Lexus LF-CH revealed ahead of Frankfurt

By David Twomey | September 02nd, 2009

Lexus has given a first glimpse of just what its compact entry into the premium hybrid market will look like when it is released at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month.

The premium Toyota brand says the LF-CH, you can bet that won’t be its final name, will offer Lexus Hybrid Drive in a practical five-door body that meets the needs of customers in the premium compact market.

Lexus says the LF-CH will reinforce its position as the only manufacturer to offer a range of hybrid vehicles.

LF-CH combines stylish design and full hybrid technology, in a practical five-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.

More detailed information and images of the Lexus LF-Ch will be released on September 11.

The rear three-quarter illustration shows an edgy hatchback with deep aerodynamic aids on the rear end.

Using the 1.8-litre petrol-electric drive system from the Prius, the LF-Ch is based on the same front-drive Toyota small-car platform that underpins the Prius and Corolla, which will also appear at Frankfurt with a hybrid drive system.

Toyota has said it will launch eight new hybrid models in Australia within the next four years and the Hybrid Corolla is expected to be the next of those.

http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Wow, a Prius that might actually look good…
Yanzo

yeah!!! that looks great from behind. macda 3 looks good but this looks better. but hybrid… i hope they make non hybrid versions for us petrol heads, and awd! aswell!
Pops

Hopefully the front end styling will be closer to the IS than the new RX.

As per the usual concept car shots – don’t expect the 20″ rims, dropped ride height & heavily sculpted rear bumper to make it to production….
DG

Wow its a prius with clear ‘lexus’ tails and a few badges! congratulations lexus!

S

Looks nothing like a Prius
smokin’R32

The prius already has clear tail lights, these are cleary coloured. The rear end of the prius is a kammback, this is a hatch back. They are in no way similar, did you even look at the picture?
Carfanatic

Clearly DG needs glasses, I can see the new Prius from my office and it looks nothing like the Lexus Picture.
Steve-Poyza

Real smart DG, judging the car before looking at the picture :S

Lukaas

Yanzo

This will most likely be just Hybrid terrain.

Because as Ive said in the past, Toyota’s approach in Europe is to establish a Hybrid market which allows them to have a “niche”.

This is set and styled to appeal in europe, just like Corolla/Auris Hatch and other Lexus’s.

It might come down to Australia, but as a 70~80K hatch… its going to be tough to market along with the Audi S3, STi, R20, BMW 130i etc…. considering those have “guts”.. while this one is to be a “stylish” good looking hybrid… think IS250 but hatch form… and hybrid engine… so maybe 100~120kW power, with about 400nM torque…IF given the production go ahead… its still not 100% given the green light it seems.

S

There is no way this will be 70-80k. Lexus have indicated this will sit below the IS250 in the range.

http://Caradvice.com.au Baddass

Correct, there no way the new lex will be 80K

The Realist

If it’s FWD it will ruin Lexus’ recent philosophy of RWD only.

mike

The RWD philosophy is only the limited range that is available in Australia.
They still have a FWD ES (camry) and FWD RXs in the US market.
There are clear pictures of the HS hybrid on the Lexus US site and it looks like a tarted up corolla/auris with way too much chrome bits. They list as starting from $US34000 which could easily push $60 000AU by the time it hits australia.
The stupid $54000 price of the prius itech is a joke and this should be substanially dearer.
When they still sold the ES here is was over $75000 and the top of the range camry it was based on was $45000.

The Realist

I thought they’d ridden themselves of the truly expensive ES years ago in the USA, but just checked their website and see you’re correct.

I can see people in the USA purchasing it considering the relatively low cost, but here in Oz it was $30K too expensive.

nobody

From that angle it looks better than the 1 series, but then next generation 1′s are coming soon too. If this thing is based on the Corolla, it has no chance against the 1′s.
Alex

Well if it’s based on a Corolla then I won’t buy one. I think it could look quite good too, if it was toned down slightly.
The 1 Series has already won in my book. It should have been rear or all wheel drive and the fact that it’s not is disappointing.
Still, they’ll be all over London.