Lexus Premium Compact Concept official teaser
A Lexus rival to premium hatchbacks like the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 has been speculated on for almost the past 12 months but today we have the first official confirmation of the car’s existence thanks to this latest official teaser. Previewing a concept version of the car that is scheduled to be unveiled at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show, the new teaser gives the first indication of design direction for the upcoming hatch.
The only official information is that the concept will demonstrate a mix of technical innovation and ground-breaking design that “promises to raise the bar in the premium compact segment”. Bold claims given its competition but sadly we may never know as the car will reportedly be sold in overseas markets only.
One of the main reasons for this is because the new hatch will be an entry-level model for Lexus, which means it would have to be priced below the IS range – a segment the company is unlikely to enter in North America.
Not much else is known about the new model but previous reports have suggested that it will feature a hybrid powertrain and share most of its internals with the Toyota Auris, another compact hatch sold in some markets as a Corolla.
The new concept will be revealed for the first time on September 15 so stay tuned. The production version is expected to debut at next year’s Geneva Motor Show in March before going on sale in Europe by the middle of the year.
