| The Next Lexus | ||
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(Thu 10 Sep 09) Lexus has released a little more information about its new compact car, currently named LF-Ch, though it is waiting until the Frankfurt Show to give full details.
At least we have a better idea of what the car looks like than we did when Lexus first announced its existence. Although there are four doors, the designers have gone to some trouble to give the impression of a two-door coupé by shading in the central pillars and mounting the rear doorhandles at window level. The LF-Ch is 4.3 metres long, 1.79 metres high and 1.4 metres wide, and has a 2.6-metre wheelbase. Nearly all of these figures are within an inch of those of the Volkswagen Scirocco, and not much further from those of the Renault Megane Coupé. It would be no surprise, however, if a production version of the LF-Ch turned out to be more expensive than either, since it has been described right from the start as a "premium" car. In that respect it's in familiar Lexus territory, even though it is smaller than any car the company currently sells.
It's also no surprise that the LF-Ch uses hybrid technology, since both Lexus and parent company Toyota are famous hybrid enthusiasts. News of the exact system won't be issued until Frankfurt, but some connection with the one used in the Toyota Prius seems likely. |
