an absolute flop here in Europe, I dont know why you keep hyping the beemer that's often referred to as a pile of @#%, in the litteral sense), people would be very much interested in buying one.
More crappy laws on their way penalizing fuel consumption, weight and size, a compact Lexus would appeal to the right market (a growing market).
I'm a fan of the good old Golf and A4, I'd consider buying a Lexus compact though, providing it looks half decent. It would mainly take the market share away from the French manufacturers, which have controversial styling and questionable reliability lately.
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willem 1:51PM (9/26/2007)
Why Rexus will continue to fail in Europe: Europeans aren't tricked into thinking that a gussied-up Toy is much of a value.
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Typesbad 4:50PM (9/26/2007)
I guess it is going to take me some time to figure out what Toyota the IS is a gussied up version of.
Paul M. Watson 2:07PM (9/26/2007)
I'd buy that. Lexus interior quality with Toyota reliability in a small, economical package. (In Ireland btw.)
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big L 3:09PM (9/26/2007)
chris, hahahaha. If not the Lex BS, how bout the Lexus BFD...
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SPG 7:39PM (9/26/2007)
Acura makes the CSX which replaces the CL.
It's a luxo Civic with some styling changes for the Canadian market.
When that car came out I was no surprised at all.
Somehow I can't see a Corolla based Lexus though.
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testa di cazzo 11:15PM (9/26/2007)
neither lexus nor acura nor infiniti nor any other japanese company will EVER break into the european luxury market. Europeans actually understand cars, unlike yanks, and realise that buying euro (and mainly german, really) is the only way to go when going luxury/performance
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adrian 7:35PM (10/02/2007)
A lot of people are giving Lexus a hard time.They may not have sold as much as the germans, But considering the brand has only being around for approximately 17 years, I belive they have done pretty well.
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