Lexus developing BMW 1-Series rival

2010 Lexus RX 450h

Premium hatchback entry will be based on the U.S. market-only Lexus HS250h hybrid

By Alex Ricciuti
July 24, 2009 6:03 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Lexus, Rumours

The BMW 1-series will be seeing some new competition come September.

Our esteemed colleagues over at Autocar are reporting that Lexus is currently developing a 1-series rival that will be debuting as a concept car at the Frankfurt motor show later this year.

Now, is it fair to label the premium C-segment in Europe strictly the domain of the BMW 1-series? What about the Audi A3 or the Mercedes B-Class, even? Well, BMW surely doesn't mind that short-handing and they do seem to be fairing quite well in that segment, anyway.

What does Lexus have planned? Other than outright plagiarizing BMW's design?

According to Autocar, the Lexus model will be based on the U.S. market-only HS250h, which is a hybrid with a 2.4 liter gasoline/petrol engine. That car produces a total of 187 hp with the addition of the electric motor output. The European model may carry the name CS or BS. It will be a front-wheel drive and come exclusively as a hybrid but will not be built on the same platform as the HS250h.

Autocar's source says that Lexus executives thought the European C-segment "too lucrative not to be in".

But no diesel? Sold only as a hybrid? Okay...

The source also says the concept which will debut at Frankfurt will be a close match to the real version, which will see its production model debut at Geneva in 2010. The car will likely go on sale in the fall of 2010.

Source: autocar

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Tags: Lexus Europe, HS250h

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Comments

N20_Purge

July 24, 2009 6:29 PM

Seems good. Surely it cannot be hard for the Lexus to be better than the 1 series.

Edison

July 24, 2009 6:55 PM

Seems to excite only if you're a Lexus fan. If taken objectively, it will have to be pretty damn good to beat the 1-series coupe, particularly in 135i guise. So far, from what I read it seems like a long shot. Front wheel drive with heavy hybrid powertrain, is not a good start for one, considering that even Lexus' conventional rear wheel drive cars don't match their BMW contemporaries dynamics-wise. I have my doubts. I think Lexus is just trying to make money on this one (that is why they are in business), even though hybrids aren't particularly popular in Europe, but I will reserve judgement until the actual car surfaces.

Renegade

July 24, 2009 7:27 PM

All the car companies want to make money, thank you very much Captain Obvious.

Edison

July 24, 2009 8:23 PM

First-mate, I think you are missing my point. Yes, the desire to make money is obvious as even I want to make as much money as possible. However, making a half-baked product just to fill a gap in the market or milking a platform to the max reeks of bean-counter decision making rather than attempting to making a compelling car. BMW could just as well use a FWD Mini platform to mine the production synergies with MINI/PSA, but they haven't and doesn't look like they will. However, I will be the first to point at BMW examples of stretching the use of a platform (sometimes beyond good taste). I just don't see the BS competing head-to-head with the 1-series. A3 and others, definitely.

9TNine

July 24, 2009 11:34 PM

My money would be on the BMW!

http://www.autozeitung.de/node/380871/2?destination=node/380871

http://www.autozeitung.de/node/380871/3?destination=node/380871

jandrews90

July 24, 2009 6:31 PM

K so a front wheel drive, hybrid Lexus based off the HS250H is soposed to compete with the one series???

sub39h

July 24, 2009 8:34 PM

Why is that so hard to believe? The A3 is front drive, based on a Golf and it decimates the 1-Series in Europe. I don't think this article is fairly named. The car would be an A3 rival first and foremost if it was released outside of the US

Edited by user on July 24, 2009 at 8:35 PM

scratchy996

July 24, 2009 9:10 PM

the A3 and BMW 1 series are not in the same league. try MB CLC.

sub39h

July 25, 2009 11:55 AM

I can't believe you bought into Merc's marketing spiel. have you ever driven a CLC? it's completely outclassed by both the A3 and the 1-Series. I'd much sooner buy a Golf or Focus than i would a CLC.

simalive

July 24, 2009 6:37 PM

Hahaa..the car could be named BS

scratchy996

July 24, 2009 8:56 PM

at least they are honest.

X6M

July 24, 2009 7:04 PM

I'd like to see that, BMW 135i is beautiful car, it's proved to be better than the Porsche Cayman, and some Lexus want to develop rival to BMW??? - They all want that, but who can?

benz_man

July 24, 2009 7:06 PM

LOL, this is funny. What a joke!

