Lexus LF-Ch concept wants to bring Prius hybrid utility to sporty hatchbacks
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Sep 11th 2009 9:48AM
posted Sep 11th 2009 9:48AM
posted Sep 11th 2009 9:48AM
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Wow this car is sexy. Let me ask something: do hybrids really do much to affect carbon emissions? Some of you understand it better than me so I'd appreciate an explanation. Thanks!
Cue "omg, you need to TRANSPORT materials to make hybrids, while other cars just make themselves from whatevers available nearby, so ur hurtin the environemt" comments.
"it's damn gorgeous"
Really? You really think this mustard yellow gold color is nice? And it's a stupid hatch. Yuck. Nothing screams luxury more than a hatchback.
Sorry, Lexus is way off on this one. This thing is gawdy. My cousin Jose already drives around in a car that looks just like this.
Put it this way: in Los Angeles, the air coming out of a Prius's tailpipe is cleaner and less dangerous than the ambient air.
check the side photos. venza rebadge.
Damn, best-looking Lexus in a long time (leaving aside the ugly color). Then again, I may be biased since it looks exactly like my 9-year-old M Coupe.
@mgsrocks1,
Carbon emissions are directly tied to fuel consumption.
xcrunk - you may not like the color (which I imagine wouldn't be the only one) but even as a hatchback, this car is a lot more interesting to look at than a Prius. I would grab one of these over a Prius any day based on looks alone.
@xcrunk "Lexus LF-Ch concept wants to bring Prius hybrid utility to sporty hatchbacks." Operative word... "sporty". Not luxury.
This looks like what the new Mazda 3 should have looked like.
For emissions,
2010 Prius (model ZVW30)
* 51 mpg-US (4.6 L/100 km; 61 mpg-imp) city driving
* 48 mpg-US (4.9 L/100 km; 58 mpg-imp) highway driving
* 48 mpg-US (4.9 L/100 km; 58 mpg-imp) combined
The argument that can be had is this, smaller dispacement engines in some newer cars get better fuel econemy. But are on all the time, and dont have the power of the HSD engine found in the Prius, Camry, and Highlander.
This explains it best -
"HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE makes intelligent selective use of its electric motors and gas/petrol engine to deliver fuel efficiency comparable to cars of one class smaller in engine displacement/body size, and at the same time the power comparable to cars one class larger." - .hybridsynergydrive website
Neat demo of how the Hybrid Synergy Drive works.
http://www.hybridsynergydrive.com/en/low_emissions_how.html
I'm diggin this idea as long as they get this below an IS250 $$ range.
@xcrunk its a concept picture. It wont come with the gaudy rims and mustard gold paint. put some standard Lexus IS rims on that and paint it black and it will look slick.
@sam
How is this a Venza rebadge? A Venza is a full sized wagon more comparable to a Camry wagon. If this is supposed to be similar to a BMW 1 Series, then this thing is very small. As you can see its only a 2 door, and not a 4 door.
I am very excited for something like this coming from Lexus. I really like the 1 Series, but if Lexus can come up with something that has decent performance and is also a hybrid like this claims, I'm all for it.
Pah, only interested in Full electrics... not hybrids... take it back and bring me another!
electric cars are not the answer. name one exciting electric car that can be driven more than 200 miles at highway speeds.
A train?
But seriously, the Tesla S will be capable of that, and even modern EVs might not need much modification if some technologies I've seen were taken up.
I guess really, if you want to travel farther in a petrol car you pump more fuel, if you want to go farther in an electric car you carry more batteries.
@abbas350
Any Better Place compliant electric car can drive indefinitely so long as there are battery swap stations on the way.
http://www.betterplace.com/
I own an electric bike, an electric moped and I intend to buy a Nissan Leaf when they arrive. Electrics may not be the answer *you're* looking for, but for the rest of the country, electrics are just what the doctor ordered.
@Bob
And how many battery stations are anywhere in the U.S.?
