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Lexus LF-Ch Concept May Signal Dawn of Revamped Lineup

Steve.Diehlman
Posted September 1 2009 12:00 PM by Steve Diehlman 
Category: News, Frankfurt Motor Show

Lexus LF-Ch Concept May Signal Dawn of Revamped Lineup
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Hoping to appeal to younger buyers, Lexus is planning a sea change. And we may see some first waves of a revised lineup at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show.

Certainly, the new compact concept -- now called the LF-C --  is a sign of things to come. Lexus revealed the first teaser photo of the car (above), which is expected to compete against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C-class and BMW 1-series. It's not official, but Automotive News claims the small car - likely called the IC - will launch in European markets by late 2011, and possibly make the journey across the pond shortly after.

Revisions to Lexus' other sedans - the IS, ES, GS, and LS - will appear around the same time. The IS line, which gains a convertible offering this year, won't receive a redesign until 2013, but the first model to receive a makeover will likely be the GS. Automotive News suggests a full redesign is due in 2011, although a facelifted model will be shown at the Frankfurt show. The ES sedan is set for a complete redesign in 2012, and will likely gain a hybrid version in the process. The flagship LS model, which also dons a mildly refreshed interior for 2010, won't be completely revamped until 2013.

With sales plummeting, it's unlikely that the SC convertible will survive past this year, but Lexus will cater to enthusiasts with the LF-A supercar. The long-awaited sports car was recently confirmed for production, although speculation suggests the present V-10 could be replaced by a twin-turbocharged V-8 before it launches.

Lexus' successful RX crossovers have just been redesigned for 2010, but it's likely the GX will see substantial modifications within the next year. Automotive News suggests the GX nameplate could even transition to a crossover based off the GS sedan.


1 Comments
1. Humm... it looks nice from that angle. But again, it's just a concept car. The odds of making it into production as it looks are always low. And car followers (like me) always get scared when a car company decides to 'revamp' its lineup... I'll keep my fingers crossed on these.

Posted September 1 2009 12:21 PM  
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