Frankfurt Preview: Lexus LF-Ch shows its face
by Alex Nunez on Sep 7th 2009 at 1:31PM 
Lexus LF-Ch Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Lexus has apparently released this new front-end shot of the Frankfurt Motor Show-bound LF-Ch hybrid concept car, now making the rounds on the Internet. The hatchback is quite a looker, especially coming from Lexus, whose present lineup is relatively staid in appearance. Unfortunately, the body style is likely to be a Europe-only thing, where the eventual production version will cross swords with the likes of premium-compact rivals like the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. It sure wouldn't hurt if Lexus decided to migrate that more assertive face to some of its U.S.-market cars, though. As it stands, this has a lot more visual appeal than the Lexus HS250h we get in these here parts. Stay tuned for a lot more on this car as it makes its formal debut in Frankfurt later this month. We'll be there, as always, to bring you all the details.
Gallery: Lexus LF-Ch Concept
[Source: Autoblog Spanish]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
stumpy 1:35PM (9/07/2009)
don't really see a cohesive design. When i think of lexus designs i think of big and relatively bland. With a car this size it has to be bold but this design just is too bland.
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Temple 1:47PM (9/07/2009)
Its a concept, and it looks the part, but its hardly 'bland', I'd go as far as to say it is 'bold' for a luxury compact hatchback. If I squint I see resemblance to an IS, and the final production version will likely be closer to it, and lack those big tires and slinty aggressive face, but since its a hybrid it will likely keep those LED headlights like the new Prius'.
zamafir 2:01PM (9/07/2009)
stupy's right, it's like someone put a scion product in the mircowave and let it melt for a while.
The 1 series and A3 are both modern, crisp designs, they work very very well. This, even in concept form, does not. Just look at the roadjet, et-al, most of audi's concepts share their design language with future production cars. Nothing. And I do mean nothing. Lexus currently sells has a 'bold' design. Their key market is people in their retirement who, as a cohesive purchasing group, prefer not to purchase more 'bold' designs. Just look at all the top sellers.
Also, the C30's abismal sales in light of the A3 or 1 series have proven, surprisingly, that the american luxury hatch consumer does prefer an entertaining drive. Which, again, lexus is not known for, the IS-F being their only product which qualifies and that hampered seriously by the limitations of the IS platform in general which, unlike european cars, was never designed with M or RS derivatives in mind.
I have no doubt lexus will sell quite a few luxury hatches to the highschoolers/college kids who's parents bought them an IS. In fact, it's an easy sale and makes perfect sense.
We're all reasonable, it's very obvious where the production model will go, ignore the mirror stalks, replace them with heavy units from the IS, ignore the headlights, replace them with a more corporate set, fog lights a little less slim, and there you have it, similar enough to the IS not to be mistaken for anything else, but still not on par with the current A3 or 1 series both of which look quite hot in their respective sports package duds.
Temple 2:25PM (9/07/2009)
@zamifir
Looking like the A-class, 1-series, A3 isn't what Lexus is trying to do in Western Europe and Asia. I personally think the 1-series looks ugly and awkward, but that's just another opinion in the a massive sea of opinions. However, this will be the first Lexus model that will be specifically designed for that market. It doesn't have to appeal to larger mass-market design senses like everything else in their line-up.
The Lexus brand has very small volume outside North America (it was only launched its domestic Japanese market only a few years ago).
Lexus is moving to a 'hybrid-only' product line in Europe. This is their niche. This is their angle. Lexus is aiming for a smaller piece of the pie in Europe and their Europe (and possibly Asia) exclusive model reflects that.
anonymous j 2:47PM (9/07/2009)
@zamafir
I think this looks better than the A3 and definitely the 1 series, minus the chrome rims and weird color paint. The A3 looks far from hot in its stock form, that thing is the definition of bland, and the 1 series IMO is just ugly in anything but its dropped top form.
anonymous j 2:54PM (9/07/2009)
"Lexus currently sells has a 'bold' design. Their key market is people in their retirement who, as a cohesive purchasing group, prefer not to purchase more 'bold' designs. Just look at all the top sellers."