"Lexus LF-Ch concept wants to bring Prius hybrid utility to [overpriced] sporty hatchbacks"
Corrected headline.
"Lexus LF-Ch concept wants to bring Prius hybrid utility to [overpriced] [rebadged and barely-retooled] sporty hatchbacks"
Re-corrected headline.
This is not based off the Prius, first of all, and second, it is obviously "retooled" quite a bit, both from the Prius it is not based on, and the European Toyota Auris that it is based on.
And people, you're obviously smart because you are on Engadget. This title clearly has the word "concept" in it. There will be different colors and wheels available when this reaches production.
It's a Lexus and I actually like it. Although, what's with the tacky chrome rims? Can I get something a little more BBS-like?
its concept, so you'll get all types of flashy stuff. The production model will be more modest
\/\/ () \/\/ that is ****ing nice!!!!! looks a bit like mazda3 (maybe) but still....
'which is being billed as a "BMW 1 series, but hybrid."'
So it's rear wheel drive then? No? Fail........
Well, you're answering your own rhetorical question, so fact fail. Nothing says that it isn't RWD, and Lexus has quite a few cars that are, so I wouldn't rule it out. Cars like the IS, built on the platform of a FWD Toyota, still roll out as RWD cars from Lexus...
Even if it is RWD (unlikely), it will still have Lexus' patented Japanese-Buick-style steering that's so numb you feel like you're playing GT5 on PS3.
"Sporty" means you can _feel_ the road, Lexus, not just stick to it and make it go by quickly.
That's a beautiful machine.
The air scoops in the front bumper is a bit much but that is one hot hatchback. I would suspect that the Honda CR-Z will fit most budgets.
It does look just like the Mazda 3 hatch or the Subaru WRX.
I can't believe so many people like this car. I think it's one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen.
+1
I've seen many cars uglier than this one. Don't hate just for the sake of hating.
Lost me at Lexus.
+1
looks like VW Scirocco
Looks like something you'd find in the next instalment of Pixar's Cars.
I'm generally a fan of Lexus, but I think this car is hideous.
I'd love one.
cars and like all things take energy to manufacture. The aluminum and plastic takes energy to melt and mold. Parts ship from all over the world. Batteries are not the most environmentally friendly stuff either. I would say if you want to help the environment just keep driving your old car that gets descent MPG and emissions rather than buying a new, more "efficient" vehicle every 3 to 5 years.
@poached
Nobody said "stop using energy". The point is to reduce *emissions*. Although much of our energy currently comes from coal, electric cars are capable of using energy from any source, so they are ready for a transition to nuclear and renewable power, which ICE cars are not. Also as previously mentioned, most EV charge stations use only electricity from renewable sources, so in fact it is not a "coal powered car" at all.
As for batteries, they are recycled, not dumped. The concern over their toxicity was raised the last time electric cars were seriously considered in the 1970s and programs were put in place to fully recycle the batteries they used, including the electrolytic solution.
I'll take one of these in red please! ;)
Some guy got spy shots of the production model en route to Frankfurt:
http://z.about.com/d/alternativefuels/1/0/0/3/-/-/07_Prius.jpg
LOL I have to admit, you got me.
the new york sense of style strikes again! thanks for the laughs engadget!
It sure does look a lot like my 2010 Mazda 3 Hatchback! Very cute.
Meh, it looks like a rice racer. Get Paul Walker on the phone!
Looks like a Mazda3 sans the Cheshire cat front end. Not bad looking, but please remove the gaudy chrome wheels.
Did Autoblog die?
If you show drawings you should mention the artist.
The car looks pretty cool. I'd get rid of that baby sh*t yellow though. It's awful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p-Hu3FkAGU
I bet this concept will be used as the next IS which will come in 4 door, 2 doors, hatch + convertible.
Looks like my Mazda 3 hatchback. And how does the back door open w/o a door handle? For the price you'll probably have to pay for this, I'll just get a Tesla or a Fisker Karma.