Lexus Previews LF-Ch Compact Concept - World Premiere in Frankfurt

Lexus LF-Ch Compact Concept - 800

By Brian Potter
September 7, 2009 6:43 PM
Filed Under: Concept Car, Frankfurt Motor Show, Hybrid, Japanese, Lexus

Lexus is planning to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz with a premium compact sedan offering.  In the media build-up, Lexus initially released a design skecth teaser followed by a partial rear quarter view.  Now a new image revealing the entire front end of the LF-Ch compact concept has surfaced.

The deflated brand with its aging customer base is desperate to win the hearts of a livelier market segment, and it plans to do so with exciting enthusiast targeted products.  Unlike the Lexus IS range and more specifically the high-performance IS-F sports sedan, Lexus would need to price it within the realm of this youthful, yet environmentally conscious market.

Emphasizing Toyota's full hybrid or Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) technology, the LF-Ch is a 5-door premium compact with electric-only driving capability. 

Parent company Toyota is keen to promote this technology already seen in other Frankfurt debuts such as the Toyota Prius Plug-In Concept and Toyota Auris HSD Concept.

The LF-Ch concept will be joined on the Lexus stand with the updated LS model range and revised versions of GS, IS and IS F.

Stay tuned as further detail will be released closer to their world premiere on September 15th.

[UPDATE 07.09.2009] Photo of front view added to article.

Source: Lexus via autoblog.it

Press Release (Click to expand)

WORLD PREMIERE OF LEXUS LF-Ch AT THE 2009 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW

  • World premiere of LF-Ch, the new full hybrid premium compact concept
  • World premiere of the updated LS model range
  • Model year updates for GS, IS and IS F

Lexus will unveil the LF-Ch full hybrid premium compact concept at the forthcoming 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is joined on the Lexus stand by the world debut of the updated LS model range and revised versions of GS, IS and IS F.

Lexus LF-Ch

  • Premium compact concept with Lexus Hybrid Drive
  • Practical 5-door body, meeting the core needs of customers in the premium compact market

Reinforcing Lexus' position as the only manufacturer to offer a range of hybrid vehicles, the LF-Ch concept will make its world premiere the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

LF-Ch combines stylish design and full hybrid technology in a practical 5-door compact package to fulfil the needs of the most demanding premium compact segment customers.

Benefiting from an electric-only driving capability, a key feature of Lexus Hybrid Drive, LF-Ch will allow for virtually silent urban driving with zero emissions.

Detailed information and images of the Lexus LF-Ch will be released on 10 September 2009.

Lexus LS

  • Revised exterior and interior designs
  • Updated equipment and redesigned seating
  • Enhanced driving dynamics

Also making its world premiere at the show is the comprehensively revised LS model range, incorporating updates to the exterior and interior designs, a redesigned seating configuration, significantly updated equipment and enhanced driving dynamics.

The world's only full hybrid vehicle in the premium luxury sedan segment, the Lexus LS 600h will be instantly identified as the high performance flagship of the LS model range through bespoke exterior and interior styling cues, improved packaging, and numerous enhancements to the vehicle's Lexus Hybrid Drive system.

Lexus GS

  • Revised exterior design, bringing further emphasis to full hybrid GS 450h
  • Enhanced safety features
  • New audio and navigation systems and revised colour range

The 2010 GS model range features enhanced safety features, new exterior and interior colours while the GS 450h's status as the model range flagship has now been further reinforced through several bespoke styling cues. GS450h remains the world's only full hybrid model in the premium mid-size segment. The 2010 GS range also benefits from upgraded audio and navigation systems.

IS and IS F

  • F-Sport package available on IS sedan
  • IS F now available with Limited Slip Differential
  • New audio and navigation systems

A refreshed IS model range incorporates navigation and audio system upgrades, a new F Sport trim package and a revised IS F ultra-high performance sports sedan now available with a Limited Slip Differential.

 

Comments

N20_Purge
September 1, 2009 6:26 PM
Nice design and shape. The 1 series better watch out.

BemWee
September 1, 2009 6:27 PM
It´s only a matter of time when shitchy is coming on here:) The car itself looks too much Auris, IMHO.


Edited by user on September 1, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Renegade
September 1, 2009 6:33 PM
Looks awesome, I wanna see more.

awhk
September 1, 2009 6:38 PM
Concept for old man. lol.

sub39h
September 1, 2009 6:53 PM
won't touch the A3 in sales, and the hybrid drivetrain means Lexus are likely to price it's "youthful" target audience out of being able to actually afford it.

toyota seem to know what they're doing but sometimes i don't think they think their model lines all the way through...

CndSalesPro
September 2, 2009 8:57 PM
$2000 isn't alot more to buy a Toyota Hybrid over a Toyota Non Hybrid?

Narco
September 7, 2009 10:33 PM
$2000 isn't much for most people Cnd, however subby is currently unemployed so he is priced out of the market for most all "youth-oriented" autos. This explains why he is so grumpy all the time.

Fishes,

Narco.


