Lexus is planning a rival to the Range Rover Evoque and Audi Q5, Auto Express understands.
The Toyota luxury brand has enjoyed huge success with the RX range, particularly in the US, but Andy Pfeiffenberger, vice president of Lexus Europe, wants to focus on the class below.
“We have been very slow to come to the market with a downsized SUV,” he told us. “This is an area of our range that you will see develop over the next few years.”
The class is dominated by the Q5, Evoque and BMW X3 – and although there are no official details, the new sub-RX SUV will be a hybrid, and cost from around £30,000. Meanwhile, Lexus will take the wraps off a replacement for its BMW 3 Series-rivalling IS next year, while a facelifted LS luxury car is also imminent.
The latter will get the same treatment as the RX 450h, with Lexus’ new spindle grille dominating a revised front end.
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This could be a raised CT200h.....
I've seen one CT200H here in deepest, darkest Fife. The rear window on that looks like an IQ and this model just looks like it's made up from the Toyota parts bin. No doubt Lexus models are hugely reliable but they are slightly dull as well.
The Q5 seems to be popular and there are more Evoques going about as well. Perhaps Lexus feel that there's room for a model whose efficiency can't be questioned, but where there's an unfortunate lack of visual appeal.