REPORT: Lexus' A3, 1 Series competitor coming to Europe in 2010
by Damon Lavrinc on Jul 24th 2009 at 4:58PM 
As previously reported, Lexus will unveil a new concept at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show that aims to compete with the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series in Europe.
The new model – rumored to carry either the "BS" or "CS" nameplate – won't be built atop the Lexus HS250h's architecture, but it will utilize the gas-electric hybrid's 2.4-liter four-cylinder to deliver around 185 hp to the front wheels.
Although the model we'll see in Frankfurt is technically a concept, according to Lexus insiders, it will be "a 90% match for the real thing" which will debut in production form at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with sales beginning in Europe in the fall of 2010.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JDM Life 5:03PM (7/24/2009)
Love it.
Wonder if it would have the 3.5 from the IS350...sweet.
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Motor_Yakuza 5:17PM (7/24/2009)
Nope, the HS looks better then this.
dwightB 5:20PM (7/24/2009)
@ Motor_Yakuza,
Umm... Mark Stehrenberger is not Toyota / Lexus designer, so you can't really use his rendering as any sort of basis to judge what this, or any other vehicles he illustrates, will look like in the end...
Danimal 5:27PM (7/24/2009)
Of course you like it. You cream your pants every time these mom carriers pop-up on here. Classic fanboyism.
Cornholio 9:09PM (7/24/2009)
Big yawn. So, it's an A3 competitor w/o AWD, and a 1-Series competitor w/o RWD. Pass.
naggs 3:05AM (7/25/2009)
the 3.5 would cause this understeering fwd hybrid based "1 series competator" would understeer is wheels off
Kiiks 7:30AM (7/25/2009)
I think so far the 2GR-FSE has only seen longitudinal applications. Besides, a 380lb, 315HP V6 in a front-drive hatchback doesn't seem like a great idea. If you read the article, it said they'd use the 2.4L I4.
While I can appreciate this car's potential to compete with the FWD A3s, I don't see how it competes with the 1-series. (of course, the 1-series really just competes with the 3-series.)
Oh, it's a Euro-only model. Then I don't care.
Tmoguy 5:05PM (7/24/2009)
Something from Lexus I would buy perhaps?
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gefinley 5:08PM (7/24/2009)
I hope it actually looks like that rendering, because that is quite good.
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sparrk 5:10PM (7/24/2009)
lol , good luck , Toyota :)
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ajkl 5:12PM (7/24/2009)
too bad its not RWD
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Affalterbach 5:19PM (7/24/2009)
And what if its based off the RWD 086A/Toyobaru platform?
ajkl 5:24PM (7/24/2009)
It isn't. The Autocar article states "Like the HS it’ll also be front-wheel drive"
Affalterbach 5:59PM (7/24/2009)
So could it be based on the Avensis/HS platform? Or the Corolla platform?
ToniCipriani 5:15PM (7/24/2009)
Honda called, they want their previous gen Civic Hatchback back.
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F50 5:19PM (7/24/2009)
The Lexus BS! aka Lexus Bullsh*t!
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AutoblogKeepsMeAwakeAtWork 5:24PM (7/24/2009)
lol that caught my eye too... BS, really?
Matt (that likes ford) 5:57PM (7/24/2009)
Damn.... Stole my comment!
lol
Rick 10:48AM (7/27/2009)
Stole my comment too!
What's this Lexus BS I keep hearing about?
Evan 5:24PM (7/24/2009)
But not to Canada? I see plenty of Audi A3s and Mercedes B200s around where I live! I know the BMW 1 series sells poorly in Canada, but that's because they only sell the coupe version, not the hatchback.
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