Edited by user on September 7, 2009 at 10:33 PM
CndSalesPro
September 10, 2009 12:09 AM
VERY well put Narco....

oumar06
September 1, 2009 8:54 PM
its jst a lexus version of the volvo c30. looks gud tho

scratchy996
September 1, 2009 8:55 PM
a hatch for the elderly. it's a good thing someone thinks about them enough to make them a compact car. even better if it's a quite hybrid. old people will be able to finally hear the radio while driving.

iseenitall
September 1, 2009 9:40 PM
Will making it Rear-Wheel drive make it even better? The design to me is plain Toyota with Lexus badging...But to really compete with B.M.W 1series it needs to be R.W.D

miika
September 2, 2009 12:26 AM
For me the design is much more exciting than any Toyota seen in Finland :)

adz612
September 1, 2009 10:10 PM
I dunno if it's just me but the back end looks pretty damn similar to the Vauxhall Astra Sporthatch

Captain Scarlett
September 2, 2009 2:19 AM
Tease, tease, tease... that's all it is!

carbonsigma
September 2, 2009 3:32 AM
Is this front or rear wheel drive?

car-o-bar
September 2, 2009 3:42 AM
crap... Toyota Matrix on steroids.

ttcar
September 2, 2009 11:23 AM
All wheel drive please!

asifmax
September 2, 2009 1:10 PM
this looks better than Audi's A3 and BMW's 1 series. both of them are beyond bland especially the Audi. this is going to be great and much needed addition to the range.

vilivo
September 4, 2009 1:19 AM
Eek, that is a horrid color on that Auris.Reliable car though...

BMW LEWIS
September 4, 2009 10:25 PM
Lexus deserve to be up there with bmw and others

wjaprep
September 6, 2009 9:16 PM
im srry... but this car looks too... Japanese (sp?)

nederina
September 7, 2009 7:01 PM
looks like a pimped toyota auris with drug dealer's big shiny rims. looks like they're trying too hard

Bristol411S3
September 7, 2009 7:03 PM
Isn't it "Hybrid Synergy Drive"? And what is "livier"?

Renegade
September 7, 2009 7:05 PM
Looks great, just change this damn gold color.

lil_boy_d89
September 7, 2009 7:14 PM
it looks weird to me i think the sketch looks better and same with the back and theyt do need to change the gold color Renegade...

Starscream123
September 7, 2009 7:40 PM
i like the look of it, it looks muscular and well restrained. i especially like the slats under the lights. one problem though, the colour!

dmanero
September 7, 2009 8:27 PM
ehhh, the front end is far too busy. maybe remove the side air vents and it might look a bit better

N20_Purge
September 7, 2009 8:51 PM
I like that aggressive look. Problem is the colour, but it is not like that will be on the production model.

HEMI426
September 7, 2009 9:16 PM
I really thought it was going to have rearwheeldrive.

tbrodie
September 7, 2009 9:31 PM
I'll wait until after it has returned from repairs at the body shop.

scratchy996
September 7, 2009 9:46 PM
looks like a riced A3.

kumbze
September 7, 2009 10:50 PM
looks awesome. my only suggestion is that lexus should make a version that offers a powerful four cylinder supercharged engine. Because alot of enthusiasts who like those kinds of cars may not like the hybrid synergy drive system

vilivo
September 8, 2009 12:15 AM
Nice idea: "Now for the final result, we will put an IS-F style body kit on the Hybrid Auris..."

EH?
September 8, 2009 12:48 AM
wow i guess im on my own thinking its ugly and pointless but then its the same with the f450 i love it but everyone else hates it

The Car Guru 4
September 8, 2009 2:10 AM
I guess this is the Prius coupe Toyota has been talking about, looks decent except for those stupid door mirrors.

9TNine
September 8, 2009 2:16 AM
Looks nice... ...but will probably drive like an Auris!

Menbal
September 8, 2009 2:51 AM
Will they do this like the ES300 with the Camry and make the corolla a Lexus? The actual car looks dissapointing. The concept sketches looked good. The side inlet line rising to the bottom of the lights look shit. It should be lowered

politz
September 8, 2009 4:43 AM
just not hot enough. okay, it is not as if the 1-series could give someone a hard on for looking at it, but it is somewhat exciting after all. but the 1-series, just like the a3, carries what young buyers really want - brand image. people have lust for a m3 or a5, but buy an entry level compact instead, and that is pretty much how things work. to lure younger aspirational buyers into its showrooms, lexus would have to start building desirable cars at every price point. would 65 year-olds still buy 'hot' lexuses? would 25 year-olds buy enough 30k lexuses to make this whole turnaround profitable? my guess would be no and no. maybe lexus should follow the mercedes exemple: instead of focusing on performance orientes hot hatches for the bright young people, simply build safe, reliable compact cars for young families or downsizing-era empty nesters. now THAT might make you some easy money, lexus.

echtel
September 8, 2009 9:56 AM
whats with the poo colour?

teuton
September 8, 2009 12:24 PM
The design is a complete turn-off. Garish bumpers and miniscule headlamps spoil the show. The first attempt at appeal has already failed. I'm not sure of the drivetrain & if it's that hybrid junk, I may as well trash the idea of following up on this one.

Edison
September 8, 2009 7:26 PM
"Pimp-my-ride" springs to mind...

kattanh3
September 8, 2009 9:15 PM
Not my cup of tea. I'll be interesting to compare this concept to the actual dull design that will (inevitably) go into production, my guess it'll be with huge mirrors and headlights, and a much toned down body kit

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