Lexus HS250h use counterpart Toyota SAI

When the Lexus brand was finally introduced back in its homeland of Japan, it marked the end of the Toyota-badged Lexus products such as the Toyota Harrier, which was essentially a Lexus RX. The Land Cruiser and Lexus LX twins are still on though.

Or so we thought, because the new Lexus HS250h will be launched in Japan as a Toyota called the Toyota SAI, alongside the original HS250h which has already been launched in Japan, which isn’t really completely original at all, being a restyled Euro-market Toyota Avensis (platform also used for the Scion tC) with the Camry Hybrid’s gaso-electric powertrain. Boy, that was confusing!

Toyota will be positioning the Toyota SAI as a larger hybrid-only car compared to the Prius, though since they share the same 2,700mm wheelbase I don’t expect the interior space to be all that different, though rear headroom should be better.

In the HS250h, the chassis had to handle the naturally larger 2.4 liter Hybrid Synergy Drive hybrid system but some are saying that the Toyota SAI will use the 1.8 liter version thats in the Prius. There are of course also news that it will use the same 2.4 liter HSD engine as the HS250h. What it will have is a proper boot, while the Prius is a hatchback.

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Lexus LF-Ch Hatchback Concept Fully Revealed, Updated Gallery with High-Res Pics

Lexus has published official images and initial details on its LF-Ch concept car that will eventually give birth to a premium hatchback model aimed at the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. Unfortunately the Japanese firm's lengthy press release is dedicated for the most part to the LF-Ch's exterior and interior styling. In other words, the usual design mumbo-jumbo you hear from most automakers and which we'd rather avoid repeating.

However, what Lexus does reveal is the concept model's exterior dimensions. With an overall length of 4,300mm (169.3-in.), a width of 1,790mm (70.5-in.) and a height of 1,400mm (55.1-in.)with a 2,600 mm (102.4-in.) wheelbase, the LF-Ch is roughly the same size as the Audi A3 Sportback (4,292mm in length, 1,765mm width, 1,423mm height and 2,578mm wheelbase).

The concept model features a full hybrid drivetrain meaning that unlike mild-hybrids, it can be driven in a fully electric EV mode. Lexus did not disclose any other details on the powertrain - or about anything else for that matter.

"The LF-Ch concept reaffirms Lexus's commitment to Europe, combining compact dimensions, stylish five-door, full hybrid technology and low emissions to satisfy the most demanding customer requirements and to appeal to a new, younger generation of customers," the company said in a prepared statement.

European buyers should expect to see a toned-down production version of the LF-Ch available with both conventional and hybrid powertrain options sometime towards the end of 2010.

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Lexus LF-Ch Compact Hatch Shows its Face in New Photo

List Auto reader Dima N. sent us this revealing, front 3/4 shot of the new Lexus LF-Ch, a Frankfurt Show-bound hybrid petrol-electric concept that hints at a production model that will follow sometime next year. Together with the rear shot of the car, the two photos give us a pretty good picture of the concept version of Lexus' BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 fighter, but needless to say, don't expect the production model to look as near as aggressive as this. That is, unless Lexus plans to surprise us with an Audi S3 / VW Golf GTI challenging "F-Sport" variant of its premium hatch....

Kudos to Dima N. for the photo!

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Lexus LF-Ch: Premium Hatchback Concept with Hybrid Drive Revealed

In the run up to the official debut of the LF-Ch concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show and only a couple of weeks after the release of a teaser drawing, Lexus issued a single photograph of the premium hatchback that is believed to spawn a production model as early as 2010. The five-door hatch targets the C-segment premium market with rivals such as the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series.

"The LF-Ch combines stylish design and full hybrid technology in a practical 5-door compact package to fulfill the needs of the most demanding premium compact segment customers," said Lexus in a statement.

The concept model uses the Japanese firm's Lexus Hybrid Drive and according to the automaker, it benefits from an electric-only driving capability. But that's about all that Lexus will reveal until for now. More detailed information and a full set of photos are expected to go online on September 10 2009.

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Lexus Releases Teaser Shot of BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 Premium Compact Hatch Rival

Ahead of its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Lexus today published this teaser sketch of a premium compact hatchback concept, which is said to preview next year's production model that will challenge the BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 models. "The concept will demonstrate a mix of technical innovation and ground-breaking design that promises to raise the bar in the premium compact segment," the company said in a short statement

The Japanese automaker did not disclose any other details on its "baby" model but rumor has it that the concept car will feature a hybrid drivetrain. Expect to see more information and new teaser photos of the car being released closer to the Frankfurt Show opening.

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Lexus Rumored to Debut Compact Hatchback Concept in Frankfurt, Targets BMW 1 Series

Toyota's premium brand Lexus is planning to unveil a five-door compact hatchback concept at this September's Frankfurt Motors Show that will be followed by a production model at next year's Geneva Salon, according to Edmunds. The report goes on to claim that the hatch will use a front-wheel drive Corolla chassis - not the best base for a direct competitor to the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 models...

Not surprisingly, it is also noted that there will be a hybrid model in the mix that will most likely get the same the same drivetrain as the Lexus HS 250h sedan that utilizes a 147 HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine and a 40 HP electric motor for a combined output for 187-horsepower.

However, there is a chance that the hybrid version of Lexus' premium hatch may get the same drivetrain as the forthcoming Auris Hybrid model that is scheduled to be launched in Europe in the second half of 2010.

It is reported that the new Lexus hatch will go on sale in Europe in late 2010 while there are no plans to bring it to North American.

[Via: Insideline , Photo Illustration: Best Car]

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