Just look at their top sellers? Have you seen everyone else "top sellers"?? I didn't know the 3 series was considered "bold" nor the B8 A4 or W204 C class whose tail lights are what appears to be in inverse design of the previous Camry.
Give me a break dude, it would be nice for you to put your intensely ignorant fanboyism aside every once in a while so that not everything that you say is pure gibberish.
gerrrg 3:12PM (9/07/2009)
I think your criticism is detached and out of line.
The bumper design with complex, compound curves and multiple folds is something the Koreans and others can't touch (for now). There are very few examples of anything close to these complex curves in current production vehicles. The LF-Ch shows a substantial leap forward from the LF-A. From a design standpoint - while it is not exactly on par with the BMW Gina - this is definitely pushing the manufacturing capabilities.
stumpy 3:43PM (9/07/2009)
i don't think my comment is detached at all... in fact I think it is perfectly relevant. The point of these small hatches (from a design standpoint) is to fit all the visual cues of a brand into the smallest package possible. Often times these elements have to be exaggerated. When you exaggerate bland, you still get bland, period. There are no "signature" Lexus lines. Lexus is just known for making bland cars with slightly trapezoidal design elements; but what company isn't? BMW has its bangle butt and kidney grill. Acura has its controversial bottle-opener / bird beak grille. Audi has it's shield grill. While Lexuses look upscale, there is no defining exterior lexus design element. That's why I don't think a small Lexus works.
And I'm sorry but when this car makes it to production it is not going to get any better. All it is going to look like is a rebadged toyota Aurus or something. It's not going to be ugly, and I never called it ugly, it is just NOT going to be at all visually exciting. It's not going to turn heads. Let's face it, lexus could use some younger customers. I just don't see why a young german lad would buy this over a BMW 1 series or Audi A3. It's like asking an american guy, "would you rather buy a buick or a pontiac?" Sorry for the cliché analogy but I think you get the point.
AndrewNoNumbers 6:54PM (9/07/2009)
Does this look NOTHING like the Panamera?
mikeyt 11:29PM (9/07/2009)
hmm i dont think its bland. its rather bold... what with the melted front end and crazy color.
give it:
1. normal paintjob
2. license plate (will help with the front end look)
3. rear door handles
4. non-chrome wheels (what is this, 2006?)
...and then i think we have something
Obviously DaMinority 7:19AM (9/08/2009)
Bumper & Color = Different (not bold, just different)
Everything else = Bland
So half of you are exactly right and half of you are like the 3% of Honda apologists trying to say the Red Crosstour looks okay, in the right light, at the right angle, with the right background and Danica Patrick in a Bikini in front.
naggs 6:34AM (9/09/2009)
the styling is not up to the competition
MachinaDC5 1:37PM (9/07/2009)
By face, do you mean ass?
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Big Mola 3:39PM (9/07/2009)
It's the angle. Photos taken by the same guy who shot the Crosstour pics.
Viktor 1:43PM (9/07/2009)
Can't these concepts just be ignored, they never ever make it to production anyway.
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vespid82 2:11PM (9/07/2009)
Oh really?
This is the 1997 Lexus HPS concept sedan
http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/carros/conceitos/lexus-hps.jpg
Or what about the upcoming production version of this LF-A concept?
http://importprofile.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lexus_lfa_det.jpg
Stop living in the "instant messaging society" and realize that good things take time.
Torrent 4:56PM (9/07/2009)
Vespid... Those can be disputed. The HPS one was not as concept-minded as say... this. The HPS was designed in the mind of being a production car in the first place. This one has a 30% chance of looking even remotely identical to the production version compared to the HPS which was almost already production-ready.
The LF-A still may or may not be coming. It's been in the pipeline since 2004 and frankly, I'm losing faith every day...
Taglane 1:44PM (9/07/2009)
The teaser had me thinking Lexus was doing something amazing. This is fugly and it'll look even worse in production trim. JMO.
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Motor_Yakuza 1:46PM (9/07/2009)
Looks good, very good, but just drop that crappy gold paint.
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Affalterbach 2:20PM (9/07/2009)
If only had Lexus put on the crazy electric blue they showed IS F in, this concept would own Frankfurt.