MAB

July 24, 2009 7:11 PM

They're "developing"? This car has been on the Lexus.com site under Future Cars for a LONG time. Its a Prius. Perhaps I'm missing something, ...or did WCF?

vilivo

July 24, 2009 7:45 PM

Will this be a hatch version of the IS (corolla lux edition...), or will this be an actual luxury version of the Auris, or is it as MAB said- a luxury Prius.I don get the lexus story: "Have a full hose toyota (insert model here), and we will change the badges for only 4X the price!!!)

akbars600

July 24, 2009 8:06 PM

they wil again pull up something which they dont sell in USDM and modify it to the L-Finnese design.. and here we go.. 1 series rivall... lol

scratchy996

July 24, 2009 9:04 PM

so basically they re-badge the Prius to make more money. do they think Europeans don't know Lexus is Toyota ?

they will sell a few Hybrids to some celebrities who want a green image (a TV celebrity in my town owns a Prius but she only drives her Cayenne Turbo S and 911 Turbo).

good luck competing with the 1 series with a heavy FWD hybrid, especially in Diesel Land aka Europe.

GRAVE

July 25, 2009 12:37 AM

at least the GS, ES, IS and LS are better looking than the 3, 5 and even the 7 series BMW and even most of the German cars, be honest. and not even better looking but in terms of comport and reliability Lexus is way better also. I'm not a BMW hater but i think they can do it.

Edited by user on July 25, 2009 at 2:43 AM

Moko

July 25, 2009 1:27 AM

@grave you argument is too plain and vague, you rather have a beauty of a car than a beast under the hood ewwwww and i think bmw has the most reliable luxury brand in the past 3 years....good luck lexus , we will wait and see but im afraid it'll all anything but a re-badged yaris

Edison

July 25, 2009 2:01 AM

Actually, excellent reliability is something that Lexus strives hard for and are the best in. That's not to say the others are unreliable though. Looks, however, are a matter of opinion.

Aesthetics

July 25, 2009 4:59 AM

no way they are going call it a BS series. front wheel drive defeats the purpose of rivalling the 1 series when bmw made the 1 series from the lack of RWD cars in that segment, lexus marketing is not fooling many with the hype annoucement....i guess maybe they should call it a BS

Sammy_R-Gti

July 25, 2009 10:05 AM

why do i have the feeling its gonna be a Toyota yaris with a Lexus badge? lol

eeoikari

July 25, 2009 10:31 AM

Maybe they will rebadge the upcoming Auris Hybrid.

Edited by user on July 25, 2009 at 10:36 AM

trekkerbin

July 27, 2009 6:55 AM

Agree ! How Funny:)

Get_real

July 25, 2009 10:58 AM

"What does Lexus have planned? Other than outright plagiarizing BMW's design?" [taken from article] Who wrote that? WCF? If so, shame on you. Every reader can have their own opinion/preconception. But a (wannabe) journalist should leave this kind of comment out of the article! Don't drop to the journalistic level of Clarkson!

sub39h

July 25, 2009 12:00 PM

and i'd like to point out as well that Audi invented the premium C segment with the A3 so it's really Audi they'll be copying, not BMW

scratchy996

July 25, 2009 4:41 PM

BMW invented it with the 3 series compact.

http://www.bmw-freunde-forchheim.de/gallery/Treffen%2010.%20Feb.%2008/img0796ey6.jpg

sub39h

July 27, 2009 2:05 AM

I suppose you could look at it this way, but it was a 3 Series variant so not really C segment, and the numbers sold meant it was pretty much irrelevant.

It wasn't until after the A3 that the 1-Series, A-Class and C30 came along.

Aesthetics

July 27, 2009 4:39 AM

i agree, lexus don tlook like bmws....however new jaguars do look like lexus....probably reported by an anti japanese journo

dom6698

July 25, 2009 5:48 PM

In it's day the 3-Series Compact was too big for C segment. The original premium hatches were the Alfasud, 33, 145 and 146. The Delta also predates the Germans.

Razz

July 25, 2009 5:53 PM

Well .. to make some competition to the 1Series you must make : 1st - RWD and 2nd - a great handling hatch. The rest are details, and without being rude to Lexus .. they will always make good quality cars, but they'll never reach the spirit of driving a BMW !

E92-TORONTO

July 26, 2009 12:12 AM

LEXUS=PURSUIT THE CRAP

This car is not even in 1 serier's class more likely = Mini.

Schizo0223

July 26, 2009 7:48 PM

I'm a MB fan and repeat buyer of the 3Pointed Star...but the B-Class is a piece of sh!t and it is in no way a competitor to the 1 Series.

The 1 Series is one BMW I would actually buy and am contemplating on buying in the moment right now.

To me the 135i with the M Sports Pack IS the spiritual successor to the E30 M3! It is the best BMW out there in the market today...go out and test drive one!!!

brocky

July 27, 2009 2:17 PM

Can't call it a rivalry when old ladies hog up the sales for Lexus.

darzav

July 28, 2009 10:52 AM

Cool, i guess. Dont see a problem with Lexus building a 1-series rival. Gona be hard to match a 135i. Should be interesting to see the result, which im sure will be good.

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