[unclebob]

Could it happen, Tokuo Fukuichi does his best to not clear things up...

Meanwhile, discussing a possible sub-NX crossover for the Japanese luxury brand to compete against the Mercedes-Benz GLA and BMW X1, Mr Fukuichi said it would depend on whether Toyota had the appropriate platform to share.

“We have many kinds of product with the Toyota brand we have to share, but we can think about smaller product also,” he said. “Actually we cannot say about planning. We have to make a strategy to share with Toyota brand. Which brand is better for the smaller one.”

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/FC746467827D18E7CA257D68007EA15E

 

[mister]

Saw a Mercedes Benz GLA for the first time the other day. It is pretty small. Kinda an odd size for a vehicle because it doesn't make much sense why it isn't simply a sedan instead. I'd be interested in seeing how Lexus does a sub-NX car, but I don't think that I am looking for a vehicle that is in this weird super small CUV segment.

 

[avocado]

Saw a Mercedes Benz GLA for the first time the other day. It is pretty small. Kinda an odd size for a vehicle because it doesn't make much sense why it isn't simply a sedan instead. I'd be interested in seeing how Lexus does a sub-NX car, but I don't think that I am looking for a vehicle that is in this weird super small CUV segment.

Agree. It sorta looks like a raised hatchback/station wagon.

 

[mister]

I think that Lexus could make other cars that would be a better addition to their lineup than a sub NX crossover. A hatchback like the Mercedes Benz B-Class could be interesting. It would be a bit more of a casual vehicle that I feel Lexus is missing from its lineup.

 

[Thai]

Here's a thought...MAKE THE CT-200h BETTER!!! They have a winner there in design (IMO)...just needs more guts! Acura is doing an early refresh of ILX due to slow sales...Lexus needs to do the same! I would not want a smaller NX, but i don't mind seeing a sportier CT.

 

[mojo]

Toyota's C-HR from Paris is supposed to be on a completely new platform, if it goes to production this could be the ticket...

 

[mister]

That car looks like it would compete in the same segment as the Juke. Is that right?

 

[Kennedy]

Sure looks like it, usually vehicles within the same segment have proportions along the lines of the other, just one of many indicators, so you may be right.

 

[avocado]

There are lot of releases planned for this market segment. If Lexus does release a new platform, the journalists will say late to the market again. I like Thai's idea. Refresh the CT-200 with more power and handling and the turbo engine and still call it a CT.

 

[mojo]

There are lot of releases planned for this market segment. If Lexus does release a new platform, the journalists will say late to the market again. I like Thai's idea. Refresh the CT-200 with more power and handling and the turbo engine and still call it a CT.

But the people don't want hatches. If they revised the CT and lifted it a few inches it would sell in droves, yes...

 

[Thai]

But the people don't want hatches.

I don't know...Mazda 3 series disagree with you. And you see more and more luxury makers coming out with luxury hatches, see BMW. I have no idea how they sell, but if more hatches are being made by different OEMs, then i assume that there is a market somewhere for them.

 

[avocado]

But the people don't want hatches. If they revised the CT and lifted it a few inches it would sell in droves, yes...

Yes, raise the CT up and give it a meaner utility look. That would get rid of the hatchback look.

 

[mojo]

I don't know...Mazda 3 series disagree with you. And you see more and more luxury makers coming out with luxury hatches, see BMW. I have no idea how they sell, but if more hatches are being made by different OEMs, then i assume that there is a market somewhere for them.

The Mazda 3 is also sold as a sedan. Mazda has only moved 2K (2014 YTD) more 3's than CX-5's and they are the exception not the rule...

Ford has moved 230K Escapes to 176K Focus' (or is it Foci??)

The luxury OEMs are trapped in a perpetual war of Me Too... BMW doesn't parse out the sales of thier hatches from the sales of sedans so its difficult to have that discussion, but visually, how many 5 or 3 GT's do you see? I see few and far between...

 

[JoeLasVegas]

Pointless to go any smaller, 5 door hatchbacks have been around long enough to fill that niche.

 

[unclebob]

Pointless to go any smaller, 5 door hatchbacks have been around long enough to fill that niche.

And people don't want them, they want CUV's. If Lexus turns around and sells essentially a lifted hatchback a la CT as discussed earlier in the thread they will sell substantially more of them vs a straight hatch.

 

[FSport]

^ unclebob is right.
One indicator I seen of this was with the Q30 Infiniti concept, years ago you could never imagine such a product to come out from a japanese car maker but with the way the industry is changing, it's what will help them get a piece of that pie.

 

[mojo]

Actually I could see a small SUV below NX/RAV as being the perfect product for content starved Scion...